West Seattle, Washington
03 Sunday
(Photos by Omar Abdulkadir for WSB)
Park visitors of all ages got a chance to experience climbing during Camp Long‘s Mountain Fest on Saturday. It’s the annual chance to explore the park’s unique features that give you the chance to climb without leaving West Seattle:
Mountain Fest also provided opportunities to learn about wildlife – whether from The Falconer‘s raptors like this owl …
or from Seattle Parks naturalists who were there to answer questions about other creatures you might see (all in a day’s work for them, since Camp Long is an Environmental Learning Ceter):
If you didn’t get to Mountain Fest, Camp Long is open to visitors at other times too – the main entrance is at 35th/Dawson, by the historic lodge, which is available for rentals (as are the 10 cabins at the park)
Another festival this Saturday – but this one lasts all day, so you can get to this as well as the Morgan Junction Community Festival! West Seattle’s environmental-learning center/park Camp Long is inviting you to its 2024 Mountain Fest, 11 am-5 pm Saturday. The park’s famous climbing rock/wall is a major attraction, as is its challenge course:
But you don’t have to climb to have a good time at Mountain Fest – lots of free fun is promised for those who plan to keep both feet on the ground, too. Here’s the map of what they’re planning, and where. (For bird fans, note that The Falconer is scheduled to be there!) Get more Mountain Fest info from this Parkways post. Haven’t been to Camp Long? 5200 35th SW.
(WSB photo – banner on kiosk at Morgan Junction Park)
We’re counting down to the next major summer event in West Seattle – the Morgan Junction Community Festival, 10 am-2 pm Saturday (June 15) in and around Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW). Among the festival features will be your next chance to participate in planning the “all-wheels area” that’s on the drawing board for the southwest side of the soon-to-be-expanded park. The Morgan Junction All-Wheels Association has sent their official announcement of what they’re planning as part of the festival:
The Morgan Junction All-Wheels Association (MJAWA) is excited to announce our second community meeting for the Morgan Junction Park expansion.
Hosted at the Morgan Junction Community Festival, attendees will have the opportunity to explore the three skate spot design options from legendary West Seattle-based skatepark builder Grindline, participate in the interactive Skate Like a Girl “MJ Ramp-age,” and be entered to win a skate prize from By and By skate shop or project t-shirt. All community members are invited to vote for their favorite design on-site on Saturday, June 15.
“We are excited to present these design options to the Morgan Junction community,” said Matt Fluegge, CEO of Grindline. “Our goal is to create a space that not only meets the needs of local kids, but also enhances the overall park experience for everyone. The feedback we’ve received has been invaluable, and we’re committed to building a park that the community will be proud of.”
Grindline has incorporated feedback from the first community meeting on April 27, as well as a Seattle Parks and Recreation survey at last year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival.
In addition to the design presentations, Skate Like a Girl will be sponsoring the “MJ Ramp-age” feature. This interactive area will allow attendees to move real ramps around a 1,500 sq ft space, providing a hands-on experience to explore how different park features might feel and flow together.
Kristin Ebeling, executive director of Skate Like a Girl, added, “Skateboarding has the power to transform lives. It is both a physical and creative outlet with the power to build intergenerational community. We are proud to be part of a project that will create an accessible entry point for emerging skaters and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the Morgan Junction neighborhood.”
“Skateboarding teaches perseverance, creativity, and resilience,” said Jason Glover, Chief Sealth International High School teacher and local skateboarder. “I’ve seen firsthand how students who skateboard develop a strong sense of self-confidence and community. It’s more than just a sport; it’s a way for kids to express themselves and build essential life skills.”
Look for MJAWA in Morgan Junction Park during the festival, 10 am-2 pm Saturday. As the week continues, we’ll preview other festival features – entertainment, vendors, activities. (WSB is media sponsor for the festival, which is presented by the Morgan Community Association.)
ORIGINAL WEDNESDAY REPORT: Thanks to Alki Community Council president Charlotte Starck for the tip. Extra city workers were at Alki Beach Park this morning for a “multi-district cleanup.” When we went over to find out what that entailed, a Parks worker told us it was over, explaining that they had focused on work such as tidying up the flower beds near the bathhouse and painting the restroom building further east:
The worker told us a new mural is planned for that building. We’ve had an inquiry out to Parks HQ asking for more details on what was done today (we’ll update whenever we hear back); the beach no doubt will be busy this weekend, with temperatures forecast to approach 80.
