West Seattle, Washington
27 Wednesday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Morgan Junction Park expansion site, bought by the city 11 years ago, remains a fenced hole in the ground. And the matter of what will ultimately be built on it still isn’t settled.
The “all-wheels area” that seemed like a promising addition for so long is up in the air, since Seattle Parks now insists there’s not enough funding to include it in the project. Community supporters, who coalesced as MJAWA (Morgan Junction All-Wheels Area), just got word this week that their part of the project didn’t receive a $250,000 King County grant they were hoping would help cover the cost, so they say this means Parks will tell them to raise “$700,000 for a 1,500-sf skateable area.” They’re now looking ahead to conversations with Parks in the coming weeks.
In advance of that, MJAWA and the Morgan Community Association got a somewhat convoluted update last week from two Seattle Parks managers who came to MoCA’s quarterly meeting to provide a status update. MoCA has since sent the city a list of questions to be answered.
First – here’s what they did hear about the status of the site, where a jurisdictional conflict between Parks and SDOT has idled the soil-cleanup process – required because of contaminated soil from the site’s history (including time as a dry cleaner) – for many months. Parks’ Olivia Reed told MoCA that the cleanup should finally be complete “late this fall” – now that SDOT and Parks have reached an agreement about transferring some of the property – and they’re still planning to open the expansion site as a grassy public area after that.
(Schematic for ‘skate dot’ that MJAWA got Grindline to design for Morgan Junction Park site)
Will the final version of the site have an all-wheels area, aka “skate dot”? That would require added community funding, Reed reiterated, though MJAWA already has brought a lot of contributions to the project, from volunteer expertise to a grant. During the MoCA discussion, the project’s funding and price tag reained unclear, with the Parks reps saying the “total budget” is $1.2 million, as well as saying that amount had been “added” to the project this year. But, Parks’ Andy Sheffler insisted, “We have a commitment to get the project done” and he insisted they are “moving forward diligently now.”
That “moving forward” includes taking the plan back to a committee of the city Design Commission – the plan for what the site will look like when Phase 1, remediation and hydroseeding, is complete this fall. MoCA president Deb Barker expressed disappointment that the committee will end up seeing that plan before the community.
This was all largely a continuation of a similarly disappointing discussion with a different Parks official at the previous MoCA meeting in April, at which the $1.2 million budget and skate-dot skepticism were cited, while MJAWA pointed out that the budget seemed to be “missing a million” after previous citations of a $2.2 million budget. The $1.2 million apparently is only expected to cover some pathways and seating on the expansion site. Community fundraising could put the “all-wheels area” into the plan, but otherwise it would be “decoupled” for some possible future phase. Parks is focused on finishing the cleanup and settling the right-of-way issue with SDOT, which won’t be finalized until the City Council approves transferring SW Eddy Street right-of-way to Parks.
After the MoCA meeting, these questions were sent to the Parks reps, taking them up on a suggestion they made during the meeting:Read More
(WSB photo from last year’s Duwamish canoe family launch)
Earlier this week, when we noted that a tribal-canoe landing on Alki was not part of the plan for regional canoe families’ Paddle to Elwha, we also noted that the Duwamish Tribe planned to depart Sunday morning to join the journey. Today, we received an open invitation to share, saying everyone is welcoe to be there for the sendoff from Don Armeni Boat Ramp:
This Sunday, July 27 at 7:30 AM, the Duwamish Canoe Family will launch from Don Armeni Boat Ramp in West Seattle as they begin their journey to Suquamish for the 2025 Intertribal Canoe Journey – Paddle to Elwha.
This powerful tradition honors the ancestral highways of the Coast Salish peoples and brings together Indigenous canoe families from across the region in a celebration of culture, resilience, and community.
All are welcome to come see them off, offer well-wishes, and witness this moving moment of tradition and strength.
Bring your hearts, your voices, and your respect. Let’s lift them up as they begin their journey.
Location: Don Armeni Boat Ramp, Alki
Time: 7:30 AM sharp – Sunday, July 27
Destination: Suquamish, continuing on to the host nation, Lower Elwha Klallam
6:47 PM: California Place Park is a relatively small triangle of land, but “we’re going to make it sound like a stadium,” promised Michael Pearsall before launching into his first song (“Awake and Alive”) as tonight’s Admiral Music in the Parks concert began. Concertgoers of all ages are here enjoying the evening.
Michael “and friends” will be performing until at least 8 pm. The concert is free – presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association – just bring your own blanket/chair, food/drink, and enjoy.
8:28 PM: The concert just concluded. We’ll add video and more photos later; the third and final AMP concert this year is at Hamilton Viewpoint, 6:30 next Thursday (July 31), with The Flaming Pies presenting a tribute to The Beatles.
