Friends of Lower Kinnear Park (FOLKpark) has been awarded two grants from the city for restoration and development of Lower Kinnear Park in Queen Anne, totally $15,750! The first award, in the amount of $15,000, is part of the Department of Neighborhoods’ Small and Simple Grant, for the hiring of a landscape architect to develop a plan with the community for the enhancement of the park. Although the majority of the funds will be allocated to the landscape architect for a conceptual design for Lower Kinnear Park, FOLKpark will be holding three public meetings in January to gather input from stakeholders.

The second loan was for $750 through the Community Outreach Startup Fund to help launch FOLKpark’s community outreach efforts. This money has gone to basic supplies for the committee’s events and group meetings. Both loans are part of the Department of Neighborhoods’ Matching Funds program.

FOLKpark’s main objectives are:

• Getting more people into Lower Kinnear Park by increasing passive and active uses of the park and strengthening neighborhood connections to and within the park.
• Sustaining Lower Kinnear Park’s natural setting as a unique urban forest offering visitors a retreat from the bustle of the city.
• Telling Lower Kinnear Park’s story and celebrating its significance to Seattle’s history.

FOLKparks has organized volunteers clean-up events in Lower Kinnear Park both in September and October, and they’re just getting started with their community outreach. According to FOLKpark Steering Committee Chair Deborah Frausto, the group will be launching their new website, to better connect the organization with the community it serves, later this week. They meet twice a month – on the first Tuesday and third Thursday – from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Queen Anne Neighborhood Center, located at 160 Roy St.