P.S. The Alki Community Council hopes to see you for its Summer Celebration at Alki Playfield, 5-8 pm Thursday, June 20 – our calendar listing has entertainment and other details for this free event.
ADDED THURSDAY: Here’s the response we received from Parks spokesperson Christina Hirsch:
These events are called “jamborees”, and they are cooperative projects amongst our district staff who work on larger scale projects rotating throughout the districts as the need arises. At the peak of this project, there were approximately 25 parks maintenance staff from 3 districts. This event included mowing, planting, chip spreading, and other grounds and maintenance activities. The teams were there for approximately 3 hours completing these tasks.
Thanks to Lisa McGinty, forest steward with Friends of Lincoln Park, for a report and photos on their latest restoration event:
We had a great time in the forest on Sunday. Twenty-five volunteers gathered to enjoy wildlife, nature education, and have fun getting muddy doing some forest restoration.
Grateful to the community for showing up and caring about our urban green spaces!
This event is part of the Society for Ecological Restoration’s Make a Difference Week – an annual week of global restoration action where individuals and organizations from around the world host and participate in local volunteer restoration events to achieve a tremendous global collective impact.
Missed it? If you have time tomorrow afternoon/evening, it’s not too late to get in on the World Environment Day restoration event at Pigeon Point Park!
The blustery weather should be gone just in time for a big outdoor event Wednesday afternoon/evening (June 5) in West Seattle – a restoration celebration at Pigeon Point Park in honor of World Environment Day. Organizers are still looking for dozens of volunteers to participate – here’s what’s happening:
Enjoy World Environment Day with a community celebration hosted by the Society for Ecological Restoration Northwest Chapter, Green Seattle Partnership, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and the United Nations Environment Programme!
Join us at Pigeon Point Park for a fun afternoon of activities to celebrate Seattle as the only US Role Model City for the UN Decade of Restoration and to spotlight local young leaders working in our urban ecosystems.
The afternoon will include:
-Guided forest restoration, a bird walk, citizen science, a community mural, and more!
-Special presentations by local young stewards and community leaders!
-Gathering together for a community picnic!
-Free raffle from local businesses and partner organizations!Plus, several of our local partners will be tabling and participating in the event, so you can connect and learn about the many ways you can get involved in greening our urban landscape this summer season!
Registration is free and includes 5 raffle tickets to try your luck at winning some local swag and goodies! All ages are welcome and food will be provided for registered participants.
It all starts with a welcome at 3 pm, “guided activities” 3:30-5 pm, then speeches and picnic dinner. Go here to sign up. The park entrance is next to Pathfinder K-8 (1901 SW Genesee).
(Photos by Omar Abdulkadir for WSB)
Saturday was so busy, we still have a few more events to acknowledge, in case you weren’t there! Throughout Saturday afternoon, Roxhill Park filled with music, for this year’s Sounds from Around the World music festival. Above is the Lion of Judah Band, with musicians from the Virgin Islands, Ethiopia, and the Pacific Northwest; below, Bob and Chet, specializing in songs from Gambia, Senegal, and Mali, as well as originals:
The festival featured vendors including Africa Mama:
Organizer of the festival was Janean Wjvold of Urgent Africa, in partnership with Seattle Department of Arts and Culture’s Arts In the Parks program:
Lots more outdoor music yet to come this summer – watch our calendar!
(October 2023 WSB photo of Lincoln Park ex-site)
One week after Seattle Parks announced it had ditched the plan for converting former tennis courts in Lincoln Park to pickleball courts, it’s out with a citywide update on pickleball and tennis, including a reiteration of its Lincoln Park intentions, and a bit about Solstice Park (both of which we’ve boldfaced below for emphasis):
Seattle Parks and Recreation is excited to announce several developments based on the 2022 Outdoor Pickleball Study and the recent 2024 SPR Pickleball and Tennis Vision presented to the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners …
… First and foremost, SPR is announcing the establishment of two sport-specific hubs: Green Lake Park (East Courts) will be a dedicated pickleball hub, and Lower Woodland Park (Lower Courts) will be a dedicated tennis hub! These two locations are excellent models for the start of sport-specific hubs in the city. SPR will use these models to pilot new initiatives as we refine the “hub specific” model for implementation elsewhere.
