FOLLOWUP: Work resumes at Morgan Junction Park expansion site

We noted here last Thursday that Morgan Community Association president Deb Barker had confirmed work was finally set to resume this week at the long-idle, fenced-off, excavated Morgan Junction Park expansion site north of the original park [map]. We just went by to confirm that crews really did start work today; just before we took our photos, a truckload of fill was dumped into the site from which contaminated soil was removed:

This work, expected to last at least three weeks, will prepare the site for hydroseeding and interim public use before the actual park features are added in about a year – maybe, or maybe not, including a “skate dot.”

WSRob August 25, 2025 (3:48 pm)

Remember, for the same amount of money in the private sector, you get this: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/253-E-Lake-Sammamish-Pkwy-SE-Sammamish-WA-98074/2088556424_zpid/?utm_campaign=zillowwebmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare  

WSDerek August 25, 2025 (7:24 pm)

I wonder if that E Lake Sammamish property also had to dispose of roughly 3000 tons of chlorinated solvent contaminated soil, about 100 tons of which was so contaminated it rated as a hazardous material?

But I suppose there shouldn’t be any cost or schedule implications from such complications, should there?https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/cleanupsearch/site/6874

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy August 25, 2025 (10:23 pm)

Wow. It was a dry cleaner there eh? This site and the admiral & California site are both a wreck. Surprised that dry cleaners can cause such horrible effects to the land underneath.
Frog August 26, 2025 (8:04 am)

How much did the government pay to acquire the site? If it had such a huge liability from soil contamination, and its market value was effectively negative, why did the government pay anything at all? However you look at it, taxpayer money is treated like toilet paper by these people.
- WSB August 26, 2025 (3:14 pm)
  
  We’ve reported this many times over the past 11 years. Almost $2 million.
  https://westseattleblog.com/2014/07/morgan-junction-park-expansion-city-closes-the-deal/

Dysfunction August 25, 2025 (7:56 pm)

No, the mansion didn’t have chlorinated soil to dispose of, but it did have a lot of ground work and other mitigation being it’s on Lake Sammamish that this little park didn’t have to deal with. And that house was probably built in 18 months, while it’s been a decade of nothing for the park. What is the excuse for that, besides dumb bureaucratic passing the buck junk. Nobody should be government apologists on this. And this park is just another example of the incompetence of government here in West Seattle in prices and ridiculous times frames. Hiawatha community center? Lincoln Park play area? Other park planned improvements? And the biggest debacle is the light rail line here (different government agency but who cares). Privatizing as many government entities as possible would save lots of time and money

WS Person August 25, 2025 (9:12 pm)

I will never understand apologists for government incompetence.

Raye August 25, 2025 (11:21 pm)

Had to google “skate dot.” “According to Seattle’s Citywide Skatepark Plan, a skatedot is a piece of “integrated skateable terrain” designed to blend seamlessly into small neighborhood parks“

snowskier August 26, 2025 (11:28 am)

We’ll see how long this project takes to complete. Will it be longer or shorter than the Lincoln Park playground or the Hiawatha CC remodel? Either way, 6+ years in and the fact that they’re just replacing some contaminated dirt is a sign of true incompetence. This isn’t the first former dry cleaner or gas station site that has been remediated, try using the playbook rather than starting from scratch.