Raising awareness and money were two of the key issues discussed at the June 30 meeting of the Friends of Lower Kinnear Park (FOLKPark) organization at the Bayview Retirement Manor.
More than 60 people attended the meeting and shared their opinions and suggestions about possible plans for the park presented by FOLKpark members. Deborah L. Frausto, chairperson of the FOLKPark steering committee, opened the meeting by introducing her fellow members, and reviewed the progress her organization’s made so far. Several City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods grants, paved the way for FOLKPark to start planning future projects.
Frausto detailed plans as to how Lower Queen Anne neighborhood members could raise money for FOLKPark, including the hosting of neighborhood socials to “pass the hat.” She conceded that this is “not necessarily the most sexy phase” of FOLKPark operations, but that the organization needs both increased visibility, and increased funding, to continue its mission.
One such fundraising project is the “Happy Hour On The Hill” scheduled for August 15. A $15 ticket purchased from FOLKPark allows the purchaser to enjoy happy hour specials on that day, from businesses on both Upper and Lower Queen Anne. Group members plan to make tickets available starting in July.
The chairperson also spoke of getting people “Feeling safe about going back into the park again,” an apparent reference to the homeless population in Lower Kinnear Park, and the drug trade which persisted until Seattle police began raids in the area in 2009.
Eric Tweit, of the Seattle Department of Transportation, made a short presentation regarding West Mercer Place, which includes a stretch near the park. He affirmed that currently the city has no plans for a sidewalk in that area, because of budget constraints.
Joe Neiford, of Seattle Parks & Recreation Department spoke briefly of his plans for an off-leash area for dogs in the revamped park. As the designer of off-leash areas for other parks, he was the natural “go-to person” for this project, although his plans have not yet been implemented.
Last to present for the meeting was Eric Koonts from HBB Landscape Architects. He took the assembled participants and listeners through a four-point plan for revamping the overall shape and look of the park.
This plan includes forest restoration with elimination of dead or diseased trees; the lowering of the tennis court in the South Hill/Roy Street area, with a possible modification of it to a “multi-sport court” with facilities for basketball and volleyball; intense re-landscaping of the “north link” area, where, Koonts acknowledges, you “pretty much need a machete” to walk through. And, finally Koonts also talked about the off-leash area near the park’s Mercer Street entrance, with additional pruning back of invasive trees in that area.
After the presentations, Frausto called for attendees to gather in groups and formulate questions for the speakers present. The next FOLKPark meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, October 27, again at the Bayview Retirement Manor, 11 West Aloha Street in Lower Queen Anne.
For more information on FOLKPark and its activities, visit http://www.folkpark.org/ .
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