Extension of Pro-Parks studied

By Tom Rasmussen

Recently we received a flurry of e-mails from Ballard residents who feared that the cost of the Webster Playground, owned by the School District, had escalated beyond the city's ability to acquire it. Neighborhood residents have developed the playground into a much loved park and last fall the City Council approved funding to buy the property to keep it in public ownership. Rest assured that the City Council is intent on acquiring the property and our Parks Department will work with the School District to reach an agreement to make that happen.

People frequently tell us about the importance of parks and community centers and our environment. It is amazing how much our parks mean to the people of Seattle. We hear from parents, from seniors and youth and community organizations that our parks and recreation programs are essential to their lives.

Because of that the City Council is responding by developing a plan to ask the voters this fall if they would like to continue Seattle's Pro Parks levy. The current Pro Parks levy will expire in December. The levy has made a huge difference to many neighborhoods. As our city becomes more dense and developed Seattle has been able to add 42 acres of parks because of the levy. The levy has funded new parks and the renovation of old ones. The levy funds often serve as seed money for donations from private foundations and businesses, and other government organizations. Here are a couple of examples of what the Pro Parks seed money has produced:

The Counterbalance Park, now under construction at Roy Street and Queen Anne Avenue, will cost about $1.5 million. This former gas station site will be transformed into an urban oasis because $300,000 from Pro Parks has generated over $1.13 million in donations raised by the Uptown Alliance and the Seattle Parks Foundation, including a large donation by Raj and Akhil Shaw of Shaw Safari.

West Seattle will benefit from a new park at 48th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Alaska Street. The Pro Parks levy will provide $200,000, the state will provide $200,000, the Seattle Neighborhood Matching Funds program will provide $90,000 and the Friends of Ercolini Park are putting in many hours to help ensure completion of the park.

Seattle is working for more housing and jobs within the city limits in order to protect the Puget Sound region's forests, farmlands, and wildlife. As our neighborhoods become more dense we must offer residents more green space and better facilities for recreation, relaxation, and just plain getting outdoors. Continuation of the parks levy at a modest cost will help maintain Seattle's environment and livability.

A levy proposal will be developed by a citizen committee appointed by the Council. The committee will include more than two dozen neighborhood representatives, environmentalists, and other Seattle leaders. The Council will hold public meetings to ensure that we hear from as many people as possible.

The current Pro Parks levy has allowed many great things to be done for our neighborhoods and our environment. There are more neighborhoods that need parks and several community centers need major renovation to keep them operating.

The Council will thoughtfully and carefully explore new parks and green space funding and will make a decision in July as to whether to proceed with a levy this year. We are committed to making sure that Seattle has the parks and the healthy environment the people of Seattle value, and whether this is the year to ask the people of Seattle to continue to make investments in our parks and environment.

Tom Rasmussen is a Seattle City Council member and may be reached at 684.8808 or tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov