West Seattle, Washington
15 Friday
7:02 PM: A reader texted us that photo late today, saying the state Department of Ecology was investigating a reported fuel spill into Longfellow Creek at the West Seattle Golf Course. “Dead fish and odor in the creek on the 12th hole,” the text said. We contacted an Ecology spokesperson, who had not heard about it; since then, Seattle Public Utilities has tweeted, “Vandalism of an approximately 250-300-gallon gasoline storage tank has caused a fuel spill at City of Seattle’s West Seattle Golf Course. Gasoline has reached Longfellow Creek. SPU’s Spill Response team is on site and coordinating with (Ecology).” More as we get it.
7:51 PM: Just talked with the Ecology spokesperson we originally spoke with earlier, Ty Keltner, as well as with SPU spokesperson Sabrina Register. Keltner said Seattle Parks first discovered the spill early this morning, then contacted SPU, and notified Ecology this afternoon. A cleanup contractor already has been hired, they said, and they confirmed that dead fish were found and so the Department of Fish and Wildlife is involved in the investigation. Register said the cleanup and SPU personnel have booms out and will be on scene overnight; she’s not sure exactly how much got into the creek and how much of the fuel was stolen, but she says Parks recovered about 70 gallons.
9:13 PM: Our original tipster says they first reported this to Parks after noticing it while walking the golf course this morning. They shared a photo of what they described as the area where the tank is, by the golf course’s maintenance shed:
“The gas was flowing from there and then into the catch basin by the 18th tee box,” they said.
12:25 PM SATURDAY: We’re working on a detailed followup (coming up separately later this afternoon) after talking with SPU at the spill site and seeing cleanup crews at the creek. Not much additional information yet but cleanup work continues.
They still don’t know exactly how much got into the creek. pic.twitter.com/tmWqnDskAV
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) January 18, 2020
1:34 PM: Two notes for tonight, with more snow forecast (right now we’re getting a snow shower mixed with sunshine):
SEATTLE PARKS: Facilities are closing early – from the announcement:
All Seattle Parks and Recreation evening programs cancelled and recreation facilities closed after 6 p.m. today: Due to freezing temperatures, icy road conditions, and the forecast for additional snow this evening, Seattle Parks and Recreation is cancelling all evening programs after 6 p.m. today (Jan. 14) at all recreation facilities, including at community centers and pools. All recreation facilities will be closed after 6 p.m. today for the safety of community members and staff. We will assess the weather in the morning and make a determination on tomorrow’s conditions based on our Snow Procedures.
Matt Richardson from Southwest Pool tells WSB, “Participants for pre-registered programs will be issued a credit on their account for the missed class.”
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: The district says this announcement already has been sent to all families:
Tonight, another wave of snow and cold temperatures is projected to hit our region. Due to the forecast, the Athletic Dept., has approved cancelling ALL athletic events.
All after-school events are also cancelled, including those that don’t require transportation. Childcare providers will continue to communicate any changes in regularly scheduled hours directly to families.
The district’s Special Education Resource Fair and the Board’s Curriculum and Instruction Committee are also cancelled.
The cancellations include basketball that had been scheduled at Chief Sealth IHS.
3:10 PM: South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) advisory: “Due to inclement weather, campuses will close at 4:30 p.m. today, 1/14. All classes and activities after 4:30 p.m. are canceled.”
Thanks to Jenny for sending the photo and report: Less than a week after a driver hit and damaged the Roxhill Park swing set, it is fixed and reopened. No one was hurt in the New Year’s Day crash.
(WSB photos)
That Roxhill Park play-area swing set is damaged and taped off because of his crash. We got there just as the car was about to be towed away. Police tell us the driver went forward when she meant to go in reverse. No injuries reported.
We’ll be checking with Seattle Parks about repair plans.
(WSB photo)
Earlier this month, Seattle Parks told us the renovated E.C. Hughes Playground (2805 SW Holden) would be open by month’s end – and that’s indeed happened (as noted earlier this week by commenter Leah). Today’s announcement:
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is happy to announce the new play area at E.C. Hughes Playground is open. Small areas around the play area are fenced off and will be seeded in the spring when the temperatures will allow for grass establishment.
