Thanks to Joan Mussa for the photo and video of part of the second new dock being placed at West Seattle’s Don Armeni Boat Ramp:

The project website explains in detail why Seattle Parks couldn’t fulfill the initial promise of keeping one dock (float) open at all times, and says there won’t be one available until “late March,” but adds that “boaters can put their boats in without floats during non-working hours.”

A quick look at what’s happening at three Seattle Parks project sites in West Seattle:

HIAWATHA COMMUNITY CENTER: After Friday’s announcement that work would start today, we went by this morning to see if a crew was truly in view – and yes, as our photo above shows, mobilization is indeed under way.

WESTCREST PARK PLAY AREA: Thanks to Phillip for sending that photo over the weekend, showing work is progressing. You’ll recall that the project was “bundled” with the long-delayed Lincoln Park South Play Area, so we went over for a look at that:

LINCOLN PARK SOUTH PLAY AREA: No workers in sight there this morning, and work does not appear to have progressed beyond digging; it’s been two months since work began here. We’re asking Parks about its status, and whether it’s still on track to open in June.

(WSB file photo)

A resident near Hiawatha Community Center told us the contractor for the long-delayed “stabilization” project was making the rounds today informing neighbors that work is about to start – and Seattle Parks has just confirmed it. Optimus Construction Co. was chosen as contractor, with a $2.5 million bid, and Parks says Optimus has received the Notice to Proceed, so they will “mobilize on site” starting Monday. Parks says that means “the contractor will set up construction fencing to allow for deliveries and construction activities on the east and south side of the Hiawatha Community Center building.” According to Parks, “This project addresses a number of major maintenance, accessibility, and program space needs at Hiawatha Community Center. It will include a seismic retrofit of the gym and brick veneer, roof replacement, and renovation of the restrooms, kitchen, childcare area and lobby spaces, in addition to relocation of the teen room.” Hiawatha has already been closed for four years; here’s our December story with Parks officials attempting to explain why.

After six days, that slide on Lincoln Park’s north-shore trail is cleared, and the path has reopened. That’s according to Seattle Parks‘ communications team, with whom we checked after a reader sent the top photo on Tuesday, saying the trail was still blocked. Parks says a crew cleared the slide this morning. We got first word of it after a reader tip last Friday.

A reader texted that photo of a Seattle Parks crew at the future West Seattle Junction Park site (40th SW between Alaska and Edmunds), wondering if park-development work is finally getting under way. Short answer, no; longer answer from Parks’ project manager Kelly Goold: “Current work on site is general cleanup and lawn care to improve current temporary open lawn space.” Park construction is still on the other side of getting bids, choosing a contractor, and finalizing permits, but could start this year. “Until then, the site is an open lawn for public use.” (As explained here last year.) The city bought the third-of-an-acre parcel more than a decade ago.

FYI for tomorrow, since we have so many Seattle Parks facilities in West Seattle:

Many Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities and programs will be closed Thursday, March 7, 2024, due to a Recreation Division staff training day.

These facilities and services are CLOSED:
All recreation programs
Community centers and teen life centers
Environmental learning centers [Camp Long is an ELC in West Seattle]
Indoor swimming pools
Green Lake Small Craft Center
Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center

These facilities are OPEN on regular schedules:
Parks
Amy Yee Tennis Center
Volunteer Park Conservatory
Japanese Garden
Boat ramps
Golf courses and ranges

(WSB photos)

DNDA co-executive directors Mesha Florentino and Imani Sims welcomed Seattle Kraken and other companies’ staffers – including Kraken mascot Buoy – to a forest-restoration work party at West Seattle’s Camp Long this morning. A bit of snow remained on the ground, but considering most of this crew makes their living on the ice, it was no big deal:

DNDA says the volunteers helping out today are from not only the Kraken (whose players are on the road right now, so they couldn’t join in) but also Climate Pledge Arena, Kraken Community Iceplex, and Oak View Group.

They were doing what all good gardeners should be doing with spring almost here – planting native plants and removing invasives, now that the ground is beginning to warm (yes, even with the below-normal temperatures). But with a professional sports mascot in the midst of it all, there were photo ops, too:

DNDA coordinates many volunteer events in local parks and other greenspaces as part of its Urban Forest Restoration Program, and while this one wasn’t open to other community volunteers, most are – here’s how to join in.

