Tag Archives: lewis park

Clean and Green, Volunteering and Giving

Lewis Park continues to improve

Flowers blooming in Lewis Park last year. Photo by Wendi.
Dee Dunbar and Vinh Nguyen sent along some information about recent activities in Lewis Park at the north tip of Beacon Hill:

Hi Everyone,

Here is an update of activities at Lewis Park:

The Lewis Park Steering Committee applied for, and was awarded a Department of Neighborhoods Small and Simple Neighborhood Matching Grant to hire a geotechnical firm to do an analysis of the steep slope areas in Lewis Park. The North Beacon Hill Council served as Fiscal Sponsor for the grant. Geotechnical firms were researched and a Request for Qualifications was prepared and submitted. A committee was formed to review proposals and select the best-qualified firm. A contract was signed with Terra Associates, Inc. who performed the geological study. The study included a visual site reconnaissance, on-site exploration, and review of all available geologic documentation. The study concluded the steep slope areas of Lewis Park are stable enough to perform site activities associated with native plant restoration, however, it cautioned that erosion-control measures be conducted concurrently with the restoration. Parks and Recreation reviewed the report and will incorporate the results in restoration plans for Lewis Park. Please let us know if you would like an electronic copy of the full report.

In addition to the geological study, the DON grant also paid for several crew days from Earthcorps and the King County Corrections Work Program. These crews worked in areas to support and supplement the volunteer activity occurring on the level areas of Lewis Park.. During the grant period, volunteers contributed over 1,400 hours at Lewis Park. These volunteers planted 1,124 native shrubs, groundcover and trees, and maintained the newly restored areas by watering, weeding, and applying erosion control and mulch. Volunteers continue to restore the more level areas of Lewis Park each Sunday from February through November. Gloves, tools, water and light snacks are provided and volunteers can participate any time between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm for as long as they want. Kids are welcome!

Friends of Lewis Park want to thank all the volunteers and community support that has made this spot on North Beacon Hill a much safer and beautiful place. We encourage everyone to come and enjoy the restored areas of Lewis Park and are excited about the future when all 4.5 acres will be restored back to a Natural Area for our community to enjoy a peaceful urban forest of native plants and wildlife.

Dee and Vinh
Lewis Park Forest Stewards

Lewis Park is located at 1120 15th Avenue South, near the Amazon/PacMed building.

Urban Planning

Eight Beacon Hill projects pursue Opportunity Fund grants

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View Parks Opportunity Fund application sites in a larger map
Click on each marker to identify the site
The North Beacon Hill Council Board is submitting a letter of support for eight groups submitting applications to build new parks or improve existing parks in Beacon Hill. The 40+ people attending last night’s NBHC meeting unanimously supported this motion. Presenters were succinct and provided an impressive amount of information about their respective projects.

The eight groups presented information about applications they are submitting to the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund for parks in Beacon Hill.  You can find out more about the Opportunity Fund in their FAQ.

The Opportunity Fund is community-driven. A key aspect of the application is how much community support a project has.  If you would like to share comments, concerns, or enthusiastic support about a proposal, contact Seattle Parks and let them know what you think. Use the comments page or contact Kellee Jones at 206-684-7052  or kellee.jones@seattle.gov, or Susanne Friedman at 206-684-0902 or susanne.friedman@seattle.gov.

Briefly, the eight proposals are:

  • Volunteers and community members seeking funding to continue efforts to improve Lewis Park, such as clearing invasive species, planting natives, and restoring the natural areas in the park’s ravines
  • Development of a Food Forest in Jefferson Park, including bicycle and walking paths, a community shade structure, and habitat renewal for beneficial insects and birds
  • Acquisition of land around the Beacon Hill Light Rail Station to develop a North Beacon Central Park
  • Walker Street Park and Orchard proposal to acquire 10 lots on the boundary of the North Beacon Hill and North Rainier Urban Villages
  • Beacon Hill Youth Soccer Association efforts to improve the youth soccer field adjacent to Beacon International School so that it can be used year-round, by replacing grass with artificial turf
  • El Centro de La Raza seeking to improve their playground and increase access to the public by upgrading play structure; adding landscaping, outdoor meeting space, green features, and cultural aspects; adding ADA accessibility; and improving the basketball court
  • Efforts to preserve and renovate the historic reservoir gatehouse building in Jefferson Park
  • Development of a viewpoint pocket park at 12th and Hill, including addition of a retaining wall, viewing platform, and seating area
Crime

Plant thieves target Lewis Park

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Pink flags marked new plantings in Lewis Park a few weeks ago. Photo by Wendi.
Pink flags marked new plantings in Lewis Park a few weeks ago. Photo by Wendi.
Native plants and shrubs were recently stolen from Lewis Park, a small park at the north tip of Beacon Hill near the PacMed/Amazon building and the Jose Rizal Bridge. The plants were planted by volunteers who have been reconstructing this park recently, with support from the City.

Vinh Nguyen has been spearheading this project, and reports that on May 28, volunteers found that more than a dozen plants had disappeared from the park, including lady ferns, red flower currants, and evergreen Oregon irises. While parks are public property, the plants within them are not free for the taking, and stealing them is a crime. If anyone knows anything about this crime, please call 911.

If you would like to help with the reconstruction of the park, please join other volunteers at the Friends of Lewis Park work party every Sunday, 9:00 am -1:00 pm. Tools and gloves are provided.

Photos

The sun is out and flowers are blooming on Beacon Hill

Most of these photos are from the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr, which has tons of photos of our neighborhood. Want to contribute, or just browse the pool? Go here. Thanks to all the pool members who have contributed such wonderful images!

Flowers in the Lewis Park Natural Area near the Jose Rizal Bridge. Photo by Wendi.
Flowers in the Lewis Park Natural Area near the Jose Rizal Bridge. Photo by Wendi.

The art above the Beacon Hill Library, in a bright blue sky. Photo by melissajonas in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool.
The art above the Beacon Hill Library, in a bright blue sky. Photo by melissajonas in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool.
Continue reading The sun is out and flowers are blooming on Beacon Hill →