1st city-organized meeting set for California Place Park

We’ve been reporting since June (most recent WSB update here) on the proposal for “improvements” – likely a “play space” – at California Place Park in North Admiral (California/Hill; here’s a map). The city has just finalized November 6th as the date for the first of four public meetings. (P.S. Tonight’s the organizational meeting for an area Block Watch, 6:30 pm at the Admiral library branch.) Click ahead for the official park-meetings announcement, just in from the Parks Department:

Seattle Parks and Recreation will hold four public meetings to engage the public in the design of a small scale, natural play area at California Place, located at California Ave. SW and SW Hill St.

The first meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m.on Thursday, November 6, at the Hiawatha Community Center, 2700 California Ave. SW. The dates, times, and locations of the other three meetings are yet to be determined.

Parks is seeking input from the public on the elements they would like to see included and on what design best fits within the community.

RobertSeattle October 28, 2008 (2:50 pm)

Just FOUR Public Meetings? I wonder if we’ll have to vote on it too? /Sarcasm…

NO CHANGE TO PARK October 28, 2008 (9:52 pm)

To all who support “NO CHANGE TO THE PARK”. This is the most important meeting to attend. Thank you to all that signed the petition for NO CHANGE TO PARK and I will see you at the meeting.

Denny October 28, 2008 (11:40 pm)

To all who support NO CHANGE ANYWHERE ANYTIME you have found your home in North Admiral…too bad for the kids and families who might like a little place to play.

TWAR October 29, 2008 (6:55 am)

California Place Park has served North Admiral well for almost 100 yrs. It is used by children and adults alike. It is crime free and BEAUTIFUL. To fill it with plants, logs, rocks, beauty bark, picnic tables would make a mecca for night crime and loitering. King County is looking for money to reduce crime in it’s parks and playgrounds. California Place Park does not breed crime because it does not provide the trappings to encourage it. This Park development could change the face of North Admiral. How do you want your neighborhood to look?

homesweethome October 29, 2008 (7:08 am)

I’m very unclear as to why folks think a change to the park will breed crime? This is one of the safest neighborhoods in the city and I just don’t get how criminals will suddenly know of new plants to hide in and make our neighborhood unsafe. Will a notice be placed in the watering holes in our neighborhood advertising it as a place to loiter?

TWAR October 29, 2008 (7:14 am)

If you build it. They will come.

keep it unchanged!!! October 29, 2008 (1:12 pm)

If you build it they will come, because they saw it while speeding down California either up from the beach, or driving down to it.
We are on California 4 blocks north of the park and the last thing we need is a reason for these “non neighborhood residents” to stay any longer than they already do.
We want to keep it the safe neighborhood it is.

homesweethome October 29, 2008 (9:07 pm)

Fear of crime as far more substantial than actual crime.

dwardas October 31, 2008 (10:20 am)

Kids have a place to play NOW without any changes! I saw several families with small children playing at California Place Park over the weekend. The were enjoying it very much as it is.

homesweethome November 5, 2008 (1:41 pm)

I think the real issue here is: most people never knew this was a park. Many people assumed it belonged to the church, and it looks like some folks in the neighborhood want that assumption to continue. I’ve seen more activity at this park since an alteration was proposed than ever before. I’d rather see my tax dollars fund a park that is used regularly (by anyone, young, old, etc) that funding a park that just sits.

Sorry, comment time is over.