Dean Wong

A City project to build a security fence around support columns under the north end of the Ballard Bridge caused some alarm to volunteers of the Ballard Bridge Pocket Park last week. Crews showed up on October 18 to take out an old fence and install a new one five feet to the west, reducing the width of the park from 32 to 27 feet.

All this alarmed Craig Keister and his wife Linda Stroud, owners of Mandrake's Antiques, next to the city owned property. The park is located in the 4500 block of Shilshole Avenue along the waterline.

Keister was well aware of the number of hours volunteers had put into creating the park with permission from city officials and told the contractor City Wide Fence about his concerns.

He was pleasantly surprised to find City Wide Fence going out of their way to repair some of the damage by replanting a palm tree, some bamboo and other work.

"They went above their line of duty. I have never seen anyone go out of their way to do the right thing," said Keister, who was pleasantly surprised when he showed up for work the next morning.

City Wide Fence did a good job, considering the extensive demolition and relocation of the park's features said Bill Scherer, a local resident who has a permit with the City to maintain the park two weeks ago to inform him about the project.

The City is building security fencing around the columns. The fencing work will start from the stairway leading up to the bridge deck and extend down to the waterline.

"It's so people can't get access. We will extend the fence on the west side to the water," said David Chew, a bridge maintenance operations manager with the City.

Behind the fence, crews will install "ecology blocks," one-ton oblong concrete blocks so anyone, including potential terrorists can't drive a car through the fence to reach the bridge columns.

Crews have also moved a pedestal that will one day support a 5,000 pound Bull Gear left over when the old Ballard Bridge gears were replaced a few years ago.

The big gear is the centerpiece of the park, along with some bamboo and access right up to the water.

Mary Seimon a park volunteer said her sons Travis and Mason have put in work on the site as part of Eagle Scout and Ballard High School senior projects. Travis built the bracket for the gear.

Scherer said the next step is to re-do some ground cover and add more landscaping to keep the weeds down.

"It's a way to give back to the community. The whole idea was to give something back," Seimon said.

Keister said Boy Scout Troops have spent hours working on the park and a blue heron often lands nearby.

"In the grand scheme, it's not a big deal, but it's a big deal. It's a little oasis in an industrial area. It's nice, it's enjoyable. We come out here on breaks. Employees have their lunch. My dog loves it out here," said Keister.

Chew said the City has also relocated a bridge maintenance shop from the Fremont Bridge to this same location, but closer to the street. The shop was closed because after the Fremont structure underwent repairs. The shops are housed in trailers.