The Seattle Parks Department is looking for possible locations in the Ballard urban village to build a new community park.

The 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy set aside money to build parks in 20 urban villages, one of them being Ballard.

The potential site has to be at least 10,000 square feet with southern exposure, preferably vacant with a willing seller, and far enough away from the other parks in the urban village, which is bounded approximately by Shilshole Avenue, Northwest 65th Street, 28th Avenue Northwest and 14th Avenue Northwest, Seattle Parks Department Property Manager Lise Ward said at the Sept. 9 Ballard District Council meeting.

"It's going to be a challenge in Ballard," Ward said. "But, we think we can find something in the levy for you."

Two possible park location were brought up at the meeting, but both had their problems.

One resident brought up the Monroe Substation lot that is located across from Ballard High School on 15th Avenue Northwest.

Ward said that site is not preferable because it is small, the Parks Department would have to pay City Light for it, and it would probably become a smoking lounge for the high school.

Ward asked meeting attendees what they thought about the Ballard Post Office location at Northwest 57th Street and 17th Avenue Northwest, whose current lease is up.

Some community members were supportive of the idea, but one woman said how much she needed that post office and another pointed out its proximity to the new Ballard Corners Park, which is five blocks to the north.

Ward said the Parks Department will be setting a date for a formal meeting with the neighborhood to discuss ideas for a future park.

In the meantime, the department is set to begin planning for a park at Ninth Avenue Northwest and Northwest 70th Street, Ward said.

She said the department is in the process of getting permits to remove the church structures on the site and will hopefully be doing that soon.