■ Proposition 2 proponents show their support at the proposed Northgate Urban Center Park, on the site of the old Hubbard family farm. If the levy passes, funds will go toward turning the parking lot into a park with green space, a restored natural spring, a skate dot, senior exercise equipment and pathways. photo/Todd Burley, Seattle Parks Foundation
Seattle has a long tradition of supporting our parks and green spaces dating back more than 100 years to the Olmsted plan and up to the now-expiring Pro Parks Levy.
Over the last eight years, citizens have invested in parks throughout Seattle, and the resulting projects have been a huge success at bringing green space to the neighborhoods in most need.
But our city continues to grow, and there are many neighborhoods that do not have the open space necessary to build vibrant communities.
And for existing parks, the need is immense: Currently Seattle Parks and Recreation has identified a $500 million need for projects to improve these parks.
The 2008 Seattle Parks and Green Spaces Levy (Proposition 2 on your Nov. 4 ballot) continues the good work of the Pro Parks Levy so that we leave a legacy of quality parks and green spaces for our city.
NORTH END PRIORITIES
In North Seattle, 17 park projects are specifically identified to receive funds from Proposition 2, including the play area at Gas Works Park, Sandel Park, Northgate Urban Center Park, two Lower Woodland playfields and the Burke Gilman Trail.
In addition, $5 million will go toward development of the Maple Leaf Reservoir lid project, creating a new major neighborhood park where there is now a fenced-off reservoir. Habitat-restoration funds will also go toward Thornton Creek and Ravenna Woods.
North End neighborhoods also will benefit from acquisition funds targeted for purchasing new parks in Bitter Lake, Fremont, Greenwood-Phinney Ridge, Lake City, Ravenna, University District and Wedgwood.
All of Seattle's neighborhoods benefit by a similarly diverse set of projects identified by the 28-member citizens' committee that prioritized them from the existing neighborhood plans and city visions that thousands of residents have put years into creating. Playfields, urban forests, bike trails, playgrounds, skate parks, cultural centers, neighborhood parks, p-patches, reservoir lids and shoreline parks will all get improvements in Proposition 2.
A GROWING CITY, A GROWING NEED
The few opponents to the Parks and Green Spaces Levy state that funding for park acquisition and improvements should come from the city's general fund because parks are an integral part of what makes our city attractive to businesses and residents, and we couldn't agree more.
However, this isn't the case yet.
Proposition 2 will make sure our community doesn't fall behind in providing adequate green space while our city grows. The citizens' committee included a provision that directs Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Office of Finance to determine the best mechanism for ensuring sustainable funding for our neighborhood parks.
The citizens' committee created a package that minimizes the tax burden; the Parks and Green Spaces Levy is actually a reduction in property taxes from the Pro Parks Levy, down $30 per year for the average homeowner. For less than a quarter a day, we can provide for more and improved parks in our city that are free and open for all to enjoy - no admission fee required.
Citizens asked the City Council to put the levy before the voters. As fellow neighbors and parks users, we are now asking for your support to vote yes on Proposition 2 this fall. Please visit www.seattleparksforall.org to learn more.
Maple Leaf's David Miller was a citizen representative on the Parks and Green Spaces Citizens Committee that created the levy package.
Amit Ranade is the chair of the Board of Park Commissioners.