The play area renovation project provides nature-themed play structures accessible to children of all abilities, ages 2-5 and 5-12. The play area features slides, climbing structures, new swings, a large netted merry-go-round and climbing balls. Improvements to the site also include new bike racks, relocation of the kiosk, a new accessible drinking fountain, and an accessible transfer platform for the sand pit. Through this project, safety has been improved and play area accessibility has been brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Funding for this park project is provided by the Seattle Park District. Approved by Seattle voters in 2014, the Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding to Seattle Parks and Recreation for maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites.
The old play equipment had to be replaced because of termite damage found more than two years ago after similar damage shut down Lincoln Park South Play Area, where renovations are supposed to finally start next year.
From Parkways, an invitation for teenagers to apply for the “Just Cooking” program:
Youth ages 13-19 can earn a $100 stipend while learning about food-justice issues and developing foundational cooking skills in this new FREE program.
Just Cooking’s pilot program will start January 2020 and will run 4-week classes until June 2020. Classes are from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays at High Point Community Center, and Saturdays at South Park Community Center.
Participants must be between 13 & 19 years old. Click here to sign up.
The new year will bring new movement classes for babies/toddlers at local Seattle Parks facilities. Here’s the announcement:
Hiawatha Community Center is so excited to broaden its dance offerings this winter! Beginning in January, we’ll have Parent and Me creative movement classes, baby ballet, and toddler dance jam. Anyone who has had their little one in class with Miss Marika knows how energetic and wonderful she is at ushering the kiddos into their first dance education experience. In addition to our Wednesday morning classes, we’ll be expanding into Monday afternoons at Dakota Place Park. Give us a call at 206.684.7441 or visit us online to sign up and make sure we’ve got enough spots filled to run all these amazing classes! Questions? E-mail Assistant Coordinator Andrea Sisco at andrea.sisco@seattle.gov
P.S. Looking for programs for other age groups? Here’s the winter brochure (PDF) for all the local city-run community centers!
(WSB photo from October, site currently planned as temporary off-leash area at Westcrest)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
It was the lowest-key proceeding we’ve ever covered in the city Hearing Examiner‘s room downtown.
On one side of the table in the windowless room on the 40th floor of the city’s Municipal Tower, West Seattleite Inge Anderson, making the case for her appeal of the “determination of non-significance” regarding the upcoming drainage work that will close West Seattle’s only off-leash area, at Westcrest Park, for up to six months.
On the other side, Seattle Parks‘ David Graves.
At the head of the table, Hearing Examiner Ryan Vancil and assistant Galen Edlund-Cho.
Under the table, Anderson’s service dog.
In the gallery, no one but your editor here. In some cases, the table is full – with lawyers and witnesses – and spectators fill the seats. Not this time.
We previewed the hearing last Sunday. Anderson contends that the city’s plan will be a hardship on the hundreds of dogs and owners who use the park each day, because Parks intends to open only a much-smaller arra of Westcrest as its replacement. But that wasn’t the only point she argued.
Vancil expects to issue a written ruling “after the holidays.” Here’s how the hearing went:
(WSB photo from October, site currently planned as temporary off-leash area at Westcrest)
A Westcrest Park neighbor who says the planned temporary replacement for the dog park is too small will argue her case downtown tomorrow.
West Seattle’s only dog park is closing for up to six months next year because of a drainage project; we first heard about it when Inge Anderson‘s appeal was mentioned at an HPAC meeting in August. At the time, as we subsequently reported, the city only planned to keep the “small/shy dog area” open during the closure, but it has since – as reported here in October – planned to cordon off some extra space north of the Westcrest P-Patch. Not big enough, Anderson says, so she continued to pursue her appeal of the Determination of Non-Significance filed by the city in relation to the drainage project. Anderson contends Seattle Parks should create a much-bigger temporary dog park with some of the space further north at Westcrest, atop the underground reservoir. When that came up at an October community meeting about the temporary dog park, a Parks rep said it wasn’t possible, but Anderson communicated separately with Seattle Public Utilities, which told her it was. (We asked Parks Friday about the discrepancy and have not yet received an answer.)
