NEW WEST SEATTLE PARK: ‘Open house’ planned so you can see site-design options – but first, a survey

Now that the new Fire Station 32 is open, the city is moving ahead with plans for the future city park at the site that held the temporary station. Thanks to Justin at Sound and Fog for the photo and first word of a poster up at the site (4723-4731 40th SW, which is right next to his shop); we have since received the city postcard with the announcement. An “open house” is planned during the West Seattle Farmers’ Market on Sunday, September 10th, 10 am-2 pm, “to show site options and hear what you like the most for your new park.” The project’s page on the Seattle Parks website also includes a link to this quick (one page) survey. The city bought the two-thirds-of-an-acre site for $1.4 million in 2012 and has almost $2 million budgeted for park development; it’s one of three “landbanked” future park sites in West Seattle, along with 48th/Charlestown and the Morgan Junction Park expansion site.

Jct dad August 21, 2017 (8:01 pm)

I filled in survey with idea to incorporate activity. We have ercolini which is great for kids near and far and Jct park for community open area and for drinking by our local panhandlers. This park could have a 1 on 1 basketball setup, squash ball/tennis against wall, small skateboard setup, etc. We need activity to prevent this space from becoming another hangout for drunks, trash, and condo pups to poop.

Erithan August 22, 2017 (2:44 pm)

I agree, open liquor law doesn’t seem to apply in the plaza right now…(nor does littering and hiding illegal “stuff” in bushes).

Active area is a great idea on so many levels.

Wsea August 21, 2017 (9:11 pm)

West seattle needs a lawn amphitheater for concerts. Keep the stage covered and the rest open. Tons of fun.

Christy August 21, 2017 (9:20 pm)

DOG PARK PLEASE

TJ August 21, 2017 (11:10 pm)

Totally agree JCT DAD. A park with a sport court and other physical activities is sorely needed. The bland park across from QFC seems like wasted space, and I don’t know who hangs out there, but there seem to be fire trucks and medics there every other day. Don’t need a dog park for off leash dogs to run around. Mine uses my backyard.

DH August 22, 2017 (4:03 am)

I also think a dog park would be good. Lots of dogs living the apartments nearby.

WS citizen August 22, 2017 (6:18 am)

I used to eat lunch at the Junction park on a nice day. Now, it seems dirty and over run with vagrants. I no longer feel comfortable doing so. This is a SHAME. We need to replace the benches with ones that are segmented with armrest bars to prevent people sleeping on the benches.

I sure hope whatever is done with this new park allows the taxpaying citizens to enjoy it, and does not become another magnet for the undesirables!

Also John August 22, 2017 (7:49 am)

Yup….. DOG PARK. Way to many dogs stuck in little apartments all day. They need a place to run off leash.

Chris August 22, 2017 (10:18 am)

As mentioned in previous post there are many condos and apartments in the area that have already been built or are planned in the near future and an off-leash dog park would be a great addition to the neighborhood.

Jen August 22, 2017 (2:47 pm)

Trees please! New zoning doesn’t leave room for trees. I also think play areas for kids are a deterrent to vagrants. Colorful and active, but with nature in the forefront.

Small dog parks can get stinky and turn into dirt yards. Whatever folks decide on, please include some healthy evergreen trees.

Ursula August 22, 2017 (4:23 pm)

Sorry, but humans should take preference over dogs. To walk from the west end of the “urban Village” down to Ercolini park is quite a steep distance for young and old, and out of the 10 minute walk shed. We need benches with trees to connect with nature and chill from the overcrowding/density of the village, physical activity, covered area to protect from our rain and ampetheater and free fecal contamination with policing of human behavior enforced. We need an outdoor space for the villagers to meet! There are dog parks that one can drive to; dog owners should consider their ability to properly care for dogs before becoming owners. Walking dogs and cleaning up poo belongs in the narrow bands along roads provided for dogs and weren’t designed for human use. Oh, and Iove dogs, but there is great pressure on needed resources within urban crowding. People of all ages first: toddlers, elderly, handicaped and millenials and older!

Susan August 22, 2017 (5:23 pm)

Yes, please!!

Ursula August 22, 2017 (4:47 pm)

Sorry, but humans should take preference over dogs. To walk from the west end of the “urban Village” down to Ercolini park is quite a steep distance for young and old, and out of the 10 minute walk shed. We need benches with trees to connect with nature and chill from the overcrowding/density of the village, physical activity, covered area to protect from our rain and ampetheater and free from fecal contamination, and finally with policing of human behavior enforced. We need an outdoor space for the villagers to meet! There are dog parks that one can drive to; dog owners should consider their ability to properly care for dogs before becoming owners. Walking dogs and cleaning up poo belongs in the narrow bands provided along roads These road band green spaces weren’t designed for human use. Oh, and I Iove dogs, but there is great pressure on needed resources within urban crowding. Our village has a great lack of the state required green space for humans, so it is the first need to be remedied. People of all ages first: toddlers, elderly, handicaped and millenials and older!

Wsmom August 22, 2017 (4:58 pm)

I think it should be a playground, fenced with a gate. I don’t know how big the land is but the idea of a court of some kind next to it is not a bad idea or maybe add that exercise equipment that are popping up at parks all over.

