Delivered March 4, 2006 at the Ballard Commons Dedication 250-400 in Attendance. Mayor Greg nickels; Council members Drago, Della, Steinbrueck, Godden, McIver and Clark.

"Hello - I'm Davidya Kasperzyk - and from one neighbor to many others I want to welcome you to our baby park - The Ballard Commons!! Don't worry....the tree's will grow and leaf out giving scale to the Park, and over time we will build traditions and meaning in this new Civic Place.

This New Park and our wonderful new Ballard Library represents the best of the inclusive (and conclusive) Seattle Process and is one of our Neighborhood Planning successes.

Our Ballard Common's is a great story. It was created out of the dream's and schemes of many of Ballard's stalwart citizen activists and a willing and able Seattle Neighborhood Planning initiative. Two groups led the local charge: Groundswell NW -your neighborhood non-profit began in 1989 with the goal of "creating community parks and habitat" and in 1994 the Ballard Open Space Committee. Their first product was the Ballard Open Space Inventory and Action Plan of 1995.

Lillian Riley, David Boyd and Paul Fuesel, and over 100 volunteers created a master list of 126 potential acquisition sites and a strategic vision of a new Ballard - with new parks and habitat linked to new and existing civic amenities -like this Park and that Library over there!

Neighborhood Planning began in 1997, and with it added more leadership with Jody Haug, Stephan Lundgren, Jim Jensen, and the irascible Tom Miller owner of the landmark Skandi's Restaurant. We determined that Ballard had the least parks and open space of any residential neighborhood in Seattle. Ballard's Neighborhood plan was created with the participation of over 6,000 citizens....that's right 6,000.

A principle goal became the creation a Central Park north of Market Street. The late Mr. Miller came to me with a bold idea.... To create a whole block civic area with the Park and Library sharing this site that held back to back retail groceries. From that original concept plan has grown our amazing new Park.

That we were able to acquire this half block for 5 Million dollars was due to the skill of Tom Miller with our neighborhood's political power behind his sails, and the outstanding partnership with City Leaders and Staff including Don Harris, Rob Matson and Laurie Ames among many Department of Neighborhoods and Parks Staff.

Mahlum Clements lead a fine Civic Center Master Plan project with a many of the usual suspects on the Project Advisory Committee but also including Beth Miller and Marianna Forsbladd.

Finally - the project was brought to completion with the design leadership of Barbara Swift and Lisa Corry, and the project management of Jon Jainga.

Neighbors like you were involved at each and every step. The skateboard community, nearby neighbors, the Chamber of Commerce, the Ballard Open Space Committee and Groundswell NW worked together to make this place.

To all of them and to all of you - let's make the Ballard Commons the heart of our Community. Thank You.