Her hearing before the city Hearing Examiner, previously set for September, is now scheduled for 9 am tomorrow in the HE’s hearing room on the 40th floor of the city Municipal Tower (700 5th Ave.). There’s not likely to be a decision immediately, as the HE usually issues a written ruling a few weeks after a hearing. The drainage project that will close the permanent off-leash area is expected to start next spring.
(May photo by David Hutchinson)
1:30 PM: Early alert from the Port of Seattle regarding the damage at Jack Block Park in West Seattle, first noted here back in May:
Starting as early as January 2, 2020, and going as late as March 6, 2020, the pier at Jack Block Park will be closed for repairs to the pier structure and hand railings.
Work will generally be Monday through Friday, starting as early as 6:00 AM and will end as late as 4:30 PM.
Visitors should expect a reduction in parking spaces near the eastern restroom building, while the ADA parking space will remain available.
The plaza will remain open, but a small portion may be used for staging. We appreciate the public’s understanding while these repairs are being completed.
3:37 PM: Since our archives showed that repairs were made in spring, we asked port spokesperson Peter McGraw for information on exactly what will happen during this closure. His reply:
In the summer of 2019 we completed interim repairs; those repairs allowed us to open the majority of the pier.
A small portion of the pier which we closed about 2-1/2years ago remains closed. That portion will be open again at the completion of the upcoming project.
The upcoming project work includes repairing additional damage from the 2019 impact event that caused the summer 2019 closure.
The project will also complete needed repairs that are simply due to age of the pier.
One of West Seattle’s play-area renovations is almost done – the one at E.C. Hughes (2805 SW Holden). Margaret emailed WSB to ask, “We are excited to see that the park looks very close to opening. Is there a grand opening planned?” As you can see in our view through the construction fence, the project indeed looks just about complete. So we took the question to Seattle Parks. The reply from spokesperson Karen O’Connor: “The project manager is working to get final items completed for this project and open to the public as soon as she can. The fencing will be down and play area open to the public by the end of the year. We will not be having a ribbon-cutting event.” The project was originally planned for construction last year; we first reported two years ago that citywide inspections following the discovery of termite damage at Lincoln Park South Play Area had discovered it at E.C. Hughes too. (As reported here last month, construction of Lincoln Park’s project has slid to next year.)
David Bader, Seattle Parks
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Neighbors gathered on Monday night to hear about plans for renovations to the Cottage Grove Park playground (aka Puget Boulevard Commons Park), and to give feedback on the design ideas.
The public meeting, held at the Delridge Community Center, was facilitated by project manager Pam Kliment and landscape architect David Bader from Seattle Parks.
The overall goal for the renovation of the park, located at 5206 26th Ave. SW, is to make the play area more usable for younger children by replacing some of the play equipment and reusing other pieces. The project was chosen by the public as part of the Your Voice, Your Choice program in partnership with the Department of Neighborhoods, Department of Transportation, and Seattle Parks. The design phase is happening now through the end of the year, with the renovation likely complete in late spring 2020.
Preliminary designs are located here. Bader described them as “very much a draft,” with lots of room for input and changes.
Reminder as the long holiday weekend wraps up: Seattle Parks invites you to a meeting tomorrow night (Monday, December 2nd) to talk about changes at Cottage Grove Playground as part of the Your Voice/Your Choice program – some new equipment, in addition to moving existing equipment. The meeting is set for 6:30 pm at Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW); here’s our preview from two weeks ago.
