The solar-generating park that could one day stand at the site of the former Sunset Hill substation will include 189 solar panels generating enough electricity for 3.2 homes per year as well as a garden, fountain, community plaza, play area and more.

Two months after the last community meeting, CAST Architecture released the final design for the potential park at 32nd Avenue Northwest and Northwest 65th Street behind Ristorante Picolinos.

The new design features some significant changes from previous iterations, most notably in the solar panel array.

The new array will generate 35,000 kilowatt hours per year, a 17 percent increase over any of the previous designs. The array is now independent of the park's landscape to open up views into and out of the park and prevent the panels from being shaded by neighboring apartment buildings.

A landscaped wedge in the northeast corner of the site will slope up in that direction. There will be a shade garden and green roof on the wedge with stairs leading to an observation platform.

The interior of the wedge will house an equipment room that can be opened for educational demonstrations and used as a power-supplied neighborhood emergency center.

The interior community space from previous designs has been removed.

There will be a paved community gathering space and fountain fed by rain runoff to the west of the wedge.

A sculpted landscape made from artificial material in the southwest corner can be used for children's play, parkour or adult exercise and stretching.

Entrances to the park will be from the alley to the south and 65th street to the north. The path through the park will have plantings on either side.

According to the Sunset Substation Park Feasibility Study and Community Design Report draft, the final version of which will be released later this month, the estimated cost of the project, excluding property acquisition and maintenance, is $996,000.

The draft report identifies two options for organization and funding of the substation park.

Under the first option, Seattle City Light would retain ownership of the site and manage development of the solar component. Development of the park would be funded by community investors, who would receive ongoing discounts on electricity bills. The park would be would be managed by a nonprofit neighborhood group.

In the second option, the solar component would be funded entirely by community investors, who would be paid over time by the sale of the electricity generated. Acquisition and development of the park would be paid for by private donors, foundation grants and public funding. The neighborhood nonprofit would maintain ownership of the park or it could be transferred to a public entity, such as Seattle Parks and Recreation.

Robert Drucker, member of the Friends of Sunset Substation Steering Committee, said the main challenge in turning the park into a reality will be property acquisition, which heavily increases the total cost of the project.

Friends of Sunset Substation has expressed hope in the past that City Light could be convinced to let them develop the park without purchasing the land if they demonstrate its solar-generating benefit to the city.

Drucker said a representative of City Light recently told the group that the solar-generating park has a great design and if money were no object, similar parks would exist all over the city, but City Light is not prepared to spend any money on the project at this point.

Friends of Sunset Substation met with fundraising consultant Jessica Trupin June 15 to discuss raising funds for the park through the community and private foundations.

"It's a bad time to ask the city (for funding)," Drucker said.

He stressed that donors to the park won't necessarily be wealthy individuals but average community members, who purchase bricks or participate in other small donation opportunities.

The Friends of Sunset Substation Steering Committee will be meeting in the coming months to discuss the best way to move forward with fundraising and turn the substation park into a reality.

For more information, visit www.sunsetsubstation.org.