Community members of the north Admiral neighborhood have come together to create a new play area for kids and a gathering place for families. While not everyone is supportive of the project, they are moving forward in the design process.

After talking with her neighbors about the need for places where children could play in her neighborhood, Manuela Slye and other Admiral residents began planning the project in June.

"I think the children and families deserve a community gathering place," Slye said. "It will be a great way to meet other people and strengthen our community."

Eventually, the organizers decided to focus on an existing park known as California Place, located on California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Hill Street. The community recently received $15,000 in neighborhood matching funds that will be used over the next six months to design a new play space. Children will be included in that process during workshops in early October.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to teach children to be involved in their community and make a difference," Slye said.

But not everyone in the neighborhood supports the project. Jan Bailey, a resident of the north Admiral neighborhood, believes that the project is using tax dollars to promote Slye's own business, a school she operates out of her home on Southwest Walker Street

"All I see is pure self-interest," Bailey said

Others have expressed concern at community meetings for the safety of a park located on California Avenue and the environmental impact of construction at the site. Slye says these and other concerns will be addressed during the project's design process.

Seattle City Council member and West Seattle resident Tom Rasmussen got involved in the project after witnessing how Ercolini Park, near the Alaska Street Junction, brought its community together. He believes there is a need for similar play areas in Seattle.

"If we want to be a family friendly neighborhood we need to have playgrounds nearby," Rasmussen said. "The success of Ercolini Park is a great example of how neighbors can embrace a neighborhood."

Originally, the project organizers hoped to develop a vacant triangle of land one block west of California Avenue on Ferry Avenue Southwest, but discovered that the property was owned by Seattle's Department of Transportation and unavailable for development.

Still, Rasmussen saw an opportunity to develop the neglected triangle of land. He approached the Department of Transportation and suggested that they transfer the property over to Seattle's Parks Department.

That transfer is not yet complete and Rasmussen says that he has yet to confirm if the neighborhood funds awarded to the California Place site could be used at the location on Southwest Hill Street. He says that he would love to see the site developed, and believes that some residents are concerned about losing green space by transforming an existing park.

Mark Wainwright, president of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, suggests that the California Place location would be more feasible, as it is already more developed than the transportation department property.

Meanwhile, Ann Limbaugh, one of the project's organizers, says they are moving forward with the California Place site. They have scheduled an ice cream social to celebrate the new California Place on Sept. 13.

Organizers will soon convene a committee of community members to choose an architect for the park. They plan to host more meetings with Admiral residents in the coming months.

"We're really excited about this," Limbaugh said. "The vast majority of people we've talked to are really excited about the project. It's going to be an extremely positive thing for the community."

Rose Egge may be reached at 932-0300 or rosee@robinsonnews.com.