We’ve reported on this multiple times before but it’s so big, the Parks Department wants to make sure you don’t miss it: It’s time to start working on applications for a share of the $15 million Opportunity Fund created by the Parks and Green Spaces Levy voters approved last year. While the levy itself contained money for a variety of specific projects, this fund is set up so that community-initiated projects can get a share of the $. Read on for a just-out news release about the fund and the round of informational meetings next month, including the one announced for West Seattle:

Would you like to see a new park built or an old park improved in your Seattle
neighborhood? Or would you like Seattle Parks and Recreation to buy property for a
new park or open space?

The first round of the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund is open for your
nominations of projects. Seattle voters approved the $146 million Parks and Green
Spaces Levy in 2008; it included the Opportunity Fund for community- initiated
development projects and land acquisition opportunities.

In the first cycle of the Opportunity Fund, $7 million will be awarded through a
citywide nomination process for park development and acquisition projects. The Parks
and Green Spaces Citizens Oversight Committee, appointed by the Mayor and City
Council, developed criteria for evaluating and choosing Opportunity Fund projects.

The nomination process begins with the submittal of a Proposal Letter, available now
and due by February 1, 2010. Proposal Letters and Opportunity Fund Criteria are
available online at http://seattle.gov/parks/levy/opportunity.htm and will be
available at your Department of Neighborhoods Service Centers, Seattle Public
Library branches, and Parks and Recreation community centers on Monday, December 14,
2009.

Seattle Parks is hosting four technical workshops to provide assistance in
developing Proposal Letters and answering questions about the Opportunity Fund and
the process. All workshops will be from 6:30 – 8 p.m. and will take place on the
following dates:

(only West Seattle one) Thursday, January 7, 2010, High Point Community Center