Seattle Parks and SDOT are organizing a community walk December 7th for a project that’s linked to the future conversion of Metro Route 120 to the RapidRide H Line, in hopes of helping people get to and from one of the stops:
This project improves pedestrian paths and wayfinding along SW Brandon Street and SW Findlay Street to improve neighborhood mobility. It includes work to improve and make more welcoming to the public the trail entries at Camp Long and Longfellow Creek from SW Brandon Street. One of the goals of this project is to improve access to the future new RapidRide H-line stop at SW Findlay and Delridge. The RapidRide H-line service starts in 2021.
(Our most-recent update on the overall project – which includes repaving and other changes for much of Delridge – is here.) The December 7th walk will start at 26th/Brandon at 11 am.
(Photo courtesy Roxhill Park Champions: The park’s longtime steward Scott Blackstock supervising Saturday’s work party)
Fall is an ideal time to plant, and that’s why it was so important for volunteers to step up and dig in at Roxhill Park this past Saturday. As noted here, at least 20 volunteers were needed; Roxhill Park Champions got 26! Supervised by longtime steward Scott Blackstock, they got 300 plants in the ground in Peat Cell 3 of the park’s bog, site of an underground fire two years ago. Read more about their success here – and see how to be part of ongoing efforts to care for this unique place.
Thanks to Doug for the tip! Another West Seattle playground has improvements on the way. New equipment is planned for Cottage Grove Park Playground at 5206 26th SW, as part of the 2018 Your Voice, Your Choice! process, “to make the play area more usable for young children.” Seattle Parks is having a community meeting at 6:30 pm Monday, December 2nd, for input on the new equipment. All are welcome at the meeting, which will be in Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW) – see the full flyer here (PDF).
Thanks for the tips about a police search in and around Fauntleroy Park. We went over to find out what it was about and talked with the person whose report led to the search. He said he was doing volunteer work in the wooded area just east of the Fauntleroy Church lot when he happened onto a man camping there. When he told the man he wasn’t supposed to be there, he told us, the man indicated both verbally and with a gesture that he was armed and wanted to left alone. The man who’d been threatened subsequently called 911. so far, police have not found the suspect. (And in case you are in the area and wondering, the SFD medic response in the church lot is completely unrelated.)
(WSB photo, July 2017)
It’s been two and a half years since Lincoln Park‘s south play area was closed for safety concerns – and the rebuild has been delayed again. We noticed that a new update on the project website says the project won’t be going out to bid until early next year:
This project has experienced some unforeseen delays. We anticipate the bid will be advertised in early 2020, with construction beginning in spring 2020.
We asked Seattle Parks for details on those delays, given that it’s already been almost two years since community design input for the project. Spokesperson Karen O’Connor replies, “Currently, Planning and Development has over six play area renovations going on across the city, and we’ve had to make some adjustments in our scheduling to ensure that all these projects can keep making progress.”
(WSB photo, October 2017)
One week from today, you can help Roxhill Park continue healing from the underground peat fire two years ago. Here’s how:
20 Volunteers needed for Roxhill Park: Replanting Fire-Damaged Peat Cell 3
Saturday, November 16th starting at 10 am, rain or shineTwo years after the underground peat fire in Roxhill Park, the community has successfully organized, with the Green Seattle Partnership, the delivery of 300 native grasses, ferns and perennial plants to restore the damaged area.
RoxhillPark.org is seeking at least 20 volunteers to assist with planting on Saturday, November 16th. Bring gardening gloves and wear warm outdoor clothing. Shovels, warm drinks and snacks will be provided.
(Roxhill Park Champions photo: Prepping Peat Cell 3 for next Saturday’s planting)
We’ll meet near the restroom and parking lot along 29th Ave SW, across the street from 9227 29th Ave SW. If you arrive a little later, the planting site can easily be found looking directly east from the playground and parking lot.
Register here for more details about the location. If you need additional information, contact: RoxhillParkCommons@gmail.com
Roxhill Park Champions meets every (corrected) second Saturday to clean litter and remove invasive plants along the park’s trails.
