Do you want to build a park in your neighborhood? Improve a trail or start a community garden? Now you’ll have the chance to use $15 million for community-initiated projects as part of the the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund. The funds can be used for anything from buying new park land, to developing a new trail, garden or park or improving upon already existing public spaces. Still in the first stages, the Parks and Green Spaces Oversight Committee is in the process of developing the project fund criteria, with the hopes of being able to take public nominations on potential projects in the spring and beginning building in January 2011.

The oversight committee has developed a draft of the Opportunity Fund Project Criteria (.pdf) and is asking for public comment. They will be holding a public meeting on the draft proposal at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 9 at the Parks Administration Building (located at 100 Dexter Avenue N). Public comment on the draft will be due by Monday, November 16. For a full schedule of the Opportunity Fund Oversight Committee meetings, click here.

The $15 million Opportunity Fund for community-nominated projects is part of the $146 million Parks and Green Spaces Levy park development and acquisition projects package Seattle voters approved last November. Now one year after the Levy passed, Seattle Parks and Recreation has already added 2.53 acres to the city parks system, completed eight new Levy projects, and currently has four projects under construction and 21 projects in the planning and design stages.