Additionally, the Belltown Pickleball Courts at the intersection of 5th Ave. and Taylor Ave. are now conducting a “Quiet-Paddles” only pilot. Players must use their own paddles – or check out a loaner paddle from nearby businesses – that meets criteria for Quiet-Category paddles certified by USA Pickleball. These products deliver essentially 50 percent or less of the acoustic footprint of equipment commonly used in the play of pickleball.
SPR is moving forward with new outdoor court capital development. This summer SPR will be resurfacing and restriping the tennis courts at David Rodgers Park tennis courts, Amy Yee Tennis Center outdoor courts, and, if budget allows half the tennis courts at Solstice Park (with the other half planned for resurfacing in 2025). Additionally, we will be adding noise-reducing fence technology to the courts located at Miller Park and Laurelhurst Park to mitigate noise associated with pickleball play.
SPR will not be pursuing the proposed pickleball courts at Lincoln Park. The fence surrounding the existing court slab will be removed and the area will remain “undeveloped” until a more suitable site can be identified and agreed on by community members.
SPR has launched a new online engagement hub at Project: Racquet & Paddle Sports (seattleparksandrec.com) which will be a one-stop shop for all racquet and paddle sports in the City. The community who visit the online hub may engage with planning efforts, connect with other community members, get updates about planned events, and provide feedback on SPR’s efforts to improve and increase all racquet and paddle sports courts and programs.
Lastly, SPR is working through re-vamping the online reservation system and the “Rules of the Court” at all facilities to simplify and clarify when and how the courts are used for the sports of pickleball or tennis. Look for changes coming to the online system, as well as new signs and banners posted at courts over the next few months.
We’re seeking comment from Parks on one followup point – whether the old slab at Lincoln Park will stay or go. As for Solstice Park, it was originally scheduled for resurfacing and restriping last year – and after we learned and reported the plan to add pickleball striping, the now-scrapped Lincoln Park pickleball alternative emerged.
(WSB file photo, sign at site last October)
9:18 AM: Seattle Parks has dropped its plan to convert former tennis courts in Lincoln Park into pickleball courts, according to the advocates who led a campaign against the plan. Sandy Shettler says, “Parks informed us that they will not be building pickleball courts in Lincoln Park! They even suggested that they are open to our hope to depave and rewild the cement pad.” Kersti Muul adds that Parks has told her “the fencing [around the site] will be removed by the end of the week.” We’re following up with Parks today to see what their West Seattle pickleball plan will now focus on.
We reported last month that Parks deputy superintendent Andy Sheffer had told the city Parks Board that a decision was close. We first told you about the pickleball-conversion proposal first in September, when Parks dropped a plan to add pickleball stripes to Solstice Park tennis courts, and pivoted to the Lincoln Park conversion concept, which drew intense opposition.
12:27 PM: Parks spokesperson Christina Hirsch confirms this: “Seattle Parks and Recreation has made great progress identifying another location to add another pickleball court to West Seattle and thus has decided to no longer pursue creating courts at Lincoln Park.” That new location has not yet been disclosed; there are various already-discussed possibilities – for example, while speaking to the Fauntleroy Community Association earlier this year, deputy superintendent Sheffer suggested there might be possibilities with the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (which is shared by Seattle Public Schools and Parks), and previously, Hiawatha had been under consideration as a “pickleball hub.”
Sent by Andras:
Not sure if this is well known or not but it’s my first time seeing them in Lincoln Park and I’m here every morning. Was stalked by a couple very resilient coyotes (Wednesday) morning while walking my dog; they were skittish as usual but kept coming back after running off. I managed to get a picture of one.
We have long published coyote sightings (click “coyotes” under the headline and scroll through our archive) – for awareness, not alarm. Here’s information on coexisting with coyotes.
SIDE NOTE: You can learn about urban wildlife from a naturalist while volunteering with Friends of Lincoln Park 10 am-noon Sunday, June 2 – sign-ups are open, here.
(2023 photo by Mike Mahanay, just before Colman Pool’s season opened)
While Colman Pool‘s opening date was announced last month, the full schedule wasn’t finalized – but we have it today, along with this year’s wading-pool and spraypark schedules.
COLMAN POOL (8603 Fauntleroy Way SW): The city’s heated outdoor saltwater pool on the Lincoln Park shore will open for “preseason” weekends May 25-27, June 1-2, June 8-9, June 15-16. Swim-session times are listed here. Daily operation starts June 22 and continues through Labor Day (Monday, September 2). Colman Pool will be closed to the public on these dates for swim meets: June 27-29 and July 12-13.
