‘Small and Simple’ awards made

By Dean Wong

A new park, a school reader board, community gathering space, and Eco Village are all projects in the Ballard and Phinney area receiving money from Seattle’s latest round of “Small and Simple Project Fund Awards.”

The Department of Neighborhood’s Small and Simple Project Fund Awards selected 22 projects totaling $273,777. The Ballard area groups are: Friends of 17th and 63rd Pocket Park, Adams Elementary School Parent, Teacher, Student Association, Phinney Neighborhood Association and the Phinney Eco Village.

“These groups pour their hearts and souls into these projects, with great creativity and fantastic results. I’m looking forward to seeing what they accomplish,” said Mayor Greg Nickels.

Friends of 17th and 63rd Pocket Park, also known as Ballard Corners Park, was awarded $15,000 after coming up with $9,690 in matching funds and is its second Small and Simple $15,000 grant.

The first grant paid for a preliminary design by Barker and Associates Landscape Architects. Three public meetings were held to solicit community input.

The latest grant will pay for construction drawings and more public meetings to refine the park plans, along with developing a more precise cost estimate.

Sam Star, director of Groundswell Northwest, a sponsor of Ballard Corners Park, said the design includes seating areas, a children’s play area and a walking path, which winds through it.

A swale n defined as a low, hollow and marshy depression between ridges n is being considered as part of the design. It will help absorb storm water and serve as a demonstration project, but would take away some parking spaces.

The city purchased the property for the park for $270,000 with money from the 2000 Pro Parks Levy. Negotiations are underway with the owner of an unoccupied home on the southern border of the property to add to the park.

“If the city negotiates with the homeowner to buy the house and tear it down, the two lots will be 10,000 square feet,” said Star.

The Ballard Corners Park committee is lead by Co-Chairs David Folweiler and Rebecca Carr. The next community meeting is September 20, 7 p.m. at the Ballard Boys and Girls Club.

The Adams Elementary School PTSA applied for money to pay for a reader board and landscaping at the school. They were funded for $15,000 and have raised $15,545 to match it. The project website is www.ballardcornerspark.org.

A reader board with student artwork will be installed near the front of the school building. Adams Elementary is known for its arts curriculum. The Parent, Teacher, Student Association envisions the reader board strengthening community awareness and involvement.

Two Phinney Ridge organizations received funding. The Phinney Neighborhood Association came up with $28,275 in matching money and was given $15,000.

The project will improve the safety, appearance and usefulness of the open spaces on the Phinney Neighborhood Association property that includes two old school buildings.

The older of the two is the site of the former John B. Allen Elementary School built in 1933 and closed in 1981. It reopened that same year as the Phinney Neighborhood Association. The association offers a variety of programs and classes for the community with an emphasis on children, families and education.

Money from the Small and Simple Project Fund will pay for a new green safety barrier with seating, a green shed for the farmer’s market and art elements that represent the activities which make the Phinney Association grounds a gathering space for the community.

A group calling itself the Phinney Eco Village was awarded $1,900 and matched that by raising $7,155 and called their project “Phinney/Greenwood Neighbors Fight Global Warming.”

The group describes itself as neighbors in the area who are committed to neighborhood sustainability and community.

In its project description, the group stated its desire to cut greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. The Phinney Eco Village says it is sponsoring a campaign to educate neighbors on ways they can fight global warming by making changes in their own lives, homes and communities.

“Seattle is a city of great neighborhoods because our citizens choose to make a difference in the places where they live. It is both the city’s responsibility and honor to support the work of these civic leaders who are investing in their communities,” said Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark, chair of the Economic Development and Neighborhoods Committee.

The Small and Simple Grants provided over $270,000 to fund the 22 projects. Project organizers matched that with over $400,000.