Many have asked what’s up with the long-stalled park project at the old substation site (2007 photo above) north of The Junction. Now there’s a long-awaited update from Friends of Dakota Place Park:

Here’s the update in its entirety as received last night:

Dear Friends and Neighbors of Dakota Place Park:

Happy New Year! It is with pleasure that we write you with good news. Seattle Parks and Recreation has committed to completing its portion of this project no later than May of 2008.

As many of you may know, the obstacle to progress has been the substation building. It was landmarked after the levy was passed when the initial budget called for the demolition of the building. The community came forward to raise money for the park, but the challenge of renovating the building to landmark standards without going over budget proved difficult and forced Seattle Parks into a series of delays over the last three years which brings us to today.

Issues with the building have been resolved and Seattle Parks and the Friends of Dakota Place Park have integrated construction documents for both the park and the building thereby streamlining the process, gaining some economies in terms of project costs and putting us on a direct path to completion by Seattle Parks in May. As soon as Seattle Parks is finished with its work, the Friends of Dakota Place Park will organize work parties to undertake the final landscaping of the park. This work should be a great way to get the community together to put the finishing touches on the park!

Hiawatha is still scheduled to manage the building and organize the programming for its use. For information about the schedule for the completion of the interior space of the building and its proposed programming, please contact Hiawatha Community Center.

We greatly appreciate your patience and support and look forward to working with you at spring planting parties and celebrating together at the park’s opening.

Best wishes for the New Year,
Friends of Dakota Place Park

Find the Friends of DPP website here. And remember – meetings are coming up for two other West Seattle parks-to-be where progress is expected to accelerate, Morgan Junction (Jan. 15) and Myrtle Reservoir (Jan. 22).