Parks District budget includes funding for Queen Anne Community Center project
While plans to make improvements to the Queen Anne Community Center have been in place for some time, the popular facility could receive a major overhaul with the approval of a new Parks District budget.
Don Harper, Queen Anne Community Council parks chairman, stated at last week’s meeting that the city has budgeted $16.9 million for renovation and/or replacement of the Queen Anne Community Center, slated for 2025. Another $2 million is dedicated for the design and to determine whether it is better to remodel or replace the aging facility.
This is in addition to an existing $4.3 million for general repair that was supposed to start a year-and-a-half ago, Harper said.
According to the City of Seattle website, that project includes roof repairs, masonry stabilization, code signage, accessibility improvements, emergency exit signage, a restroom remodel, a new fire alarm system and a pottery room renovation.
“We still don’t even know if it’s starting, but that’s why, partially, that the center … it has not been fully opened,” he added.
Harper said he is waiting to hear from either Seattle Parks officials or City Councilman Andrew Lewis for confirmation that, essentially, $18.2 million has been dedicated for the design and possible construction of the center, and also whether any portion of the existing $4.3 million not needed for emergency repairs will be rolled into the $18.2 million construction budget.
“Because my estimation is a new construction is going to be in the $20- to $25- to $27-million range to construct a new community center,” Harper said.
In his report, Harper also said the Parks District budget includes two line items pertaining to Smith Cove Park. The first is $2.616 million for phase 1 of Smith Cove Park that was for the west side of the park, where the athletic and play fields are, as well as an off-leash park area. A second, new line item set for 2024-25 is for $4.384 million to be spent for the design and construction of the east side of the park. Harper said he is waiting to hear back on project particulars regarding each line item.
He also mentioned that the Parks Department budget also dedicated $3.46 million for off-leash areas in the city, with approximately $600,000 to be spent in three years and $1.4 million a year for two years. One of the $1.4 million line items will go to build an off-leash dog area in West Seattle, Harper said.
“So that leaves up for grabs, hopefully, an off-leash area for Queen Anne somewhere,” he said, adding he has asked Lewis whether there is a priority for Queen Anne to get an off-leash area.
Harper said his last question to Lewis is where Magnolia and Queen Anne will have a seat at the table for the final design of Smith Cove Park.