NAME TIME: Seeking suggestions for 48th/Charlestown park-to-be

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

After five years in landbanked mode, the 48th/Charlestown park site is finally on the path to reality. As part of that, Seattle Parks is soliciting name ideas. The announcement:

SPR purchased .33 acres at 4801 SW Charlestown St. in 2014 for the future development of a park. The corner property had been a small community garden and prior to that a neighborhood grocery store. It has a history as a community gathering space. Osborn Consulting and SPR worked with the community on the design for the new park, which will provide a “neighborhood green” for the people of all ages to meet, eat, play, and celebrate.

The design includes an oval lawn surrounded by a loop path with arching seat walls, imaginative and active play for young children, picnic areas, and a small stage. Native and drought-tolerant plants will express the natural history of this area, and trees will frame the park and provide shade. The new park will be completed in 2021. More information on the project can be found (here).

The Parks Naming Committee will consider all suggestions and make a recommendation to Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jesús Aguirre, who will make the final decision.

The Parks Naming Committee is comprised of one representative designated by the Board of Park Commissioners; one by the Chair of the City Council Civic Development, Public Assets and Native Communities Committee; and one by the Parks Superintendent. Criteria the committee considers in naming parks include: geographical location, historical or cultural significance, and natural or geological features. The Park Naming Policy, clarifying the criteria applied when naming a park, can be found (here).

Please submit suggestions for park names in writing by Friday, October 18, 2019 and include an explanation of how your suggestion matches the naming criteria. Send to Seattle Parks and Recreation, Parks Naming Committee, 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, or by e-mail to paula.hoff@seattle.gov.

Karwn August 15, 2019 (8:06 pm)

What happened to the votes for this park? The last vote I saw was a vote for a dog park. Can we see the total votes for this park? How can we vote for a park, park name we never consented to? What will this park be? Who will be supporting and taking care of this park?

heartless August 15, 2019 (9:11 pm)

The votes seem to have been tallied and analyzed. I am not sure if you can see the total votes, but a summary of the voting can be found above if you just follow the links WSB provided:
http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/Projects/48thAndCharlestown/48thAndCharlestownOpenHouseAndSurveySummary20190224.pdf

As for how you can vote for a park or park name you never consented to… uh…. what? I’m not sure why or how you think your consent is necessary for Seattle to put in a park, let alone what this has to do with suggesting a name. As for who will be supporting and caring for this park? I’ll go out on a limb and say the city of Seattle, perhaps even the department of, oh, I dunno, how about Parks and Recreation?
- WSB August 15, 2019 (9:26 pm)
  
  Rooting around a bit in the links on the project page, here are the results of “survey #2” last spring:
  https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-3LNXC3P87/
  
  Dog activities came in at 129 votes, community green at 126.
  
  The July “public process summary”
  https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/Projects/48thAndCharlestown/48thAndCharlestownMeetingPresentation20190709-PreferredPlanAndProcessSummary.pdf
  then says “At Public Meeting 2, neighbors provided valuable input on the three concept alternatives:
  • Dog Friendly Option – Concern was expressed that the Dog Friendly Alternative could not provide a large enough off-leash area due to restrictions on impervious surface.
  • Neighborhood Play Option – Many thought that this design provided opportunities already available in nearby parks and schools.
  • Community Green Option – This was the favored alternative due to its flexibility and attraction to multiple ages.”
  - Krs August 15, 2019 (9:42 pm)
    
    If you’re going to waste people’s time with a survey then not go with the results, what the hell are you asking us for i the first place. I’d love to know how many of those who thought “it’s too small for a dog park” were actually dog owners. By the comments section on other WSB posts, a majority of those saying this weren’t even dog owners.
- momosmom August 16, 2019 (7:25 am)
  
  As for who will take care of the park…as quoted ” I’ll go out on a limb and say the city of Seattle, perhaps even the department of, oh, I dunno, how about Parks and Recreation?”Just like the City of Seattle takes care of all those green spaces they’ve planted along the streets I suppose.
- Xuu206 August 16, 2019 (7:54 am)
  
  LMAO!😂
Peter August 16, 2019 (9:42 am)

This is located in an entirely SFH area, the dog owners there have yards. A dog park would pretty much preclude any practical use by anyone who isn’t a dog owner. In all, a dog park is not a good or practical use of this space. And, as I seem to have to comment on pretty much everything the city does that people get upset about (which is everything): Having input does not mean you get your way, other people get input too, and there are factors beyond citizen input that have to be considered. Get over it.
Eddie August 16, 2019 (2:33 pm)

Call it “Don’t let your dog poop here” park.

just wondering August 15, 2019 (8:29 pm)

Does anyone remember the name of the store that was originally on the site?