SPRAYPARK: West Seattle has one, at Highland Park Playground (1100 SW Cloverdale), and it will be open daily starting Saturday (May 25), through Labor Day, 11 am-8 pm each day.
WADING POOLS: West Seattle has four (citywide info is here):
Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 12 pm-7 pm every day, June 22-September 2
EC Hughes Playground (2805 SW Holden), June 24-August 18, Mondays, Tuesdays, Sundays, 12 pm-7 pm
Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW), June 26-August 16, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 12 pm-5:30 pm
Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW), June 27-August 17, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 12 pm-5:30 pm
*The South Park wading pool is closed this year “due to community-center closure and plans to convert to a spraypark,” Parks says.
INDOOR POOL: Southwest Pool continues regular operations through the summer.
(WSB file photo)
Once again calling it “a pilot,” Seattle Parks has just confirmed it’ll close Alki Beach (and Golden Gardens) nightly at 10:30 pm starting Friday (as the Alki Community Council had been told) and this year continuing for a few weeks beyond Labor Day. Beach-fire season will start Friday, too, with a later nightly end time. Here’s the announcement just sent by Parks (with a link you can use for feedback):
Seattle Parks and Recreation will enact a pilot shortening the hours at Golden Gardens and Alki Beach during the 2024 summer months from 4 A.M.-10:30 P.M. from May 24-September 22. And a return to 4 A.M. – 11:30 P.M after September 22.
The shortened hours will assist in addressing dangerous and/or illegal behavior typical of summer evening uses at these two parks in response to public input and nearby community complaints.
This program is a pilot and will be reviewed at a Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners meeting after the summer to help determine the best operating hours for the public. This review will be informed by public comments from the questionnaire below, public comment given at the Board meeting, and data collected throughout the pilot period.
During the Summer 2024 Season, Seattle Parks and Recreation staff, assisted by Seattle Police Department staff, will begin closing down these two beach locations starting at 10:00 P.M.
Public input can be provided here.
Additionally, designated fire pits will be available for beach fires this summer beginning Friday, May 24, 2024.
Beach Fire and Park Rules
Starting Friday, May 24, 2024, designated fire pits will be available for beach fires at Alki Beach and Golden Gardens seven days a week on a first come, first served basis. Bringing your own fire pit is not allowed, and no propane fire pits/rings are allowed.
-Fires must be extinguished by 10 p.m.
-Fires allowed 7 days a week starting Friday, May 24 through Sunday, September 22.
-Staff will be on-site to manage and assist with putting out fires at 10 p.m.
-Parking lot gates will be locked and the park will close at 10:30 p.m. for summer hours.
-Please only burn clean (natural, bare, dry cord-wood) wood and douse your fire completely before leaving.
-Light a fire ONLY in one of the installed fire containers
-Use only clean, dry firewood
-Please douse your fire with water, not sand
-Fires are not allowed during air pollution alerts; we will post sign
-Please don’t remove any materials from the park, beach or dunes
-Please dispose of trash and ashes in the containers provided for each. (SMC 18.12.260)
=Be considerate of others–please, no loud or amplified music! (SMC 18.12.170)Remember, no alcohol or smoking are allowed, and parks are drug-free zones. Beach fire rules are outlined in detail in the Seattle Municipal Code section 18.12.270 and in our Beach Fires Policy.
If you see an illegal fire, call 911. For current burn ban and air quality questions, contact Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
Fire pits at Golden Gardens and Alki are unlocked between 4-5 p.m. starting May 24. Please extinguish all beach fires (using water, not sand) by 10 p.m. in order to ensure that all fires are completely extinguished in ample time before the park’s closure.
The fires-out time is half an hour later than last year, and the end dates are later too; last year, the early closing time and beach fires all ended right after Labor Day.
(WSB photos)
Almost nine months after her installation, Bruun Idun the troll remains a popular attraction at Lincoln Park. Today, her visitors included dozens of students from Pathfinder K-8, on a doubleheader field trip. First they released salmon fry at Fauntleroy Creek, not far from the park; then they went to visit the troll. Their time there was highlighted by a short talk from docent Jane Gunwaldsen, who talked about the connection between the Nordic nations – including troll creator Thomas Dambo‘s native Denmark – and the Northwest, including Indigenous traditions caring for the land and water.