ADDED: Songs from the concert! Michael Pearsall began solo:
Then he made way for solo turns by the “Friends” on the bill – including Troy Aylesworth:
And Camille Watson:
And finally he fronted a full band that rocked its way through the rest of the almost-two-hour show:
Scenes from the concert, photographed by Jason Grotelueschen for WSB:
Above, the crowd was estimated at 350 people, according to ANA president Joanie Jacobs (below with husband Dan Jacobs):
As you probably noticed in our video clips, the lawn in front of the performers became an exuberant toddler/preschooler dance floor again this week:
On the less-frenetic side of spectating were people participating in the Seattle Yarn knitting (etc.) circle:
Series sponsors on hand included PCC (which is a WSB sponsor too):
Speaking of food – if you’re coming next week, bring a nonperishable food donation if you can!
Volunteers from A Cleaner Alki handled cleanup as the crowd packed up.
That’s a King County TV clip about “Captain Dan,” whose last day with the King County Water Taxi is tomorrow. Capt. Dan (Krehbiel) had a big moment in the spotlight in November 2023, when he – while at the helm of M/V Doc Maynard – maneuvered the Water Taxi to keep a runaway barge from crashing into the downtown waterfront (WSB coverage here). Most recently he’s been on the Vashon Island run with M/V Sally Fox. But his true claim to fame is as the Water Taxi system’s first captain, 16 years ago; it’s grown in a big way since then, but now he’s sailing off into retirement. Read his full story on the Metro Matters website.
Related to West Seattle’s light-rail plan, here are two notes from the Sound Transit Board meeting that just concluded:
PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS: Board members gave unanimous approval to staff’s plan to pursue acquisition of three parcels, after hearing that these were all special cases and that the bulk of acquisitions will await further decisions on how (or whether) to proceed with the project. One – as noted in our preview – is a Port of Seattle parcel in the 1000 block of SW Klickitat that the board was told is needed for “load testing” that could assist in the staff review of potential cost savings; the other two are residential parcels in the 3200 block of SW Genesee whose owners need to sell and move due to personal circumstances but, with the project pending, can’t find any non-ST buyers. Board members, particularly Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss, expressed concerns about what would happen to the residences once vacated; he was told that ST will look into finding “quality tenants.” He was also told a meeting next Monday will take a closer look at ST policies regarding acquired properties.
‘ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE’: The board also got a briefing on the status of this review that’s been in the works a while now, figuring out ways to bring the ST3 plan into line with ST’s financial resources. This has its roots in alarm over the revised $7 billion cost projection for the West Seattle extension, but its determinations will be applied to other projects, ST staff says – saying today that in essence it will eventually bring a “realignment” of the future plan, but in a different way than ST’s done “realignments” before. Here’s the slide deck that was presented; it acknowledges that changes in scope, or even “reconsideration” of some projects, are options, as are “potential revenue enhancements.” Ultimately, they hope to have a new plan by the middle of next year.
2 PM: Thanks to Mike Munson for the photo and tip! Crews are repaving California Avenue SW between SW Holly and SW Frontenac [map], with work scheduled at least through tomorrow, so take note if you’re headed that way. We’re checking with SDOT about the extent of the work and what’s next on the paving schedule for West Seattle.
ADDED THURSDAY EVENING: Here’s what SDOT says: “The California Ave SW project is a mill and overlay from SW Holly St to SW Frontenac St. The project will be completed in two phases. Phase 1 is expected to be finished tomorrow, 7/25. Phase 2 is currently scheduled for 7/31 – 8/1; but the schedule could shift. SDOT constructed pedestrian improvements at the SW Willow St & SW Mills St intersections in advance of the paving project.”
11:20 AM: A 39-year-old Olympia man is in the King County Jail for investigation of hate crime and robbery after an attack reported at Seacrest Pier. According to case documents we obtained this morning, a group of people was fishing at Seacrest just after 12:40 am Tuesday when the man approached them and said they should be speaking English (the police report says they were speaking Chinese). He also told them, the report says, they needed to “assimilate because this is America.” The police summary adds:
The suspect told the victims that they need to go back to their country, and that he is done with them. The suspect threatened to throw them in the water. The victims were scared, and another victim heard the threats and cursing. The fourth victim pulled out his phone to call 911, and the suspect forcefully took the victim’s new cell phone and threw it in the water. The suspect then pushed the victim and attempted to punch him.
Court documents say members of the group then held the man down while police were called. One witness had recorded video and showed it to police, who arrested the man and booked him into jail, where he remains, with bail set at $75,000, and another hearing scheduled this afternoon.
