It appears Magnolia Manor Park may be about to grow…a lot!
The one-acre park property, located at 3500 28th Avenue West, that is in the process of being redesigned and developed, may grow to be twice or even three times its current size, thanks to its neighbor, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU).
The utility service has agreed in initial discussions with the landscape architectural firm, Site Workshop, which is leading the redesign, to move back its fences that protect a lidded reservoir adjacent to the park. The additional land could measure up to two more acres in size.
While the size of the park is being negotiated, residents are continuing to plan how the park will look.
More than 120 community members participated in a community workshop on March 2nd, and a “Walk in the Park” on March 5th. An off-leash area for dogs is required to be part of the redesign, as a result of the 2006 public process. However, everything else appears on the table. The workshop developed ideas for the park, such as including p-patches and play areas for children. Participants joined Site Workshop and the Magnolia Manor Park Steering Committee of Sustainable Magnolia in creating 11 initial designs for the Park space. All the designs can be viewed at www.magnolimanorpark.org in the near future.
The suggestions included a Zen-like park space, slides down the sloped areas and climbing walls as well as honeybee hives. The plans were fun, inventive and well thought out.
The most common elements in the plans were designed spaces for p-patches and an off-leash dog park, which has been mandated for the park by Seattle Parks and Recreation. Many plans had a walking path around the reservoir, kid spaces and elements of sustainability like LED path lights, native plants, wild flowers atop the grassy lidded reservoir and a passive water fountain. The idea of making the Lawton School play areas, Lawton Park and Ravine path and Magnolia Manor Park a connecting loop of parks was also discussed. All plans were designed around the steering committee’s mission of “creating a mixed-use place of beauty, vibrancy, and sustainability for all members of the community.”
There is a survey form at www.magnoliamanorpark.org and all community members are invited to give their recommendations for the park there as well as attend the workshops.
The next community workshop, which will include discussion of draft designs for the park, will be held on Saturday April 9th, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Magnolia Presbyterian Church, 3051 28th Avenue West. At the meeting, Site Workshop will present three refined designs based on the 11 designs identified at the first meeting, additional community input and approval by Parks and Recreation and Seattle Public Utilities.
These designs will be further refined by the community during the workshop, with the goal of getting to a single preferred site plan. The final site plan will be discussed at the final community workshop scheduled for Wednesday, June 8th, at 7 p.m. at the Magnolia Presbyterian Church.
The public is invited to participate at any or all park planning events. Interested citizens are encouraged to join the Friends of Magnolia Manor Park group that will take the further steps necessary to make the preferred park site plan a reality.
Anyone interested in joining the group or in getting involved with creating the park should visit www.magnoliamanorpark.org join this group by signing up as a volunteer at the website.
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