12th Avenue Park Moving Forward
The planning and development of a new urban gathering place at 12th and James Ct., under the ownership of the Seattle Parks Department, is set to move forward. Money for development will come from funds within the so-called 12th Avenue Development Fund. The Development Fund is money received by the City from the sale of a number of parcels on and near 12th Avenue. The exact amount available for planning and development will not be known until the Department of Neighborhoods provides information on the cost of completing the incomplete street and pedestrian improvements called for in the Mayor’s (Norm Rice) 12th Avenue Development Plan.
The urban gathering place on 12th Avenue arose from a neighborhood proposal to the Pro Parks Levy Opportunity Fund which resulted in a set-aside of $500,000 for such a public space. (See http://www.seattle.gov/parks/ProParks/projects/12thAve.htm) Also, King County Conservation Futures money of $550,000 was awarded to purchase land for a park, bringing the amount available for purchase of a new park to slightly more than $1 million. After a search for possible urban gathering locations, the City-owned site at the southeast corner of 12th and James Ct. has been selected. This site has been transferred to the jurisdiction of the Parks Department and since no purchase price is involved this frees up the previously set aside $1 million+ acquisition money for buying an additional piece of land to serve as a park for the 12th Avenue area.
For more information, see the Squire Park Web site (www.squirepark.org) and sign up for the list service: SquirePark12thAveNeighborhor@yahoogroups.com.
—Bill Zosel