Please join us in thanking Mayor Greg Nickels for participating in our annual meeting on March 11 and bringing the exciting news of a preliminary agreement to purchase a 39,000 square foot property on the 7000 block of 9th Avenue Northwest. Groundswell and Seattle Parks have had our eyes on this property, belonging to the Seventh Elect Church in Israel, for nearly 18 years. Covered largely with well kept gardens, this site fills a large gap in our open space network and promises to become an extremely valuable community asset for southeast Whittier Heights and all of Ballard.

We thank the owners for their desire to preserve this property for a park, and Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher and his staff, particularly Donald Harris, for acting quickly to reach this preliminary agreement.

Seattle Parks will be holding a public meeting to discuss the pending purchase, which still needs approval by the City Council, at 6:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 27 at the Ballard Boys and Girls Club, 1767 N.W. 64th St. For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/BallardPark.htm, or contact Donald Harris, Seattle Parks and Recreation, 206-684-8018 ordonald.harris@seattle.gov.

We look forward to working with Seattle Parks and Recreation and neighbors of the site to plan and build Ballard's latest park.

Groundswell NW