Spring/summer is all about rejuvenation and renovation, which makes it that time of year for Fremont residents to weigh in on the spaces that matter so much to them and their families. Seattle Parks and Recreation will host the second community meeting for the Ross Play Area renovation on Tuesday, June 8, from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Ross Park Shelterhouse. Ross Shelterhouse is located in Ross Park at 4320 4th Ave NW.
Seattle Parks and the designer for the project, Worthy and Associates, will present the schematic design options for the park play area and discuss which play equipment and design features work best for the neighborhood. They encourage the community to attend and provide further input on the play area design. As identified in the parks and Green Spaces Levy, this renovation will provide new play equipment, site improvements and access improvements.
Seattle voters passed the Parks and Green Spaces Levy by a 59 percent vote in November 2008. The $146 million Levy provides acquisition funding for new neighborhood parks and green spaces and development funding for projects such as improved playfields, reservoir lid parks, renovated playgrounds, community gardens, and safety upgrades at city owned cultural facilities.
This is not the first time Ross Park has gone through a renovation. The Pro Parks Levy provided $544,620 for planning, design and construction for a new shelterhouse that began its planning in 2004 and was completed in 2006. The award-winning shelterhouse has the auspicious honor of being the Parks Department’s first living, green roof.
As a result of that project, the building has these improvements: an upgraded community meeting room with better furnishings, heat, light, and storage; a community notice board; improved and increased ADA access to bathrooms and the community room; upgraded building utility services; improved landscape and building access; and upgraded building code compliance.
In the 1990s the community-led Ross Park Project received Neighborhood Matching Funds and added concrete paths, new play equipment, benches, picnic tables, and a basketball half-court to the upper level of the park.
During these planning efforts community members became interested in making the Shelterhouse more inviting and accessible. The Shelterhouse was discussed during the Fremont neighborhood planning process and the community asked to “Rehabilitate and open the small community building in Ross Playfield to park and community uses.”
The project was included as part of the 2000 Pro Parks Levy to “Improve Ross Shelterhouse for community use.”
After comprehensive public involvement, Parks and the community jointly decided to raze the old shelterhouse and construct a new one.
For more information on the current playground project please visit the playground website or contact Kelly Goold, project manager at 206-684-0586 or Kelly.goold@seattle.gov