Bruun Idun and the other trolls, you might recall, are meant to be symbols of environmental stewardship, made from discarded/reclaimed/found material. Jane told the students that Dambo has installed trolls in 17 countries including ours. Also of note: The students along for today’s field trip included about half a dozen living with disabilities – Salmon in the Schools volunteer Judy Pickens explains that the program has expanded to find new ways of including students outside the general-education classroom environment. (This year’s Fauntleroy Creek releases run through the end of the month.)
(Schmitz Park, in the center of pilot/photographer Long Bach Nguyen‘s 2012 image)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In the spirit of the people who brought Fauntleroy Creek back from near-death, a new community coalition is dreaming of restoring another creek to its salmon-sustaining glory.
Right now, the stream in Schmitz (Preserve) Park ends unceremoniously underground and then into Elliott Bay via an outfall. The vision is to daylight it and let it run to the sea along its historic path to Alki.
To daylight this vision, a roomful of community leaders gathered at renowned photographer Art Wolfe‘s Seaview home this past Tuesday night for a presentation that Wolfe himself introduced, with a slideshow of images of Schmitz Park in its greenest glory.
“This is a good idea for this time,” declared Wolfe – good for people, good for wildlife (he mentioned his most recent book “Wild Lives“). That wildlife includes salmon; they have just a few home creeks left in the city limits, including Fauntleroy and Longfellow, but Wolfe expressed certainty that Schmitz Park’s creek could join them. “I think it’s worth trying to open-air the creek to salt water.” That would be a few blocks downhill to the north, at Alki Beach.
The room rippled with people murmuring “yes” in agreement. Wolfe continued showing images of what he found in Schmitz Park earlier this spring – trillium and salmonberry flowers, hummingbirds “like little gems,” a pileated woodpecker, red-breasted sapsucker, the snags where birds can find food and respite, trees coated with moss. Wolfe said everyone should see it for themselves: “This kind of environment” – the forest’s “boggy bottom” – “is what purifies the water and makes this a viable salmon-spawning resource.”
His photos also included the not-so-scenic grate over a segment of the creek at 57th and Stevens – here’s the Google Maps Street View image of that spot:
From there, he recounted, the culvert “empties so far out (in Elliott Bay) that nobody realizes (fresh water is mingling).” Wolfe said a potential vision for the Schmitz Park creek could be to run the streambed along a street and down to the beach, “maybe a sidewalk along one side and the creek on the other.” But he stressed that it’s “early in the game” and this is just an idea for now. But: “I think we need more salmon-spawning streams.”
Next to speak was Daniel Nye, co-chair of the new coalition, the Schmitz Park Creek Restore Project. He too spoke reverently of Schmitz Park, “sacred ground,” observing that its old-growth trees “have been here waiting and watching … for centuries since the icebergs retreated.” The forest, he reiterated, is “a spiritual place.”
Nye recounted the park’s history – long before it was a park, it was part of the home territory of the Duwamish people (whose chair Cecile Hansen and council member Ken Workman were among the guests at the gathering). In 1851, the Alki arrival of the white settlers known as the Denny Party started a wave of change on the peninsula. The Schmitz family (whose representative Vicki Schmitz Block was at the gathering) set aside the 53 unlogged acres that became Schmitz Park.
Nye talked about the park’s design by the famed Olmsted Brothers (shown above in an image from a federal website). Their plan “was only partly realized,” he noted – hopes of a “treed corridor (that) went from Alki to the Park” went unrealized, though, as he observed, the features that were realized included the WPS-built “art deco bridge” circa 1936.
This new effort, he said, could make a long-held dream come true. That’s why Nye and co-chair Brian Barilleaux are “getting together a group of people and approaching Seattle Parks with a plan of how to achieve this, and how to finance it.” Nye noted that this is a rare chance to “protect and preserve” something that has not yet been totally transformed from its origins. “We also want to restore the ties to the community and the gift of this park that was given.” And it would be a gift for our area’s life-sustaining salmon. “There are no marine species (in the creek). because it was cut off … even though it’s clear water, it’s essentially lifeless. We want to bring the fish back. … If we restore it, the fish will come.”
