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The Design Concepts and Elements for Shoreline’s parks that were included in the City’s Proposition 1 review do NOT identify which trees will or will not be preserved. The designs “evoke” what the parks will look like with the addition of non-tree amenities. City Management Analyst Christina Arcidy, City Manager Debbie Tarry and Assistant City Manager John Norris, all say that the new design concepts will minimize the impact on existing trees and maintain maximum accessibility. We are not up against housing and commercial development here. Still, some mature trees will be lost while meeting code for utilities, drainage, etc., improving accessibility, and adding new design elements (see below) to our parks, as well as staying within budget. The latter two are non-negotiable: the elements come from a long process that included community involvement and the budget is capped. There is some flexibility (keeping within code) about how the elements will be developed. Sidewalks. The width of sidewalks within the parks to save trees is a bit negotiable. As much as possible, the city will install ‘best practice’ of eight-foot sidewalks for mixed use and accessibility, but according to both the City Management Analyst and the Assistant City Manager, it is possible to have paths meander around significant trees and to have the width in places be reduced to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-minimum requirement of three feet to save trees. Tree planting. About one-hundred conifer and deciduous trees are estimated to be planted. The varieties will be in accordance with the City’s Urban Forest Strategic Plan. Land acquisition. Land will be purchased in the light-rail station areas and elsewhere in accordance with the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan. Land acquisition may be limited by what opportunities become available and by matching grant program requirements. Acquisition plans include expansions for the pocket Rotary Park (near 185th Street Station), for Paramount Open Space (Ridgecrest neighborhood) and for Brugger’s Bog Park (in Ballinger). It is expected that there will be others. If the bond measure passes, then, monitoring and advocating for trees will be very important. Further design will be paid for and completed only if Proposition 1 passes. That is the time at which individual trees will be looked at and decisions made about incorporating them into final designs. There will be opportunity for public input in formats that have not yet been planned, but in the past have included on-line feedback, open houses with back-and-forth discussion and feedback, as well as emails, phone calls and letters. Here is an initial look at highlights of the individual parks and specific concerns to watch for. BRUGGER’S BOG PARK
Much of this park in Ballinger, including the playground, is under water several months of the year. There are beautiful large trees here that can be appreciated more with the proposed perimeter trail. New design elements also include a relocated playground, new multi-sports court, new restroom, and additional landscaping and a sidewalk. City Management Analyst Christina Arcidy reviewed aerial maps and said it did not appear any trees would be impacted by the planned frontage improvements.
SST QUESTIONS: It doesn’t appear that the trail will require removing significant trees, but this should be checked as the design is developed. Confirm trees are not threatened by the new sidewalk planned for 25th Avenue NE. Also, will significant trees be removed for other amenities? How much of the additional landscaping is conifers and will it include other native trees? JAMES KEOUGH PARK
This small park in Meridian Park is so wet that most of it is not usable eight months of the year. In the center of the park is a chain-link fence around a dilapidated, overgrown tennis court. The playground has been removed. The park runs next to I-5 and there is no visual or sound barrier, only a few scattered trees. The lack of parking onsite is a problem for neighbors. Design elements to be incorporated include replacing the old play area and adding a new off-leash dog area, picnic shelter, perimeter trail, restroom and parking. Plans include improving drainage and planting more trees, both around the perimeter and around the off-leash area. The park will be significantly improved visually and for usability with these amenities added and removal of the eyesore in the center.
SST QUESTIONS: In the current Design Concept, adding parking would entail removing a straight row of approximately sixteen significant trees, including one large Madrone. Can these trees be saved with diagonal parking? Or by parking on the south side of N. 167th Street? Will any significant trees on the other three sides of the park be removed? (There aren’t many.) What varieties of additional trees are proposed? BRIARCREST COMMUNITY PARK
This park is carved out of Hamlin Park to create an amenity for Briarcrest with an enhanced entry from the neighborhood on 25th Avenue NE. New design elements include converting one of two ballfields into lawn, and a new play area, splash pad, picnic shelter and perimeter trail.
SST QUESTIONS: At the entrance, it appears several significant trees would be removed, including a large Madrone. How can the entrance be adjusted to save more significant trees? Where will the perimeter trail be located? Will it endanger surrounding trees? Can the new play area be moved to protect trees? KRUCKEBERG BOTANIC GARDEN
The bond measure would fund investments at Kruckeberg Botanic Garden on 15th Avenue NW. The new design (worked on for years by the Kruckeberg Foundation) will make the education center and children’s garden accessible to people of all abilities. The existing trees will remain. A raised wooden walkway suitable for wheelchairs will ramp into the garden and across it, where existing trails are. Note: The raised walkway is many times more expensive than a concrete path and the bond will not come close to paying for it. The Kruckeberg Foundation is looking at ways to raise additional sums for this project. No new parking or sidewalks are in the plan.
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