READER REPORT: Repair and prevention work at Myrtle Reservoir Park, after field damage

That’s what part of the field at Myrtle Reservoir Park looked like last Sunday, damaged by a driver. The photo is from Karen Berge of the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network, who shared it along with followup photos taken today after she noticed Seattle Parks has taken repair and prevention measures since then:

I went through Myrtle Reservoir Park this afternoon and was happy to see a solution in the SW corner of the park that should keep people from driving vehicles in – strategically placed boulders.

A day or two ago I noticed that they had graded and reseeded the lawn. They’ve positioned a big sign there asking that folks stay on the paths.

The park was built in 2010, after the city covered what had been an open-air reservoir.

JC April 6, 2018 (9:43 pm)

Nice work, Seattle Parks!!

dsa April 6, 2018 (11:39 pm)

What an idiot to drive on the lid. I wonder what the live load the lid was designed for.

Parks did a nice job setting the boulders. I was afraid I was going to see a bunch of spot posts.

John April 7, 2018 (8:37 am)

Even before the car, the field turf was in poor condition primarily due to its use as a de-facto off leash dog park.

Although I am guilty of occasionally letting our dog off-leash to roll in the turf there, many others openly use it daily for dog frisbee or bring their tennis ball slings to run their dogs on the grass field. These activities had already heavily damaged the turf leaving many bare spots.

I live down the block so I know the grass is used much more for off-leash dogs than any other activity it is intended for such as soccer, football or just playing catch.

When I walked our on-leash dog there yesterday, I saw several people show up too release their expectant dogs. The few I witnessed were attempting to keep their confused dogs from the main field where they expect to run by throwing the ball on the side areas outside of the circular paved pathways.

I wish Seattle would enforce the off-leash laws as much as they enforce the 20 mph school zone next to the park. If only it did, I and many other scofflaws would not be abusing our park.

DSA’s concern of the live load is not really warranted, as the lid is relatively new, after 9-11, and built with massive rebar reinforced concrete designed for seismic events and can easily support the large park department trucks and excavators that travel over it, not to mention a large crowd of people.

Wseattleite April 8, 2018 (12:13 pm)

In the summer months when the naturally irrigated grass is brown, the hill below the reservoir always stays green. I have thought there to be a leak in the reservoir, but maybe condensation on the roof seeps down? Interesting puzzle. The green grass is nice to see that time of year.

Question Authority April 8, 2018 (9:51 pm)

The top which is covered in a lower density (weighs less) soil mixture is not irrigated to lessen the chance of infiltration, the remaining park is. There’s your green.
- Wseattleite April 9, 2018 (1:13 am)
  
  Boom! Thanks Questioning Authority.

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