Soundview Park Project

Community Meeting at Whitman Middle School -- January 10, 2002

129 people attended

 

 

TRANSCRIPTION OF COMMENTS RECORDED ON FLIP CHARTS AT THE MEETING

 

Speakers who indicated their support for the project:  22

Community vote regarding skateboarding elements:  pro-20, against-47; maybe/need more info-22

 

PLAY ELEMENTS/EXPERIENCE

Ÿ         Keep tennis courts

Ÿ         Keep Small Faces Preschool in mind while designing

Ÿ         Climbing wall - yes

Ÿ         Accommodate skateboards & set it up to keep older kids separate from preschool play

Ÿ         Tennis practice wall

Ÿ         Keep a wading pool

Ÿ         Area for children to dig (sand)

Ÿ         Incorporate classic games like hot lava, hopscotch & 4-square (2 mentions)

Ÿ         Like the summer playground program

Ÿ         Soft equipment and stairs

Ÿ         Hanging bars

Ÿ         Salmon Bay play area well-zoned, safe play areas

Ÿ         Too much for older kids

Ÿ         Not enough stuff for teenagers to do

Ÿ         Provide tables for games (chess, etc.)

Ÿ         Raise flower beds, accessible to wheelchairs

Ÿ         Sand in a portion of the playground, woodchips or other elsewhere

Ÿ         Like the distance between play area and parking lot

Ÿ         Design for multiple children age groups (safety/diversity)

Ÿ         Want climbing structures (like Zoo park and Magnuson Park)

Ÿ         Keep existing swings (2 comments)

Ÿ         Cable swing

Ÿ         Distinct, separate activity zones for different age groups

Ÿ         Provide shady area/covered space close to play areas

Ÿ         Add water toy/sculpture attachment to wading pool

Ÿ         Like steering wheels, gang planks, hot lava

Ÿ         Toddler structure with tubes and railings

Ÿ         Lawn area connected to play area (not part of ball fields) for informal use (Frisbee, etc)

Ÿ         Suspension bridge

Ÿ         Pro inclusion of play for older children - 2 mentions

Ÿ         Want fountains and wading pool

 

ACCESSIBILITY

Ÿ         Would like a place to walk (perhaps a section for dog walking)

Ÿ         Easier stroller access (especially on the northwest end)

Ÿ         Improve north access point perhaps by removing the bar that is there

Ÿ         Would like a sidewalk by tennis courts - use all-weather paths

Ÿ         Current walkway is dangerous

Ÿ         Safe walkways

Ÿ         Change the grade to improve visibility

Ÿ         Keep northwest access open

Ÿ         Change path surfacing (lava rocks)

 

VISIBILITY

Ÿ         Would be nice to be able to see across

Ÿ         Want lighting

Ÿ         Remove some slope or change to improve visibility and usability

Ÿ         Remove shrubs that serve as cover for bathroom

Ÿ         Currently it is a “scary” park-personal safety (4 mentions)

Ÿ         Not enough lights (6 comments)

Ÿ         Lighting (motion sensors, consider neighbor impact) - 10 people raised hand in support of this

Ÿ         Add  lights to west end of existing parking lot

 

 

AESTHETICS

Ÿ         Like shade from mature trees

Ÿ         Kids could design tiles - ocean theme

Ÿ         Take advantage of possible view of Mt. Rainier

Ÿ         Suggest themes/sculpture combined with good play experience (not to impact negatively)

Ÿ         A defined entry & signage to create presence (theme/art/color)

Ÿ         Maintain older trees rather than removing - 2 mentions

Ÿ         50’s theme to reflect Olympic Manor

Ÿ         Theme: water/mountains - neighborhood character

Ÿ         Sitting area, pleasant for reading, contemplation bench

Ÿ         Gardens, plantings, vegetation, seasonal color

Ÿ         Would like to see a hand washing station & drinking fountains

 

OTHER

Ÿ         Tile/paving stone fundraiser

Ÿ         Check with service clubs

Ÿ         Concern about vandalism

Ÿ         Year-round bathrooms

Ÿ         Garbage is an issue

Ÿ         Partying in the park is a concern

Ÿ         Need to discourage parties in kids play area

Ÿ         Would like picnic area without lights close to 90th

Ÿ         Close the park at night

Ÿ         Picnic shelter closer to 90th

Ÿ         Playfields should be closed after 10 pm - majority voted in support

Ÿ         Yes to picnic shelter

 

PARKING & NW 90th ST.

Ÿ         Concern about parking if the western access is opened up

Ÿ         Not enough parking

Ÿ         Parking on 20th is a concern

Ÿ         Shelter for shade/dry

Ÿ         Speeders on 90th are a concern (2 mentions)

Ÿ         Close parking lot at night

Ÿ         Put speed bumps in the parking lot

Ÿ         Put a fence along 90th playfields to prevent cars from driving on the fields

Ÿ         Add a sign limiting speed

 

SKATEBOARDING

Ÿ         No skateboarding (raise of hands should about 50 shared this opinion)

Ÿ         Desire skateboard area (possible second use for wading pool)

Ÿ         Pro skateboarding (in separate area) - 5 mentions