But long before the grand dream of daylighting the creek might come true, Nye said, people can take relatively simple action now to help the park and creek – removing ivy and graffiti, clearing blocked sections of the creek within the park. And in the big picture, “There are several ways to get the creek to the beach.” Looking back into history, they think the Alki Elementary playground might have held a “natural lagoon”: “The ghosts of that lagoon are still there,” so perhaps the creek ran in that area to get to the sea.
The dream stretches beyond the creek. They envision the possibility of a National Heritage Area, with buildings such as Alki Point Lighthouse, the Alki Beach Bathhouse, the Fir Lodge/Alki Homestead – and the awaiting-a-new-home Stone Cottage could factor into this too (among those at the gathering was Mike Shaughnessy from Save The Stone Cottage). Wayfinding to help people with area trails could be a factor. Barilleaux added, “Make it a historic monument and historic attraction.”
Other possibilities suggested by Nye: Restoring ties with local schools; demonstrating Indigenous agriculture such as camas (recently planted at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse) and berries; honoring the “sacred” nature of the forest and creek through connecting with local faith communities.
So how to make it happen? Schmitz Park already has inspired generosity and future vision, Nye noted, with a nod to yet another person in the room, Bruce Stotler, who has donated his park-adjacent home to become part of the park when he’s gone. “He’s an inspiration to all of us … in the tradition of Emma and Ferdinand Schmitz.”
An initial list of coalition supporters was shown – and an invitation offered for all to join – that means you, too. “Even if there’s nothing you think you can contribute to this, you can pull out ivy!” They’re going to have ivy-removal training sessions soon, and then organize teams to go to the park in June and July and get going.
You can find out more about the restoration proposal here, and you can email with questions or to volunteer at SchmitzParkCreekRestore@gmail.com.
(Photos courtesy Kersti Muul)
That baby Barred Owl was in a bit of a predicament tonight at Lincoln Park. We got a text from someone who said the owlet seemed to have fallen out of its tree, and what should they do? We in turn texted local wildlife advocate Kersti Muul to ask her. She ended up heading to the park and helping the fuzzy little critter.
The folks who originally texted explained this followed a youth-baseball game:
The West Seattle Baseball team Husky Deli Pintos were walking back and a group of kids and parents spotted the owl and were amazed seeing the baby and the mama owl fending off the crows trying to harass them. We probably watched it all for 10 minutes. Thanks for connecting us to Kersti; she went right down and got the owl! She knew right where the nest was. What a neat and sweet West Seattle story!
Kersti tells us she’s hoping the owlet can be returned to its nest quickly.
Thanks to Mike Munson for the photos. In case you’ve been wondering, work continues on the Lincoln Park South Play Area project, almost seven years after the previous play structure was closed for safety concerns. Contractor L.W. Sundstrom recently concluded work on the Westcrest Park Play Area – bundled with this one for bidding – and Seattle Parks said they would then move on to focus on this.
When last we asked Parks about Lincoln Park South, spokesperson Karen O’Connor said, “We anticipate Lincoln will be completed in June.” The new play area is supposed to have a marine theme, as chosen in community meetings six years ago.
(WSB photo, Saturday)
As previewed here, the Morgan Junction All-Wheels Association held its first community meeting on Saturday, at By and By Skate Shop. We dropped in briefly and counted about 20 people there.
(Photo courtesy MJAWA)
The group’s focus is adding an “all-wheels area” to the south end of Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW) when the park’s expansion to the north is built. So what happens next after this gathering? We asked MJAWA’s Matthew Lee Johnston:
Community input now gets internalized by the design team, who will be working on three alternatives based on the feedback they’ve gathered from the community. We got over 100 responses to the online survey, with over 76% of the responses coming from West Seattle, which Grindline says was their most successful survey they’ve facilitated! The three alternatives will be presented by the team at the Morgan Junction Community Festival, where we will be gathering input and feedback on those design concepts.
The festival will be at Morgan Junction Park on Saturday, June 15.
