The Future of Magnuson Park
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This past Saturday, while I was addressing the Seattle Care Congress at the Greenwood Senior Center, my Legislative Aide Frank Video was participating in a half-day planning workshop at Warren G. Magnuson Park.
Magnuson Park Sports Meadow
Seattle Parks and Recreation is starting to develop a strategic plan for the park in order to help guide future capital investment, development and programming for Seattle’s premiere regional park.
Mayor Mike McGinn and Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, chair of the Council’s Parks & Neighborhoods Committee, provided welcoming remarks. The goals of the workshop were to recognize completed projects that were implemented from previous plans; identify desired facilities, programs, services and amenities for the park and the historic district it lies within; and prioritize currently unfunded capital improvement projects.
A wish list was presented to the 80 or so attendees, categorized under the headings of land, infrastructure, buildings and programming. Items receiving the lion’s share of votes from participants were retaining open space and introducing more arts programming and facilities.
Of all the unfunded capital improvement projects at Magnuson, I believe Building 30 is the one most in need of being redeveloped. Last year, I advocated for following the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee’s recommendation of utilizing Levy inflation savings to help rebuild Building 30. I am pleased that the Executive agreed and that construction on the building’s first phase of improvements is to begin later this year. The first phase will see the addition of up to 25 new artist studios, new offices for both Parks staff and non-profit groups and a reinforced hangar that will allow all activities to return that were barred from meeting there due to safety concerns a couple of years ago.
- Building 30
I encourage you to download this attachment, check mark your “wish list” preferences for future development at Magnuson Park, then mail it to the Parks Department address found on the form by March 2nd so that your voice will be heard.
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Posted: February 13th, 2012 under Arts and Culture, Development and Sustainability, Environment, Parks, Planning and Land Use
Comment from Dave Moore
Time February 14, 2012 at 10:26 am
Why are offices such a crying need that they get most of the money? Why not some blackberry removal, asphalt and concrete removal and some tree and shrub planting? Are the “safety concerns” real or invented to justify big ticket like the tunnel you fought.