Green Seattle Day 2019 – this past Saturday – was a shining success! So reports Lisa McGinty from Friends of Lincoln Park; she also shared the photos:
Friends of Lincoln Park participated in a city-wide effort (Green Seattle Day) to plant native trees and plants in 17 Seattle Parklands. Lincoln Park had 40 volunteers and gave 400 trees and plants their forever home, in the north end of the park. City-wide, Green Seattle Partnership reported 1200 volunteers and nearly 9,000 trees and plants!
We had an absolutely perfect fall day for planting and a wonderful community to share the event with, including West Seattle’s Girl Scout Troop #45305, who were GREAT and planted a bunch of trees!
All that effort will help create healthy urban forests and healthy urban forests create healthy environments for the city and all that live in it.
Friends of Lincoln Park has frequent urban-restoration events – watch their website for word of the next one.
The temporary off-leash area planned at Westcrest Park next year will be the city’s first, according to Seattle Parks.
That’s part of what the project briefing at HPAC‘s October meeting revealed.
As first reported here in August, West Seattle’s only off-leash area will be closed for months next year while a persistent drainage problem is fixed. Earlier this month, Parks announced a plan to set up a temporary off-leash area north of the Westcrest P-Patch.
Parks’ Emily Griffith was at the HPAC meeting to talk about the plan and listen to community comments.
She said that the drainage project is important because “Westcrest floods pretty regularly” and that’s led to problems including erosion. Regrading will be part of the half-million-dollar project, as will fencing repairs and, while they’re there, accessibility improvements in the north parking lot.
As originally promised, the current “small/shy dog area” will remain open in addition to the planned temporary area, which is “open lawn” right now but will get temporary fencing. It will be restored to “lawn” after the six-months-or-so construction is complete and the regular off-leash area is reopened.
Questions and comments started with one attendee wondering whether the project will include lighting improvements. Answer: No.
What about using another area of Westcrest? Explanation: Much of the big grassy space atop the park is the lid of the underground reservoir (buried 10 years ago – here’s what it looked like, underground too, before that), a Seattle Public Utilities facility, and that can’t be used for an off-leash area. They can’t use trails, because those would have to be fenced.
Did you consider the city-owned Myers Way Parcels? asked HPAC chair Gunner Scott, especially if Camp Second Chance leaves that space in March? No, they hadn’t.
Dates aren’t finalized yet but the Westcrest construction is expected to last about half a year, “spring through fall” of 2020. The project webpage is here.
ADDED: Here’s what the city showed at the meeting, to pinpoint what’ll happen where:
(File photo)
Back in August, we reported on a months-long closure ahead for West Seattle’s only dog park, the Westcrest Park off-leash area, because of a drainage project. At the time, Seattle Parks was only planning to keep the “small/shy dog area” open as an alternative. Now they have a new plan, just announced:
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is investing in the maintenance of Westcrest Park and the Off-Leash Area (OLA). Over the past few years, the maintenance project has grown from a simple drainage improvement project to a $505,000 project that will address drainage, access and erosion.
To address the impacts to the community during construction, SPR is proposing establishing a temporary OLA north of the P-Patch at the park. SPR will present the construction project and temporary off-leash plan on Wednesday, October 23 at 7 p.m. at the Highland Park Action Coalition (HPAC) meeting. The meeting will be held at the Highland Park Improvement Club, 1116 SW Holden St.
Due to the scope of the project and the nature of the work, the north parking lot and the entire OLA will be closed for the duration of construction. After initial outreach and discussions with the project team, SPR is working to accommodate a temporary off-leash area during the 6-month construction window and will also keep the shy/small dog use area open for everyone’s use.
Please join us at the upcoming HPAC meeting to learn more about the proposal. SPR anticipates construction will begin in the spring of 2020 and will run through the fall of 2020.
For more information please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/westcrest-park-drainage-improvements
HPAC’s meeting also is scheduled to include SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe talking about the latest Highland Park Way/Holden safety-improvements plan.
Seattle Parks plans to move the Hiawatha play area – and renovate it with new equipment – and is looking for your thoughts. First, the flyer explaining what’s planned
Before the October 25th event, you can comment via this survey, which will ask your thoughts on some potential “elements” for the relocated play area.
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