Two more improvements may be ahead for Fairmount Park

One year after Fairmount Park got a playground makeover with $170,000 from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy, more levy money may be in the pipeline to renovate its restrooms and playground fencing. That is, if the levy Oversight Committee wins final approval for its idea to channel $10 million of the levy’s $13 million “inflation” padding into maintenance projects that have gone unaddressed because of the city budget woes.

West Seattle’s Pete Spalding chairs the committee, which has a public hearing next Monday (Jefferson Community Center, Beacon Hill, 7 pm) on its proposal. He wrote this open letter explaining that while the inflation pad was built into the levy, it hasn’t been needed, since the economic climate has brought many projects in not just within budget, but often under budget. The full list of projects the committee is suggesting for this $10 million fund is in his letter. The Fairmount Park comfort station and fencing, totaling $325,000, are the only West Seattle items on the list. If you’re interested in commenting, be at the hearing, or send e-mail (there’s a contact address on the committee’s page).

Tim Van Liew June 24, 2011 (1:11 pm)

I drive by this park frequently and see it in use all the time! I’m glad that it is getting the much needed attention it deserves!

ttt June 24, 2011 (5:17 pm)

The park upgrade is great! What this park needs now is a more visible, safer crosswalk so we can cross Fauntleroy safely to get to the park.

Sue June 24, 2011 (8:16 pm)

TTt, there is already a pedestrian-activated traffic light one block north at Dawson and another a block or two south (Juneau?)

Sue June 24, 2011 (8:42 pm)

Just double-checked on my way home, and the light is 1 block south of the park at Findlay (in addition to the 1 block north at Dawson). I worked really hard with the city to get the one in at Dawson a year or two ago, and I sincerely doubt they’ll do anything about the Brandon intersection with the other 2 within a block away.