NEW DATE: Talk about future 48th/Charlestown park this Sunday

(WSB file photo, future park site at 48th/Charlestown)

That’s the “landbanked” city-owned site of a future park at 48th SW/SW Charlestown. You might recall that you were supposed to be able to share your thoughts about the site at a drop-in booth during the West Seattle Farmers Market back on February 10th …but the weather got in the way. A new date and location are now set – this Sunday, also in The Junction, also during the Farmers’ Market, but indoors – 10 am-2 pm (February 24th) at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 4217 SW Oregon. So drop by at some time during that window, even if you only have a few minutes to spare, and talk with Parks reps about what amenities you’d like to see at the new park. Whether you do or don’t stop by on Sunday, you can also comment online via this survey.

SoAdmiralK February 20, 2019 (6:55 am)

Happy to see something will happen on this corner!

buttercup February 20, 2019 (8:46 am)

Love to see another place people can grow things at. I don’t need it although they are wonderful to walk and drive by. Or a squirt park. Don’t trust wading pools any longer . Squirt parks easier and cheaper to maintain.

Xuu206 February 20, 2019 (11:24 am)

The only people that need a place to grow things are the people in apartment across street. That didn’t go too well last time & quickly turned into the eyesore it is today! Every other resident in area has their own yard to grow things. Nor should that space turn into a dog park! It’s a nice quiet neighborhood. Listening to the relentless barking of playing dogs would decrease the quality of life for anyone living in a 2-3 block radius. We live 3 house away from this location for the past 25 years. Over the years we see lots of dads (moms too) playing catch, practicing soccer, playing with their kids. That, and lots of people just hanging out reading a book in the sunshine. I hope this is the direction the park goes.

T February 20, 2019 (12:39 pm)

I agree. Fill out the survey to have your voice heard if you haven’t already.
KBear February 20, 2019 (1:51 pm)

Renters and apartment dwellers are not less deserving of neighborhood amenities than homeowners. And kids make noise, too. Sometimes more than dogs. I took the survey. I vote for a dog park with a pee patch.
- Xuu206 February 20, 2019 (4:52 pm)
  
  Uhmmm… a dog park IS a “pee” patch. Combining a dog park and a “pea patch” is unhealthy, at best. Kicking kids out of “the Field”, so dogs can have the area, used by generations of children is just selfish and short sighted. Kids need clean, safe outdoor space to unplug and play with other kids! And last, no one was suggesting that renters or apartment dwellers couldn’t use the neighborhood amenities, you can use the park too! But the hundred(s) of homes in the area have a yard and therefore have no need for a “pea patch”, only the dozen or so apartments across the street have just their balconies to grow herbs & veggies on and would be the only ones to have a need/want for a pea patch.
  - Jake from State Farm February 21, 2019 (11:24 pm)
    
    Wow, you are impressive in so many ways….Most impressive.
- Gene February 20, 2019 (5:31 pm)
  
  Nope- a park for individuals/families not dogs. Nobody suggested apartment dwellers/renters were “less deserving”of “neighborhood amenities”than homeowners. Guessing those folks would also benefit from a nice place to play with their kids- or just sit & relax.

pdid February 20, 2019 (1:18 pm)

Playground. Boom. Done.

Jake from State Farm February 21, 2019 (11:28 pm)

…check 5 blocks south and what do you find, you guest it..BOOM a play ground.

Chuck February 20, 2019 (5:02 pm)

There is already a large kids play park 5 blocks south of this location, Ercoloni. There’s a play field one block away, Madison Middle. There are two elementary schools two blocks away with playgrounds, Genesee Hill and Schmitz. We don’t need a kids park here and the busy traffic on Charlestown could be dangerous for them. There’s only one multi family building anywhere near this area and, as mentioned above, they tried a p patch and there was little interest; becoming an eye sore. I think the space is too small for a dog park. A community gathering space similar to the parks at 42nd/Alaska, California/Beveridge Place, and soon to be park on 40th/Alaska, would seem to be most appropriate for this space

momof3boys February 21, 2019 (11:51 am)

The elementary schools are not available to families during the school day/school year – so they don’t count as a neighborhood playgrounds for more than 60% of the day/year. Ercolini is a great play area for youngers, but not so great for the older kids. This space is big enough for at least a small play area, a spray park, and an open field. So glad to see it being developed for the kids in the neighborhood. My boys are all adults now, but sure would have enjoyed another place to play back in the day.

Anne February 20, 2019 (5:37 pm)

Same -voted for playground -neighborhood gathering place.

Xyras February 20, 2019 (6:05 pm)

I’m voting for the community gathering/kids park. That space is way too small to effectively accommodate a dog park, let alone a combo with a p patch. The last one was a disaster. Six months after it went in it was abandoned and left to rot (and subsequently have a child step on a rusty nail… tetanus shots suck!). My two cents RE: renters and apartment dwellers is that they’re more than welcome to take advantage of the amenities. They just don’t have to live with them beyond the length of their lease, whereas the homeowners in the area have to live with it. Proof positive in the prior p patch debacle.

Bjp206 February 20, 2019 (6:18 pm)

Sure, a park is cool and all. But I’m thinking a bar. Don’t think we have enough of them.

Xyras February 20, 2019 (6:33 pm)

Okay… I’d like to change my vote!!!
Jake from State Farm February 21, 2019 (11:38 pm)

Absolutely, lawn darts, horse shoes, Bocce ball. A couple fire fire pits. Volley ball courts. The neighbors can set up lemonades stands or Kool-aid stands…the police can come and write them a ticket for selling without a permit….

heartless February 20, 2019 (8:36 pm)

I like a lot of the ideas here, but I am struggling to think of what would be best for a space that people actually want to use all year.

For summer, and (small) parts of spring and autumn I think the standard open space + small play structure would be great, but, honestly, the majority of the year those places would be straight deserted.

I guess what I’d really like to see is some concession to the weather–canopies, coverings, overhangs, whatever, just something up above to keep the rain off of at least a small bit of earth. A lot of the time it’s not too cold to be outside–it’s just too wet to sit on benches or (for kids) to go down slides.

Of course all that said I’m not sure how feasible any of this is, but, hey, we can dream can’t we.

KBear February 20, 2019 (9:20 pm)

It is NOT too small for a dog park. At least two existing off-leash areas are smaller. And it certainly isn’t too small for a community garden.

Mike February 20, 2019 (10:49 pm)

Pumptrack, it’s perfect for it. Year round use. http://www.leavenworth.com/Activities_LeavenworthPumpTrack.htm

Mac February 21, 2019 (9:35 am)

Pumptrack! Brilliant! Brings back memories… 50+ years ago there was a small grocery store there with cool slopes to the parking lot. We rode our bikes and “pumptracked” round and round.Good design could include community gathering space and play equipment. This is valuable space.

Neighbor February 21, 2019 (2:43 pm)

Dog park! I know at least 50 of my neighbors have voted for a dog park. The closest one is westcrest and thats a good 25 min drive from admiral.

Mike February 21, 2019 (5:34 pm)

You must take the scenic route

dunnkld February 22, 2019 (12:39 am)

If you make it playground, dogs will be prohibited. I say make it a general purpose park that can be enjoyed by kids, adults, leashed dogs, kids with dogs, adults with dogs. Maybe some pee-proof plantings for the pooches.