We received the following press release from Seattle Parks and Recreation about naming 3 new parks in Seattle. One of the parks is our new Crown Hill Park.  They are actively seeking submissions of names from the community now until June 2nd, 2010. Please submit suggestions for park names in writing by June 2, 2010, and include an explanation of how your suggestion matches the naming criteria. Send suggestions to Seattle Parks and Recreation, Park Naming Committee, 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, or by e-mail to paula.hoff@seattle.gov.

Guidelines for park names:

• Park names can be based on geographic locations, historic or cultural significance, and natural or geological features.
• A park may be named after a person deceased for a minimum of three years who made a significant contribution to parks and/or recreation.

SEATTLE PARKS SEEKS NAMES FOR THREE PARKS

Seattle Parks and Recreation invites the public to submit potential names for parks in the Ballard and West Seattle neighborhoods. Suggestions for names are due to the Park Naming Committee by Wednesday, June 2.

The following parks, characterized here by their working names, are undergoing the naming process:

9th Avenue NW: This site was purchased with 2000 Pro Parks Levy funds and now, as a result of the 2008 Parks & Greens Spaces Levy, there is funding to develop this site into a brand new park.

The public process involved three community meetings, which provided valuable design direction. The design most preferred at the final public meeting includes a community garden at the north end, a sitting wall enclosed space to recall an old building foundation, an open lawn, a “sledding hill” and a small play area at the south end. There is a planted buffer along the back edge with a trail for unstructured play.

Construction on the site is scheduled to begin in August 2010, with completion anticipated in spring 2011.  For more information, please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/9_avenue/

Crown Hill School Open Space: This project, located at Holman Rd NW and 13th Ave NW, renovates existing ballfields and adjacent newly acquisitioned land.  Pedestrian circulation, celebrated entries, open space, areas for play, a newly renovated field, seating, and plantings are among the many elements being considered.

The project was put on hold in 2006 after Seattle Public Schools declared the property a surplus, and put it up for sale. The City of Seattle purchased the property in March 2009 for $5.4 million.

This 1.71-acre acquisition fulfills one of Crown Hill’s longstanding community goals in its neighborhood plan.

Seattle Parks and Recreation has dusted off the conceptual plans that were last presented to the community in 2006, and is moving forward. Parks has re-established the design team with the appropriate sub-consultants, reviewing comments and results from the earlier process, and is defining a preferred schematic plan based on past and current conditions.

Parks and Green Spaces Levy development funding of $1.2 million will contribute to completing the design and construction of the park.

Parks will host the first public meeting on this project since 2006 on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 from 6:30 — 8 p.m. at Crown Hill Center. 9250 14th Ave NW.

Fire Station 35 is using a portion of the Holman Road frontage for temporary use while its permanent facility is being upgraded.  Construction of the site is projected for spring 2011, with an anticipated completion in the fall of 2011.

For more information, please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/crown_hill/

High Point Playfield:  The High Point Playfield is located at 6920 34th Ave. SW.  The site was acquired in 1977 from the Seattle Housing Authority.  It is a little over 11 acres and was developed in 1980 as a playfield.  The site consists of two baseball fields and a lighted sand soccer field used primarily by recreational sports groups.

Please submit suggestions for park names in writing by June 2, 2010, and include an explanation of how your suggestion matches the naming criteria. Send suggestions to Seattle Parks and Recreation, Park Naming Committee, 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, or by e-mail to paula.hoff@seattle.gov. In keeping with Seattle’s “Paper Cuts” program, Parks encourages electronic submissions.