Seattle Parks & Recreation has been working to improve the West Queen Anne Ballfield #3 for months, including plans put forth this last July to build a retaining wall that would level the slopping field. Currently the project is on hold until a few last details can be sorted out. Seattle Parks announced today that it will be holding a public meeting tomorrow, Thursday, August 13, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Queen Anne Community Center to discuss a specific issue concerning the plan — the color of the new chain link fence.
This is the second public meeting Seattle Parks & Recreation has held concerning Ballfield #3. The West Queen Anne Little League Association, Foushee Construction and Seattle Parks will build a retaining wall along the sidwalk on W. Blaine St to the existing stairwell at the east side of the field, to correct the field’s slopping. The existing chain link fence will continue along the top of the retaining wall. The color of the fence will be established at tomorrow’s meeting.
The Queen Anne Community Center is located at 1901 First Ave. W.
Seattle Parks & Recreation Project Manager Gary Gibbons, the contact for the Ballfield #3 project, can be reached at (206) 386-1511 or gary.gibbons@seattle.gov.
2 responses so far ↓
1 lisamiddlebrook // Aug 13, 2009 at 11:36 am
The Parks Department has defined this meeting with a very narrow agenda in order to expedite this work. However there are disagreements among the community regarding the wall & fence project. On one hand, the retaining wall will even out the ball field for the little league players who are chasing a foul ball and avoid a steep slope along the existing fence. On the other hand, a 3-1/2 ft retaining wall will create a blind spot between parents and children as the children are running along the path that borders the fence. The blind spot will be right where the children are running/biking/scootering down a hill toward a busy street (W Blaine). This deserves serious consideration, as we have to think of safety for everyone. Please come to the meeting and let your opinion be heard! Otherwise this will be nothing more than a patronizing event of picking out the color of the fence…
Thanks,
Lisa Middlebrook
2 lisamiddlebrook // Aug 13, 2009 at 6:36 pm
The Parks Department has defined this meeting with a very narrow agenda in order to expedite this work. However there are disagreements among the community regarding this project.
On one hand, the retaining wall will even out the ball field for the little league players who are chasing a foul ball and currently have a steep slope along the existing fence.
On the other hand, a 3-1/2 ft retaining wall will create a blind spot between parents and children as the children are running along the path that borders the fence. The blind spot will be right where the children are running/biking/scootering down a hill toward a busy street (W Blaine). This deserves serious consideration, as we have to think of safety for everyone.
A suggested compromise is to build a wall that is to the shoulder height of the type of child who is likely to run ahead of mom and dad toward the busy street. Is this a 4 year old, a 3 year old, a 2 year old? How tall should it be and be safe for them? The community should decide. That includes all families.
Please come to the meeting and let your opinion be heard. Otherwise this will be nothing more than a benign event of picking out the color of the fence…
Thanks,
Lisa Middlebrook
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