Though Seattle Parks paused the plan to set up pickleball courts on a Lincoln Park slab that once held tennis courts, its final fate has yet to be announced. Last night, before giving the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners a presentation about Parks’ “Pickleball and Tennis Vision,” deputy superintendent Andy Sheffer said they were “on the cusp of a decision” about it. Superintendent AP Diaz also promised that “more information on Lincoln Park is coming.” But that was all meant mostly to make sure those in attendance who were interested in LP – the subject of several public comments at the meeting’s start – knew it would not be specifically addressed in the presentation. Here’s what was:
Parks officials said that pickleball is growing, and while they said their presentation did not include “solutions” for addressing the need, they promised it would lay out a “path to find solutions.” That path includes designating four “hubs” around the city, two each for pickleball and tennis. Locations were listed for three, but not for the south pickleball hub (which would be for the area including West Seattle, though not necessarily in West Seattle):
Here’s how a hub would work:
No prospective sites for the “south” hub were mentioned; early in the presentation, this slide showed where dedicated pickleball and tennis courts are located in the city now:
You can see the full slide deck here. There was a heavy emphasis on encouraging use of pickleball rackets using noise-reduction technology, as part of the “vision,” to address persistent concerns about the sport’s noise; the Parks officials also promised to improve communication, in part by setting up online and in-person groups.
No timeline was mentioned for the next update.
Just received the agenda for the next meeting of the Seattle Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners, and it includes one item of potential West Seattle interest – a presentation on the department’s “pickleball and tennis vision.” A proposal to convert a former Lincoln Park tennis court into pickleball courts sparked a significant amount of controversy last year, and the department has yet to officially update its status. The last Parks official to address the plan at a West Seattle meeting, deputy superintendent Andy Sheffer, is listed as co-presenting the briefing; we don’t yet know if it will include specifics on locations or will be just a policy overview. It’s on the agenda for 6:30 pm Thursday (April 25); the board meets in-person at Parks HQ downtown, and you can also attend online – info is in our calendar listing.
(Images provided by Friends of West Seattle Bike Park. Above, possible location off 35th south of Alaska)
Could that strip of city-owned land south of Rotary Viewpoint Park (35th/Alaska) be transformed into West Seattle’s first bike-skills park? Or another location? The new group Friends of West Seattle Bike Park says it’s something missing and needed on our peninsula, and wants you to know what they’re advocating for, as well as how you can join in:
Skills parks for bikes promote healthy lifestyles, are increasingly popular with people of all ages and abilities, and are currently a long drive from West Seattle.
Friends of West Seattle Bike Park (FOWSBP) is proposing the establishment of a modest public bike-skills park in West Seattle. This park will serve as an inclusive community hub for cyclists and other wheeled adventurers of all ages and skill levels, providing a safe and accessible environment for outdoor adventure and community building.
Objective
The primary objective of the proposed skills park is to create a dynamic and inclusive space where individuals and families can experience the thrill of mountain biking, BMXing, dirt jumping, one-wheeling and ADA-accessible biking/wheeling, while promoting physical activity, outdoor recreation, environmental stewardship, and community building. Additionally, the park aims to foster a sense of community among cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts, promoting social interaction and camaraderie. We are committed to utilizing the diverse skills, talents, and resources of West Seattle residents towards the creation of more than just a recreational area – we are building a symbol of community collaboration and pride.
Facility Features
The bike skills park is envisioned to feature a variety of trails and amenities designed to accommodate riders of all ages and abilities. Key conceptual features of the park include:
(Dirt pump track in Baltimore)
Pump Track: A loop that consists of a series of rollers and berms. The “pump” part is the pushing-down and pulling-up action performed by riders in accordance with the structure’s design as the main source of propulsion. It’s a thrilling experience because users experience an up-and-down feeling of weightlessness, similar to the drops and climbs in a roller-coaster, but on a micro-level.
(Paved pump track in Port Angeles)
Pump tracks are designed this way so they can be ridden completely without the need for pushing and pedaling and a great avenue for new riders to learn how to ride a bike. The pump track will include design elements making it ADA-accessible.
Skills Area: A designated skills area equipped with features such as rock gardens, boulders and skinnys to help riders develop and improve their biking skills in a controlled environment.
Jump Lines: A diverse network of three to five trails catering to beginner, intermediate, and advanced riders. Trails will vary in difficulty and terrain, offering a range of experiences from gently sloping, rollable table tops to large steep-faced jumps. The trails will be designed to allow riders to progress safely and confidently as their skills develop and be ADA-accessible where possible. These trails will also allow for the general public to observe and rally behind the aerial capabilities of some very talented West Seattle-based riders!
Amenities: The envisioned park design includes amenities such as picnic tables, a drinking fountain and a tool stand to enhance the overall visitor experience and encourage prolonged stays.
Safety Measures: Safety is a top priority, and the park will implement well proven design measures that allow riders to push themselves as much as desired, in a controlled environment.
