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December 8, 2001

To:    Community Meeting Attendee
         Soundview Park Project

From: Soundview Park Project Steering Committee

Re:     Update Following 2nd Community Meeting

The Steering Committee would like to thank all of you who attended Soundview Park Project community meetings in October and November 2001. At the meeting on November 27, three draft alternative site plans were presented for review. There were well over sixty people in attendance that provided verbal and written comments about the draft plans.

In general, community discussion centered around the following topics:

Pedestrian Access at 92nd Street
Prior to the community meeting, the Parks Department and the Police Department met with Soundview Park neighbors to discuss concerns regarding a pedestrian entry point at 92nd Street. Neighbors who live on 20th Ave. NW and 92nd streets are adamantly opposed to any access from the 92nd street end. The Parks Department has recommended not opening access. Collectively, a decision has been made to leave the existing barrier at the end of 92nd Street in place.

Community Ownership and Maintenance
Current and future maintenance of the park was also discussed. The Parks Department fully supports upgrades in the park. However, their resources are limited. The Steering Committee has always had a clear understanding that community "ownership" is necessary to ensure the long-term health and preservation of the park. One objective of the Steering Committee is to develop a three-year stewardship program for the park. This stewardship program will require a commitment from the surrounding community and by the many user groups of the park.

Steering Committee Additions
The Steering Committee has expanded to include three neighbors that have homes immediately bordering the park and who were vocal at the meeting. Two community members from Crown Hill have also expressed an interest in being involved.

Going Forward - January 10, 2002 Community Meeting
Soundview Park is one of very few open green spaces in Ballard, and within walking distance of Olympic Manor, Crown Hill, and North Beach neighborhoods. The Steering Committee has dedicated an enormous number of volunteer hours over the last five months in the areas of community outreach and communication, coordination with appropriate City departments, grant writing, landscape architect selection, fundraising, and three community meetings to date (one informational meeting and two planning meetings). We are committed to renovating Soundview Park within the community process set forth by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and in cooperation with the Seattle Parks Department. The process is open and participation from neighbors in Olympic Manor, Crown Hill, North Beach, and other areas is welcome.

Currently, the architect is preparing a hybrid draft site plan for discussion at the next community meeting on January 10, 2002, 6:30 pm, at Whitman Middle School. A fourth community meeting will be held in late January or early February to finalize the conceptual site plan. Please watch for an announcement of the date for that meeting.

It is essential to the future of Soundview Park and the community process that all of you and your neighbors attend the community meetings and voice your ideas and opinions on what you want included in the park renovation. We need to hear from all community members so that the interests of the entire community are represented in the final site plan. Don't under estimate the importance of your input - active neighborhood participation is vital to the community planning process.

Your comments and suggestions are also welcome via email or mail. Your participation via these means is just as valid as attendance at meetings. The Steering Committee can be reached in the following manner:
    E-mail: soundv@scn.org
    Website: http://soundviewpark.org
    Regular mail address: 9020 26th Avenue NW, Seattle, WA 98117

You can also submit comments to the Parks Department.
    E-mail: andy.sheffer@ci.seattle.wa.us
    Website: http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/home.htm
    Regular mail address: 100 Dexter Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109

Please visit the Soundview Park Project website: http://soundviewpark.org. There are photos of the park, a list of ways to volunteer and directions for making donations. The three draft alternative plans are posted, as well as notes from the last public meeting.

We hope to see you on January 10th!