9:30 PM: Charges are now filed and we obtained the charging documents tonight. The suspect, Joshua C. Bucklin, now listed as a Lake Forest Park resident, is charged with two counts of hate crime and one count of theft. The documents say he has a “minor criminal record,” described as “a felony conviction from California for evading a peace officer: disregard safety (2015), and a misdemeanor conviction from California for DUI (2015).” The charging documents elaborate on the summary we cited earlier, including verbatims from what prosecutors describe as a ‘racist tirade” and noting that his alleged targets were teenagers. They tried repeatedly to de-escalate the situation, prosecutors say, but – as shown on the video given to police, the documents say – he just kept ramping up, though even a bystander urged him to “chill.” That bystander was the person who eventually held the suspect down until police arrived, and the owner of the phone Bucklin is accused of grabbing and tossing into the water. Bucklin remains in jail, bail set at $75,000, and will be arraigned in two weeks.
A bank lobby probably isn’t a place you’d think of as a party venue. But that’s what the HomeStreet Bank West Seattle branch (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) lobby was last night, hosting the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly After-Hours celebration, with this highlight:
At left is HomeStreet’s Bob Livingston; at right, Whitney Moore-Adams of Electric Butter Marketing. Hers was the West Seattle small business spotlighted this month at the bank, which means branch visitors in the past few weeks had the option to enter a drawing. The prize is provided by the spotlight business, and she in turn supported another local business by giving away locally crafted butter from A Butter Place. The August spotlight business is in the photo too – M & M Balloon Co., which created the island-themed balloon backdrop for the Chamber festivities.
(Wednesday’s sunset, photographed by Jan Pendergrass)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Whatever you’re growing, it’s the heart of gardening season! The center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Stories, songs, learning activities geared toward 3- to 5-year-olds, 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW).
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open today and every day through Labor Day, 11 am-8 pm. Free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
LOW-LOW TIDE: 11:07 am, it’s out to -3.0 feet. (Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists are scheduled to be at Constellation Park 9 am-noon.)
WADING POOLS: Three of the city’s West Seattle wading pools are operating today – Lincoln Park will be open noon-7 pm and Delridge and Hiawatha will be open noon-5:30 pm. Free.
COLMAN POOL: The heated salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open noon-7 pm – see the schedule here. Fee.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome at this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to get info about where they’re playing today.
SOUND TRANSIT BOARD: 1:30 pm monthly meeting includes West Seattle property acquisitions, as previewed here; public comment is accepted in person or online, and the agenda explains how.
WHERE DOES IT GO? High Point Library hosts Sustainability Stewards to teach you about waste reduction, 2-4 pm. (3411 SW Raymond)
DROP-IN CHESS: Teens are invited to come play at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4-5:30 pm.
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of two regular Thursday night events here – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Paparepas.
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Another regular Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – info here.
MENDING WORKSHOP: 5-8 pm at KAVU in South Delridge – mending mentors will be there to help. RSVP here. (9064 Delridge Way SW)
VISCON CELLARS: This West Seattle winery’s friendly tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Stop in for wine by the glass or bottle!
WESTIES RUN CLUB: 6 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), the Westies Run Club‘s Thursday night community run.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Rather walk instead of run? Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for tonight’s group walk – details in our calendar listing.
ADMIRAL MUSIC IN THE PARKS: Second of three free Thursday night concerts presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, 6:30 pm, featuring Michael Pearsall & Friends at California Place Park (California & Hill). BYO chair, blanket, etc. And if you knit, join the Seattle Yarn knitting circle during the concert!
MORBIDLY CURIOUS BOOK CLUB: 6:30 pm at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), with “The Butchering Art” the book this month.
LIVE MUSIC AT EASY STREET: Ollella live performance and record signing at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 7 pm, free, all ages.
DJ NIGHT: Extended-weekend spinning starts tonight at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Kingblind & Teenage Rampage, 8 pm.
Are you planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
When we published the remembrance for Rev. Dr. Stephen Ross two months ago, plans were not yet finalized for his Celebration of Life. Now they are:
A service celebrating the life of Rev. Dr. Stephen E. Ross will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 1 pm (PDT) at Saltwater Unitarian Universalist Church in Des Moines, Washington, and via Zoom for those who are unable to join in person. All who loved him or his family are welcome and encouraged to attend. The physical address and link to the live-stream can be found at saltwaterchurch.org/celebration-of-life-stephen-e-ross
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, July 24, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Clouds making way for sun, high in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:37 am; sunset will be at 8:53 pm.
ROAD WORK
-Crews are working on curb ramps for all four corners of 60th/Admiral, and that’s closing 60th during work hours as well as affecting bike lanes near work crews.
-The major nighttime work ahead on and around 16th SW in White Center continues – details here.
-Admiral Bridge work continues, with both directions now carried on the south side.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has resumed three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Issaquah. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, and on weeknights with Mariners home games (and certain special events).
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
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