A heartfelt THANK YOU to all who supported and voted for this measure! For those who wonder if the citizens of Seattle can see fit to continue funding parks to balance growth with green, even in these difficult economic times - YES WE CAN!

Now, of course, the hard work of implementing the levy begins, but we can take some time to enjoy this victory and contemplate new parks at the old Crown Hill School, the new 7th Elect Church site on 9th Ave NW, finally completing the Burke-Gilman Trail and more. You can read more about the levy at the City Council website, http://www.seattle.gov/council/issues/parks_levy.htm and at at www.seattleparksforall.org.

The levy package was the result of two months of intense work on a proposal to renew a parks levy. As just one member of a 28 person committee, I worked to make this a measure to continue to build on our green legacy. There were many compromises, as there should be when a large, diverse group has to make tough decisions, resulting in a strong package that continues to fund many critical projects throughout the City.  

In Ballard and environs, the proposal includes $1.2 million to develop the Crown Hill Park, replacing and adding to funds from the ProParks measure that will be redirected to permanently preserve the land as public open space, $800,000 to develop the new park on the 7000 block of 9th Ave NW in Whittier Heights, $600,000 for Kiwanis Ravine and $500,000 to upgrade the Golden Gardens playground. The proposal also includes $30 million for open space acquisition in fast-growing and underserved areas like the Ballard Urban Village and $15 million in Opportunity Funds that could support many of the worthy projects that didn't make the final cut, continuing and building on the ProParks tradition that helped Ballard Corners and many other community-based projects citywide.

From the City Council website:

Groundswell NW helped form a Green Legacy Coalition, teaming with over twenty five groups to support renewing a parks levy to invest in Seattle's "green infrastructure". Our green infrastructure is a network of connected green spaces including parks, greenways, and streetscapes that enhance ecological function, protect Puget Sound water quality, and give Seattle's residents places to gather and play. If we pass up this opportunity, we will miss the chance to invest in essential amenities that make Seattle a liveable city, especially as the city grows.

To see a list of groups on the Green Legacy Coalition click here.

ProParks Levy Fact Sheet

• The funding from the ProParks Levy ($198.2 million dollars, which have been used to leverage an additional 70.7 million dollars in parks funding) will end in 2008.
• The City of Seattle neighborhoods and its citizens have benefited by the numerous improvement projects and acquisitions the Seattle ProParks Levy has generated. Including Fremont Peak Park, Bradner Gardens, and properties abutting Thorton Creek.
• Public and private initiatives -- including the Neighborhood Plans, Open Space Seattle 2100 Charrette, the Bicycle Master Plan, Restore Our Waters, the upcoming Pedestrian Master Plan, Seattle Urban Forest Stakeholders Manifesto, Bands of Green etc., have all identified significant unfunded needs within our green infrastructure network.
• With renewed national and regional investments in cities as a whole, and low-impact, non-polluting and community-focused programs in particular, we recognize that having dedicated municipal funding mechanisms in place will allow the City of Seattle to capitalize on those opportunities to leverage even more funding opportunities in future without drawing too heavily on the city's general funds budget.