SPRING 2023 UPDATES: MULCH MADNESS!!
Restoration Activities
The Seattle Conservation Corps has been removing invasive plants (e.g., Himalayan blackberry and English ivy), smoothing some of the rough slopes left by demolition, mulching, and doing overall site cleanup. These restoration activities open the wooded riparian area for existing native plants, birds, and other spring wildlife.
Fencing
The chain-link security fencing along NE 125th Street was repaired.
Project sign
The project team continues to brainstorm ideas for keeping the sign clean and/or an alternate solution for keeping those passing the property informed about the project.
Site activation
As demolition activities conclude, ideas from the community about temporary activation activities focused on restoration, education, and community engagement will be considered. If you have ideas, please contact the project team!
Creek and park design
The project team is finalizing a 10% design memo, which includes a creek alignment plan and overall design concept for park amenities based on community feedback across three meetings in 2022. Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) have reviewed the memo, and it is in the final stages of refinement. We plan to share preferred alternative design schematics in an upcoming blog post!
Feedback opportunities
We are planning for an opportunity later in 2023 for community members to ask questions and provide feedback as we approach the next design milestone (30% design). We are excited to share this work with you and look forward to hearing from community members about their desires for specific park elements and design details, including plant types (also known as plant palettes), park furnishings, and art elements.
Team changes: Goodbyes and welcomes
Holly Scarlett, who had been the SPU Project Manager for the Lake City Floodplain Park, has moved into a new position with Seattle City Light on the South Fork Tolt Relicensing Project. Holly worked on transformative SPU projects for 17 years and was a pivotal part of bringing the Lake City Floodplain Park along. We are so grateful for all she did for our project and wish her well on her new journey!
We are excited to welcome Amanda Barnett to the Lake City Floodplain Park project team. Amanda will support the co-development of the project between both City departments as the SPU/SPR Liaison.
We also welcome Rachel Banner, SPR Project Planner, to support Jon Pagan, the current SPR Project Manager on the project team.
Amanda and Rachel would be pleased to hear from you! If you have a general question about the upcoming Lake City Floodplain Park, please do not hesitate to reach out to either or both of them.
125th Street
SPR and SPU have begun coordination with SDOT’s NE 130th St/ NE 125th Corridor Improvements Project associated with the Sound Transit Lightrail Station and transit corridor updates along NE 125th St. There will be continuous synchronization as it relates to the Lake City Floodplain Park project, including considerations for site access and bicycle and pedestrian upgrades.
Partnership
The Lake City Floodplain Park Project represents a unique partnership between two City of Seattle deparments – SPR and SPU – and a non-profit – Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group. The first stage of the project was a pilot for this team configuration, and we are excited to announce that we are finalizing a Partnership Strategy that keeps the team together from conceptual design through construction.
We hope all has been well in your backyards and famililes! Happy spring!
