Groundswell pushes park levy

By Dave Boyd

I recently completed two months of intense work on a proposal to renew a parks levy on this fall's ballot. As just one member of a 28-person committee, I worked to make this a measure to continue to build on our green legacy.

There were many compromises, as there should be when a broad group of diverse interests are brought together, and the measure may not be everything I would have wanted, but it is a strong package that continues to fund many critical projects throughout the city.

In the Ballard District, the proposal includes $1.2 million to develop the Crown Hill Park, replacing and adding to funds from the ProParks measure that will be redirected to permanently preserve the land as public open space, $800,000 to develop the new park on the 7000 block of 9th Avenue Northwest in Whittier Heights, and $500,000 to upgrade the Golden Gardens playground.

In the "citywide" category of projects is $3.75 million to match transportation funds for completing the Burke Gilman Trail, $2 million for four new community garden projects targeting high-demand neighborhoods like Ballard, and $500,000 for shoreline improvements for areas like Salmon Bay.

The proposal also includes $30 million for open space acquisition in fast-growing and underserved areas like the Ballard Urban Village, and $15 million in "opportunity funds" that could support many of the worthy projects that didn't make the final cut, continuing and building on the ProParks tradition that helped Ballard Corners and many other community-based projects citywide.

Other nearby projects include $2.8 million each to convert two sand playfields at Lower Woodland to synthetic turf and $600,000 for Kiwanis Ravine.

Overall, the proposed package includes about $140 million in new capital investments over six years. Combined with the proposed Pike Place Market levy, property tax assessments would remain the same as under the current ProParks levy.

The City Council's Parks Committee will hold a hearing to accept testimony from the public on the proposed levy and advisory committee report on Wednesday, July 16 at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers. The Committee of the Whole is schedule to consider it on Monday, July 21 at 2:30 p.m.

Groundswell NW encourages all to look at the many good things in the proposed levy package and urge City Council to continue funding our "green infrastructure" by putting this measure on the ballot this fall. Please feel free to contact me with any question or comments, and visit our Web site, www.groundswellnw.org, for updates on this and other community parks and habitat projects.

You can read more at the City Council Web site: http://www.seattle.gov/council/issues/parks_levy.htm.

Dave Boyd is president of Groundswell NW and may be contacted at dave.boyd1@comcast.net, 498-6636