More natural area than park, Crown Hill Glen is tucked away between 19th and 20th NW where these two avenues dead-end at NW 89th Street. First identified as an open space opportunity through Groundswell's Open Space Inventory in 1996, the site is a hidden gem, and testament to the ongoing stewardship of its neighbors.

The natural surroundings look as if they have always been there...but this is not the case at all.  George and Theadora Plumis, who were married in 1931, bought these four lots and the adjoining house and lot to the south in 1940. This was the Plumis' first home and its then rural surroundings gave Mr. Plumis a chance to recreate a bit of the farming culture of their Greek homeland by raising chickens, goats, sheep, and fruit trees.  During the war, it served as a Victory Garden.  It was plowed by horse until well into the 50's!

Salmon Bay School's playground renovation project has been designed specifically for kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Did you know that ASD affects one in 110 children, and is more common than juvenile diabetes? Families with ASD need playspaces that bring out the best in their kids, and ones which help to turn strangers into friends as neighbors come to play together.

The project is kicking into high gear this fall, with a tremendous turnout of 540 people at the Let's Play Salmon Bay event on October 22nd, a community-wide celebration of play, inclusion - and fun. Participants learned about how the project helps to create a better playground for all kids, how it is helping to re-invigorate what inclusion means in our community, and how collaboration and commitment makes that happen.

With matching funding in hand through the Department of Neighborhoods and King County, the project is well on its way to opening the playground next fall, with an additional fundraising goal of $80K. For more information, see this Ballard News Tribune article, this My Ballard piece, this KOMO Ballard article, and visit the project's website where you can also sign-up to volunteer. Or contact project lead, Robin Wise Lofstrom, at robin@lofstrom.com, or 327-5782.

Last summer's warm weather brought an increase in drinking, camping and other illegal activity at Salmon Bay Natural Area. To help address these issues, we held a workparty Aug. 27 to weed, clean up, and thin some of the shrubs to open up sight lines to the plaza. Then we focused on positive solutions a meeting of stakeholders, including neighbors, community members and agencies with some role in managing the site on Aug. 30. Thanks to The Canal for hosting the meeting, and to representatives of Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle Department of Transpotation and Seattle Police Department for attending. Later in the fall, Seattle Conservation Corps transplanted several shrubs to further open up sight lines and block unauthorized access paths. Things were much quieter at the site in the late summer, and we are committed to keeping it safe and attractive for all. 

The draft Seattle Parks and Recreation 2011 Development Plan is now available on-line for your review at this website: http://seattle.gov/parks/Publications/DevelopmentPlan.htm.

Seattle Parks and Recreation 2011 Development Plan updates the 2006 Development Plan. This plan is specific to acquisition and development efforts that will be pursued over the next five to six years, primarily for outdoor recreation and open space. The Plan includes goals and policies, analyzes demands and needs, and identifies capital improvement projects that help implement that Development Plan.