The Bike Share Group is a Ballard collaboration with the vision to create the first Seattle bike share system that will support the community's long term goals for livability by providing transportation alternatives that reduce our environmental impact. A shared bike system reduces our dependence on fossil fuel sources, creates efficient movement from place to place, and improves vehicular congestion. A pilot bike share project in Ballard will enable a new experience with public transportation that is healthy, fun and easy to use.

Mark Hulscher, head bike share groupie, plans to implement a 20-bike pilot system in Ballard by November to encourage alternative forms of transportation for getting around and to demonstrate the value of these public transit systems in a high-density urban area. The Bike Share Group recently received a $5,000 matching grant from Groundswell NW, a non-profit organization in Ballard dedicated to creating parks & preserving habitat.

The sun shone on Ballard Corners Park on a recent Saturday, bringing with it ardent volunteers and joyful revelers. Eighteen enthusiastic people helped with weeding and spreading 5 cubic yards of wood chip mulch. This level of community support is all the evidence anyone needs to show that pocket parks create vital urban neighborhoods. Ballard Corners Park has become a neighborhood gem in these past months since opening in October 2009. Passers by come to take photographs of themselves sitting in the "living room," children climb and spin on the play structure, families play ball and picnic on the lawn.

On this particular Saturday, after volunteers had completed the bulk of their work, along came a group, several of whom were dressed in Star Wars outfits, to celebrate a 5 year old's birthday. They festooned the "corner store" with balloons, streamers and a piñata; spread cake and goodies on the countertops; and set up face painting and games on the lawn. For an afternoon the park was their outdoor home away from home. The delightful spectacle brought joy not only to the party-goes, but also to those lucky enough to witness it.

Help keep this park an attraction for all who come at a work party, 9am-2pm Sat. March 5.

Thanks to all who attended our Annual Meeting on March 14, with special thanks to Mayor Michael McGinn for graciously fielding a number of questions about "green infrastructure" in Ballard and beyond. Our current slate of officers was elected for another year by acclamation, and two new Local Heroes were recognized.

Dawn Hemminger was lauded for her years of service on the Board of Directors, for the last few years in the most time-consuming job, Treasurer. She also has helped spearhead the 14th Ave NW Visioning Project, which was featured at the meeting in a presentation by her and Peter Locke. If that was not enough, she helped re-form the east ballard community association over the last couple of years, energizing her corner of the neighborhood. She has also been involved in the Ballard District Council and its efforts to prepare for a neighborhood plan update.

Michael Harthorne was recognized for his tireless reporting of Groundswell and other community events for the Ballard News Tribune. At a time when BNT has consolidated its operations and closed its Ballard office, Michael has kept their reporting of community events at a high level, showing up for evening meetings, daytime work parties and helping us spread the news through his articles and photographs. His report on our Annual Meeting, which modestly ignores his Local Hero honor, can be found here.

A large crowd gathered at Ballard Corners Park on October 10, 2009 to celebrate its (near) completion and Groundswell's 20 years of reating community parks and habitat. Kudos to Friends of Ballard Corners Park co-chairs David Folweiler and Rebecca Carr, the entire steering committee, and all the neighbors who have worked so hard to create this magical new park. See updates, details and photos at the Ballard Corners website.