Groundswell NW is committed to improving our local community through a variety of projects and initiatives. Download a copy of the 2006 Groundswell NW News Report for more detailed information our recent accomplishments last year and our current goals.

Ongoing Projects

Ballard Corners Park - (17th NW between NW 62nd & 63rd) - Help the Friends of Ballard Corners Park create a park to be located in the lots along 17th Ave NW between NW 62nd and 63rd Streets. In cooperation with the Seattle Parks Department this site was identified and purchased with Pro Parks Levy money. The Friends of Ballard Corners Park successfully applied for funds to design and develop a pocket park in this densely populated part of Ballard, with GNW as a key supporter and fiscal sponsor.

New Park on 9th Ave NW - The City recently purchased a 39,000 square foot former church property on the 7000 block of 9th Ave NW, and Groundswell is helping neighbors organize to plan and build a new park.

Walkable Crown Hill - Groundswell is the fiscal sponsor for a project to plan and implement pedestrian improvements on Crown Hill.

14th Avenue NW "Visioning" Project - Residents and businesses developed a concept plan to improve the appearance and function of a one-mile stretch of 14th Avenue NW from Ballard High School south to the canal. Groundswell NW is an active supporter and fiscal sponsor for this community project.

Salmon Bay Natural Area - Groundswell NW has worked with Seattle Public Utilities and other partners to raise over $1 million to purchase and begin restoration and public access improvements on this "last wooded shoreline in Ballard," south of NW 54th St. just east of the RR bridge.

Salmon Bay Initiative - Working with Heron Habitat Helpers and the People for Puget Sound's ShoreWatch program, we have developed a Salmon Bay Walking tour and a Greater Salmon Bay Concept Plan with conceptual drawings of six sites around Salmon Bay to improve habitat and public access to Salmon Bay, including shoreline street-ends.

Waterfront Street Ends - Groundswell NW is working with Friends of Street Ends to improve and reestablish public use of waterfront street ends. For example, at the NW 57th Street End volunteers have improved the secluded beach with landscaping and seating.

Open Space Acquisition - We are continually pursuing the purchase of open space, surplus City Light substations and other vacant or underutilized property. The current focus is on preserving the open space at the surplussed Webster and Crown Hill elementary schools.

Community Environmental Education - We sponsor programs on issues such as habitat protection and backyard wildlife sanctuaries to raise public awareness of the need to improve our urban environment.

Burke-Gilman Trail - We are committed to helping the Friends of Burke-Gilman Trail complete the bicycle and walking trail through Ballard to Golden Gardens Park.

Street Trees - We help anyone interested in getting street trees for the planting strips near their home and/or business.

Salmon Bay School "Lower Field" - We worked with the students, teachers, parents and neighbors to develop a design to renovate the 1-acre school recess area, then helped the Parent/Teacher Association apply for construction funds and complete the project. Earlier, Groundswell supported the conversion of the upper field from blacktop to an all-weather sports field.