Janet Sherwood August 16, 2019 (9:08 am)

The Garden Patch (small neighborhood store) is my earliest memory, followed by Zorich Brother’s Thriftway.
Sue August 17, 2019 (5:51 am)

Thiftway .

Gina August 15, 2019 (8:32 pm)

Parking Lot Park.

Pelicans August 16, 2019 (9:06 am)

What??
- Alkimark August 16, 2019 (12:38 pm)
  
  Thanks Gina I needed a good laugh today!

Krs August 15, 2019 (9:10 pm)

What happened to the dog park? I’d like to see the responses to the surveys.

Kc August 15, 2019 (9:11 pm)

I live in the area in the 60’s and early 70’s it was a Thriftway then it was called Lo Mart then Grocery Cartthe 3 low income houses directly to the west was the parking lot

Lorne August 15, 2019 (9:56 pm)

I suggest those of you that are upset that they ignored your survey responses and didn’t listen to the majority of people, complain to them. Write emails, call offices, etc.

Olafur August 15, 2019 (10:58 pm)

Only 286 people responded and less than half of those indicated a preference for a dog park, so the majority of respondents actually preferred a non-dog park purpose. As a dog owner, I’d selfishly love to have a new dog park, but I acknowledge that a dog park mostly precludes any other significant use. Even many dog owners often don’t use off-leash parks for a variety of legitimate reasons. I do understand why some people are unhappy, but it seems the neighborhood green option will enable a lot more neighborhood residents to make use of and enjoy this new public space (public = for everyone).
- Azimuth August 16, 2019 (8:17 am)
  
  I was pretty excited about the dog park idea at first since I own a dog and West Seattle dog park options are sorely lacking. But I think this site is too small plus dogs are loud and gross and unfortunately too many owners would treat the park as a place for their dog to poop but not take the responsibility to keep it clean. With it being near residences that is problematic in my opinion, I know I wouldn’t want a dog park next to my home. Unfortunately I don’t know where else to carve out a significant dog park in northern West Seattle without eating into forest or taking over an industrial area.

Person August 15, 2019 (10:13 pm)

Name it simply “Charlestown Street Cafe”- RIP

Greg August 15, 2019 (10:58 pm)

How about naming it “Olmstead Park”? In honor of the Olmstead Brothers who were responsible for the planning of so many of Seattle’s parks.

Seaweed August 16, 2019 (9:20 pm)

Greg. If ever an Olmstead would roll in their grave, this could be it.Heck, they might even rise up, break out of ground and come looking for you!

Buzz August 15, 2019 (11:01 pm)

Hi-Yu Park

Plf August 15, 2019 (11:57 pm)

Charleston Green or Charleston park

Quora August 16, 2019 (6:30 am)

The city has enough dog parks. And, many dog owners don’t follow the law and allow there dogs to be off leash at many non-designated dog parks, so there are those too. Please stop complaining just to complain.

momosmom August 16, 2019 (7:22 am)

How about naming it “Never Happy for Anything Park”

Olafur August 16, 2019 (9:52 am)

@momosmom, you hit the nail on the head. No matter what the solution, someone will be unhappy.

Karen August 16, 2019 (7:28 am)

Public Space = everybody. Have you seen the Public Space being used at Morgan Junction? Other than during the Festival that park is ALWAYS empty. The green space at Alaska Junction is in a busy area and has more visitors. But it also tends to attract some scary characters. Basically, how would this new “green” space be different?

Wsresident August 16, 2019 (8:13 am)

I couldn’t agree more. Dakota Park, the Morgan junction Park, the one in the junction- all used for events but other than that, a playground for drug addicts, always needles and I never see anyone “normal” congregating as a community in any of these green spaces. With ercolini just around the corner and the school, it just seems pointless. And it will become a dog park anyway.

Xuu206 August 16, 2019 (7:54 am)

“Charlie Park”

Rick August 16, 2019 (8:08 am)

But, they’re going to expand Morgan park making it even larger for folks to not use.

Railroaded August 16, 2019 (10:22 am)

Krazy Hill Park

soosan August 16, 2019 (1:01 pm)

Not a Dog Park Park

Reality August 16, 2019 (3:45 pm)

Just Wondering. The market name was “Lo Mart” and was actually fairly good sized. Where the apartments are was a full service gas station. Dog owner’s. Don’t fret-you’ve got Alki beach to run your dogs. On my morning walks i see off leash dog’s every day. But i have to ask..why do you own a dog? Knowing you live in the city with limited dog parks and are probably at work all day?

Dog August 16, 2019 (4:21 pm)

My dog owns me and he takes me to work.

Mary Ballou August 16, 2019 (4:52 pm)

The district that will maintain it will probably be the Southwest district which I work at Does the budget have maintenance included in building it? All parks need to have this supported in the budget ?