JanS August 22, 2017 (7:42 pm)

has anyone been to Hiawatha Park? Sports courts, tennis, running track, equipment for elderly to ecercise on, a kids play area…basketball inside. All those new apartment buildings, condos, etc, are being built with massive exercise rooms, some with their own dog walking areas. If you need a dog for some reason, in a studio apartment in one of these buildings, be prepared to be a responsible dog owner…walk them, and pick up their poop after them. A park for all people would be nice…we need green open spaces between these tall buildings to make it seem like not so much a canyon. And, for us disabled people, who need to stop and rest sometimes along the way, trees, benches, would be nice…I’m sure with all the apartments around, it would be used…..by the people living there…

G-man August 22, 2017 (11:19 pm)

Dog park would be great, there are tons of parks people can walk to in the junction, but none that dog owners can walk to give their dog much needed excercise, they’ve done it in downtown Seattle, so why not here,

Ursula August 23, 2017 (3:40 pm)

Actually, there is only one park within the WS Junction Urban Village. It is the small spot across from QFC that is overrun with adults urinating and drinking in public as well as way too much dog poo; cannot let a toddler on the ground ther for fear of fecal contamination.

The golf course within the village that “counts” as green space is not available to non golfing people.

That is why we need a park for the villagers. Currently our village lacks a public space to meet that does not incur a fee! We don’t have a library or community center to meet and currently must rent space from the senior center.

K August 23, 2017 (7:32 pm)

Dog park and trees and a little playground!

Ihateyordog August 24, 2017 (12:43 am)

It would be so great to have some kind of green space that was not a big dog toilet..

Jeannie August 24, 2017 (3:19 am)

Better the dogs poop there than in Lincoln Park. But, yes, I see your point about people (and trees) taking precedence over dogs.

broderick August 24, 2017 (8:54 am)

dog park is Needed! with the influx of people moving in and the leash laws being enforced. dog owners ( and there are ALOT of them ) need a place to bring their dogs. if you want fitness, there are a variety of parks. alki beach. EC HUGHES for basketball. community centers etc.

as a 4th Gen West Seattle-ite…the squeeze of valuable space is REAL.. and we need to be real too and think about our pets and trees…

Carmine Pascucci August 24, 2017 (5:33 pm)

There is enough greenspace in W Seattle for dogs to pee and poop on. We need a park for people. What ultimately happens to dog parks is that they exclude all other people without dogs beacuse of the green bagged and unbagged poop lying all around, dogs scaring kids in strollers, old people and others who want to not have a dog run up to them. We need a park that includes a covered area with tables and benches, maybe a small stage for poetry readings or other intimate events, some concrete chess board tables like NYC parks, a bird habitat border (dogs will chase out all critters but rats who love to eat their poop), some kids toys, and people features. People should come before dogs.

Linda August 25, 2017 (5:07 pm)

I’m in favor of a dog park but the space is really small to be a useful dog park except maybe for little, tiny dogs.

June August 27, 2017 (5:34 pm)

I would vote for an off-leash area for dogs. If not a full park, then maybe a small section where you can reserve the space ahead of time and have room to play fetch with your pup or do a small 1-3 dog playdate with friends. If not in this park, then why not fence off for dogs the area in the Junction Plaza that no one wants to use anyways because of the people loitering/setting up shop on the benches? I bet they’d be less inclined to camping out if they have a bunch of dogs running about.

I understand the frustrations of people saying that all the local parks are covered in dog poop/pee. That is absolutely disgusting and a pet peeve of my own. However, perhaps all of this is the symptom of having a dense urban area that has developed without taking into consideration that most apartment dwellers will have dogs rather than children. 100’s of dogs in a surrounding area without a fenced in yard or area specifically for their own use. Of course their needs are going to spill into the surrounding green spaces.

And for the people arguing there aren’t enough people parks- Ercolini, Dakota Place, Junction Plaza, Flaunteroy Place, Delridge Park, Hiawatha Playfield, Fairmount Park. Those are all within a 10-30 min walk of the Junction. Going further away you have Lincoln Park, Me-Kwa-Mooks, Schmitz Preserve Park and Alki. All of these parks are still closer to the Junction than Westcrest, which is the only off-leash area near West Seattle.

So yeah, more dog-friendly green spaces get my vote (we’ll even take the parklets no one else wants/uses) and then let’s fine the heck out of people who go off-leash in non-designated areas or who don’t clean up after their dogs. Not all dog owners are inconsiderate, entitled jerks and the ones that are give the rest of us a bad name.

Beach Drive Guy August 27, 2017 (6:20 pm)

It’s imperative for dog parks in the West Seattle N’hood. There is an immense growth population currently and needs must be fulfilled immediately. As, a dog walker & dog sitter there are not enough parks to take dogs while they are in my possession and to have interaction with other dogs and have exercised activities.

The mentioned West Seattle Dog Park sites would be great based upon need per usage.

At this time, I have 2 more additional Dog Parks suggested options:

1) On Beach Drive at Mee-Kwa-Mooks. Small, but good usage that’s out of way from traffic with immense on street parking. This park is definitely lacking any usage.

2) Jack Block Park on Harbor Ave, Located a few blocks south of Salty’s Restaurant. It’s ideal for usage and the general public lacks utilization. It seems a wasted space for little to no usage for a park. Also, this would be ideal for dogs and their walkers for parking and it’s far enough from the road to bring added safety for the dogs and walkers.