Would you like to see a new park built or an old park improved in your Seattle neighborhood? Or would you like Seattle Parks and Recreation to buy property for a new park or open space?

The first round of the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund is open for your nominations of projects. Seattle voters approved the $146 million Parks and Green Spaces Levy in 2008; it included the Opportunity Fund for community-initiated development projects and land acquisition opportunities.

In the first cycle of the Opportunity Fund, $7 million will be awarded through a citywide nomination process for park development and acquisition projects. The Parks and Green Spaces Citizens Oversight Committee, appointed by the Mayor and City Council, developed criteria for evaluating and choosing Opportunity Fund projects.

The nomination process begins with the submittal of a Proposal Letter, available now and due by February 1, 2010. Proposal Letters and Opportunity Fund Criteria are available online at http://seattle.gov/parks/levy/opportunity.htm and will be available at your Department of Neighborhoods Service Centers, Seattle Public Library branches, and Parks and Recreation community centers on Monday, December 14, 2009.

Seattle Parks is hosting four technical workshops to provide assistance in developing Proposal Letters and answering questions about the Opportunity Fund and the process. All workshops will be from 6:30 – 8 p.m. and will take place on the following dates:

Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Greenwood Branch library
8016 Greenwood Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98103

Thursday, January 7, 2010
High Point Community Center
6920 34th Ave. SW
Seattle, WA 98126

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Park Board Room
100 Dexter Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98109

Thursday, January 14, 2010
New Holly Learning Center
7058 32nd Ave S
Seattle, WA 98118

For more information please contact Susanne Friedman at Susanne.friedman@seattle.gov or 206-684-0902 or Kellee Jones at Kellee.jones@seattle.gov or 206-684-0902 or visit the web at http://seattle.gov/parks/levy/opportunity.htm.