Community Engagement
Community engagement and involvement will be integral to the success of the bike skills park. To foster a sense of ownership and pride among West Seattle residents, the park will offer opportunities for volunteerism, educational programs, events, and workshops focused on biking skills, trail stewardship, and environmental conservation.
Partnerships
The establishment and operation of the bike skills park will require collaboration with various stakeholders, including local government agencies, cycling organizations, environmental groups, community members, and local businesses. Partnerships will be sought to secure funding, resources, expertise, and ongoing support for the development and maintenance of the park.
The establishment of a public bike-skills park in West Seattle presents an exciting opportunity to create a vibrant yet modest outdoor recreational area that promotes health, wellness, and community engagement. With careful planning, collaboration, and investment, we can realize the vision of a unique facility that enriches the lives of residents and visitors alike. We look forward to working with stakeholders to bring this vision to fruition and create lasting memories for generations to come.
In the coming weeks, FOWSBP will launch a website which will serve as a centralized location for community members to stay updated on project happenings, submit feedback on project design and location, and provide a schedule of times and locations for public meetings.
Being that FOWSBP is still very much in its infancy, we are looking for volunteers interested in supporting this effort. Immediate needs are folks that can write grant proposals/navigate the grant seeking process, are familiar with web design, and those that can produce conceptual renderings of skills park designs. Please send an email to friendsofwestseattlebikepark@gmail.com if you would like to be part of this amazing project!
For more information on pump tracks, please explore the links below:
Bermstyle – Guide to pump tracks
Port Angeles Pump Track Grand Opening
The new group says they’ve already had a preliminary discussion with Parks about the possible location shown atop this story but it’s very early and they’re truly interested in feedback about the site and the overall idea.
Along with the 12-site Duwamish Alive! mega-work party, one of the other Earth Day events on our Saturday list was at Lincoln Park, around the section of bluffside forest watched over by Bruun Idun the troll. Thanks to forest steward Lisa McGinty for the photos and report:
39 volunteers and one much-loved troll shared their time and efforts to honor the earth and environment yesterday at Lincoln Park. We also had a lovely surprise visit from Deputy Mayor Greg Wong, who jumped in to help us remove vast amounts of ivy from the forest floor!
Thanks to all who showed up – you really made a difference!
Speaking of the city, the One Seattle Day of Service on May 18 has a long list of volunteering opportunities – at least 10 in West Seattle.
8:44 PM SATURDAY: They won’t make the final decision until tomorrow morning, but a reality-show crew sent word tonight that they might be filming in the Don Armeni Boat Ramp vicinity Sunday afternoon-evening. And if they do, a hot-air balloon will be inflated at City View Park (which Google locates as just west/north of Don Armeni). Also from the notice:
We will potentially be filming a segment of a reality television show at Don Armeni Boat Ramp/City View Park on 4/21/2024. The decision on if we are filming at this location will be made on the morning of April 21, 2024. If filming here, we will allow pedestrians to cross the area when it doesn’t interfere with a shot. If needed, our production assistants will hold passerbys briefly until the shot is over or direct them on a detour behind the camera line so that they can cross without being in the shot. We will also obtain “Filming In Progress” a-frames to make passerbys away of our activity.
We will be reserving the parking spots directly in front of City View Park for working production vehicles (minivans, cargos, SUVs, and passenger vans) and to “clear for picture.”
If filming at this location, there will be a hot air balloon inflated in City View Park. There will be exclusion zones set up around the balloon that will need to be kept clear for safety. We always aim to be good neighbors during our time in your area so please let us know if there is anything we can do to accommodate special needs during our filming.≤/blockquote>
We’ll update tomorrow when we get word of their decision.12:34 PM SUNDAY: Just got the update – they will NOT be filming here today.
Thanks to Doug Eglington for the photos. Crews were back at Don Armeni Boat Ramp this week for more of the finishing touches on the dock-replacement project. The new docks are open for public use but Seattle Parks spokesperson Karen O’Connor tells us a few things remain to be done – installation of bollards to keep people from trying to drive onto the docks – “a nearby resident had informed the project manager of this was an issue” – and installation of “additional cleats (for vessel tie-up).” The project replaced deteriorating, weather-beaten docks and pilings. It was partly funded by grants and has been in the works for seven years; we first reported on the plan in early 2017.
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