ADDED MONDAY: According to a DNDA wrapup, “The volunteers first identified and dug up invasive plants from nearly 20,000 square feet (a little more than the area of an ice hockey rink) of forest, allowing them to plant native shrubs and trees across another 10,000 square feet of forest — a total of 250 plants.”

9:38 AM: Thanks to Desiree for the photo and report of a slide blocking Lincoln Park‘s north waterfront path, a short distance east of Colman Pool (and Bruun Idun the troll). We’re checking with Parks regarding cleanup plans.

3:15 PM: Christina Hirsch of Parks replied, “I can confirm that the trail will not reopen today. Our Heavy Equipment crew needs to get out there to do cleanup first.”

Before the long-delayed Don Armeni Boat Ramp dock-replacement project got started, Seattle Parks said repeatedly that one float would remain open throughout the work. As the photo above from Stewart L. shows, that isn’t currently the case. We asked Parks why, and when there’d be a usable dock again. Spokesperson Karen O’Connor replied, “We were working hard and had planned to keep one float open at all times during the work at Don Armeni, however, we ran into some unexpected conditions when driving the final piles for both the north and south floats. If all goes well and the weather cooperates, the project manager anticipates opening one dock/float this weekend/beginning of March.” The project is replacing the old dock structures and pilings with sturdier new ones, and increasing the “over-water coverage” by a third.

One week from tonight, the recently released draft Seattle Parks and Open Space Plan gets a public hearing. (More on that shortly.) It’s a plan the city has to update every six years to be eligible for certain types of funding, but it gives a detailed look into where the department expects to go. So we went through the draft plan to look for specific West Seattle mentions.

Overall, the plan proposes redefining the “level of service” provided for people in Seattle – instead of focusing on a certain amount of park/open space acreage per person, the focus would be on ensuring that parks and park facilities are within a 10-minute walk.

Toward that goal, the draft plan notes that three of West Seattle’s “urban village” areas are “underserved” right now – the West Seattle Junction, Morgan Junction, and Highland Park/Westwood areas. (See page 94 of the plan for more on that.)

Also of note – a list of projects slated for the next several years. Listed for West Seattle are accessibility projects (without specifics) for Colman Pool, West Seattle Stadium, the West Seattle Golf Course clubhouse, Walt Hundley Playfield, the south end of Westcrest Park, Seacrest Park, and Riverview Playfield. Also, the three West Seattle landbanked parks (Morgan Junction addition, West Seattle Junction/40th SW, and 48th/Charlestown), plus the second West Seattle Off-Leash Area. Playground renovations are planned for Southwest Teen Life Center/Pool, Riverview, and Westcrest Park’s south play area. Restroom overhauls are mentioned for the golf course (on-course structure), Walt Hundley Playfield, south Westcrest Park, and the Lincoln Park wading-pool area. Other projects envisioned between now and 2028: Turf replacement at Walt Hundley, decarbonization and renovations at High Point Community Center, shower renovations at Delridge Community Center, field-lighting replacements at West Seattle Stadium, plaster-liner replacement at Colman Pool, and “illicit connection remediation” at Hiawatha Community Center.

There’s a lot more in the plan – maps, stats, demographics and how they’re changing – which you can read here. The Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners – a city-convened advisory group – will hold a public hearing at its meeting one week from tonight (6:30 pm February 22 – online and in-person), and the deadline for all comments is March 9. Go here to find other ways to comment.

(WSB photos and video)

A ceremony and celebration in the midday sunshine dedicated Camp Long‘s new south entrance gate in the name of the park’s longtime leader and champion, Sheila Brown. It was one of her last wishes before her 2021 death at age 59, an upgraded entrance to make the sprawling park more accessible. A partnership between Seattle Parks and the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, plus more than 100 donors, made it happen.

Before the ribboncutting, a crowd we counted at more than 50 people gathered on 29th, blocked off for the occasion, to hear about Ms. Brown and the project. We recorded them all on video:

Speakers included Seattle Parks superintendent AP Diaz, Caroline Borsenik of DNDA, and representatives of Ms. Brown’s family and friends, as well as a Muckleshoot Tribe member providing a blessing. Camp Long’s Matt Kostle emceed:

Attendees were invited to enjoy treats including s’mores – but most of all, they were encouraged to explore Camp Long, today and in the future, through the new Sheila Brown Memorial Gate:

Its materials, by the way, include reclaimed stone. If you’ve never been to Camp Long, it’s one of the city’s Environmental Learning Centers, with features including a pond, climbing rock, and cabins you can rent for camping, and a historic lodge, with the main entrance at 5200 35th SW.