Another preview: Saturday highlights

| Neighborhoods | WS culture/arts | WS miscellaneous

WEST SEATTLE GATEWAY CLEANUP: Even if you’re not one of the hundreds of volunteers joining in this huge cleanup effort, you should know that it will shut down a lane on the Fauntleroy end of the The Bridge, so that participants will be safe – the cleanup is happening from Walking on Logs till 35th/Fauntleroy, but the lane closure will start before there. Hours are approximately 9 am-3:30 pm. (Here’s our most recent preview.)

NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND CELEBRATION: A whole lot of projects around our part of the city (and elsewhere) wouldn’t have happened without the city chipping in NMF money. The program is celebrating its 20th anniversary and throwing parties around town including one Saturday, open-house style, 10 am-2 pm at Youngstown Arts Center.

BARBECUE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Once again this year, the Evergreen State Barbecue Championships are happening on Alki this weekend. Saturday-Sunday are the official days but you are likely to see setup happening (and a lot of RVs) starting Friday night. Last year when we covered this, a big question was “does anyone SELL food?” We have word of at least two vendors – one of which is a sponsor, Tom Douglas Restaurants, which says it’ll be selling “Rub with Love BBQ Salmon Sandwiches with Arugula and Fennel Mayo.” We don’t have precise hours for vendors but on Saturday we’ll report what we find out at the scene.

ANOTHER BARBECUE: Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor) is having its annual halibut barbecue, with live music, noon-3 pm Saturday; we wrote about it in this White Center Now post about the fishing trip that brought in the halibut!

PLAYGROUND PROJECT: Supporters of a “playscape” in Admiral’s California Place mini-park plan a neighborhood ice-cream social starting at 3 pm (the park’s at California/Hill; here’s our most recent coverage of the proposal).

FUNDRAISING CAR WASH: Just got word the West Seattle High School girls’ volleyball team has one in the parking lot, 10 am-2 pm Saturday. Lots more events, and you’ll see them in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup tomorrow.

Jan September 11, 2008 (7:53 pm)

Playground Project. If you would like to see California Place Park remain as it is, there will be a small group collecting signatures for NO CHANGES TO THE PARK.

seattle golfer September 11, 2008 (9:19 pm)

I hope everyone has noticed that the clean up of the roadway to West Seattle already looks substantially better! Can’t wait to get out there on Saturday. If you can’t work that day, stop by and make a donation so the tree work can be accomplished this fall.

Supporter September 12, 2008 (8:16 am)

CA Place Park Playscape Project:
We are the Friends and Neighbors of North Admiral, a group of families and individuals working together to bring improvements into the Admiral neighborhood of West Seattle. We’re working to design and develop a natural playscape in California Place Park (California Ave SW and SW Hill Street) to provide a slice of nature for exploration and creativity, a place to gather and connect with neighbors and respite space for users of all ages.

What is a natural playscape, you ask? Using native plants, fallen logs, boulders and lots of trees; playscapes represent a natural place such as a forest. They are designed with the intent of bringing children and people back to nature. They offer a wide range of open-ended play options that allow children to be creative and use their imagination and offer a wide range of developmental benefits to children, rehabilitation programs and all people in general.

Who supports these improvements? People who want to work together on a project and feel more connected to their neighbors. People who want a safe, thoughtful way for children and adults alike to enjoy nature and the company of neighbors. To date, more than 100 people have pledged their support and dozens more have provided their input, ideas and encouragement in community meetings.

What these improvements will NOT be? Exclusive only to children. Unsafe for users and neighbors. Packed with playground equipment like slides and swings. In conflict with the strategy and values of the Parks Department. Careless about the treatment of the existing trees. A waste of tax-payer dollars.

For more information about how to get involved, email annlimbaugh@comcast.net or manolita8@yahoo.com.