(Information updated 2011-6-1)
Friends for a Greater Maple Leaf Park
Family Terrace/Play Area Design Meeting #2 • • • Play Area Design Meeting #2 Video
• • • Play Area Design Meeting #1 Video • • • Defining the Play Area • • • Playground Equipment • • • Adventure/Natural Play • • • Children's Garden • • • Picnic Shelter • • • Funding • • • Schedule
• • • Whole Park Update • • •
Wednesday, July 13 was the second of two meetings regarding the design of the Play Area at the Maple Leaf Park. The first part of the meeting was a general update on the greater Maple Leaf Reservoir Park. The rest of the meeting focused on the two Schematic Concepts for the Family Terrace/Play Area (the layout & features of the playground equipment, the Adventure/Natural Play area, and the Children's Garden).
The overall theme emulates the regions of the northwest and includes mima mounds, talus rock slopes and grasses to represent the Palouse. The numbers to the left of the drawings give brief descriptions of what’s included in each area. Click on each for a larger version.
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As we have done in the past, we are encouraging people from the neighborhood who want to have an influence on what is included in this area to submit their comments and suggestions to the Parks Department before the deadline of Wednesday, July 27th. Please offer your comments and opinions on the Schematic Concepts and the Built Play for the Maple Leaf Play Area.
Following this "Sending in Comments" section is a video of the July 13th meeting — we hope this video will answer questions and offer ideas for you to contemplate when sending in comments. Once the notes from the meeting are available, we will include a link to them here — you may find that useful as well.
These Schematic Concepts and samples of Built Play (aka Playground Equipment) you will be commenting on are available for viewing: (1) here on the Maple Leaf Community website; (2) the Seattle Parks website (http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/maple_leaf_reservoir/); (3) the window at 8521 Roosevelt; and at (4) Cloud City Coffee, (5) The Blue Saucer, & (6) Cafe Javisti. They will also be available at the Maple Leaf Summer Social, Wednesday, July 27th, 6:30 to 8:30 at the Maple Leaf Playground. Comment period ends July 27, 2011
This form is available online at http://www.mapleleafcommunity.org/cc_ULMP_pg.html as well as at the neighborhood locations listed above. Comments must be returned to the address at the end of the sheet by Wednesday, July 27, 2011.
A little background: The play area, also known as The Family Terrace, includes a built play area (more traditional equipment), an adventure play zone, and a children’s garden.
The Parks & Green Spaces Levy is providing $450,000 total project costs for the renovation of the the Maple Leaf Play Area. This budget covers planning, design, and construction costs. A local family and the Maple Leaf Community Council have partnered to secure an additional $175,000 ($75,000 in fundraising and $100,000 from the Department of Neighborhoods Large Matching Fund) to go towards developing the adventure play zone and children’s garden.
Please answer the following five questions about the concepts presented at the July 13th meeting by The Berger Partnership and the Parks Dept. They are accepting opinions and comments about the elements within each concept as well as comments about each concept. If you want to respond via email, please copy and paste these questions (and your answers) into an email to Kim.Baldwin@seattle.gov. Or you can print out this form and (1) mail it in, (2) drop it at one of the neighborhood drop boxes, or (3) bring it to the Summer Social.
1. What sort of Playground Equipment would you like to see in the Play Area? List your top priorities.
2. What do you like about Concept #1?
3. What do you like about Concept #2?
4. What elements from both concepts are most important to you? (The final design will likely be a combination of elements from both concepts.)
5. Do you have any additional comments you like to send to the design team?
Send in Comment Responses to:
• Email - Seattle Parks Dept Project Manager Kim Baldwin: kim.baldwin@seattle.gov
• US Mail - Seattle Parks & Recreation — Attn: Kim Baldwin — 800 Maynard Ave S., 3rd Floor — Seattle, WA 98134
• Drop boxes at Cloud City Coffee, Blue Saucer, and Cafe Javisti (thru noon, July 27th, when they will be picked up and delivered to the Parks Department)
• At the Maple Leaf Summer Social (Wednesday, July 27, 6:30 to 8:30, Maple Leaf Playground) where there will be people available to answer questions (as best we can!).
Comment period ends July 27, 2011
We hope viewing this meeting will help answer questions. The presenters didn't use the microphone & sometimes they didn't speak forcefully, and the camera that we were using didn't perform well in the gymnasium, so turn up your speakers! If you want to send in comments, please see that information above. Comment period ends July 27, 2011 (Once again, many thanks to David Miller for handling all the recording and the too-technical-for-me aspects of getting these up on the internet. It took him quite a few hours and I am very grateful for his help - Donna).
There are two ways you can view the meeting:
(1) - The entire meeting
(2) - One of eight segments, sort of divided by topic (see below). We worked to divide out the sections into less-than-ten minute segments to make it easier for people to watch the parts they were most interested in or want to review.
Part 1 of 8: Introduction & first part of Update for entire Park Plan (8:06) Seattle Parks Dept Project Manager Kim Baldwin provides an update on the entire Maple Leaf Reservoir Park project.
Part 2 of 8: Second part of Update for the entire Park Plan (10:46) Berger Partnership Greg Brower reviews the overall entire Maple Leaf Reservoir Park project and takes questions.
Part 3 of 8: Art Project (6:06) Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs reviews the public art sculpture for the greater Maple Leaf Reservoir Park and takes questions
Part 4 of 8: Summary of Process & Introduction of Options for Built Play (aka Playground Equipment) (10:26) Kim Baldwin describes the Family Terrace/Children's Play Area process so far and The Berger Partnership's Katie Bang review the public input recieved during the Children's Play Area design process and reviews options for the play equipment in the Play Area.
Part 5 of 8: Presentation of Concept #1 — (9:09) Greg Brower describes Concept One for the Family Terrace/Children's Play Area.
Part 6 of 8: Presentation of Concept #2 — (10:03) Greg Brower describes Concept Two for the Family Terrace/Children's Play Area.
Part 7 of 8: Breakout Group Summary (10.55) After the Concept descriptions, attendees split into two groups to allow for people to better be able to provide comments and have conversations. Since we only had one camera and since recording when there are multiple conversations are going on isn't very successful, we included the part where the two groups came back together and their comments were summarized.
Part 8 of 8: Q&A (9:23)
Wednesday, June 1 was the first of two meetings regarding the design of the Play Area at the Maple Leaf Park. This meeting focused on the new playground equipment, the Adventure/Natural Play area, and the Children's Garden. This is a link to a video of the summary of the community comments and ideas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DShWipG5v3U
The Play Area is specifically the terrace space where the current playground equipment, bathrooms, and grassy area now exists. The new area plan includes:
• The “traditional” manufactured playground equipment (like what is there right now - swings, slides, etc),
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An Adventure/Natural Play area (a natural, unstructured area for play that the community asked for in previous meetings and the details of which will be developed from community comments at these meetings - think rocks, logs, etc)
• A Children’s Garden (endless possibilities that can offer a quiet contemplation area, signage, bright or natural colors, education elements, something that refers to water usage, sculpture mixed with plantings - what would you like to see?)
• A circular pathway system (what materials would you like to see?); and
• A picnic shelter (a shelter that will provide a place for families and small groups to gather that offers some basic protection from regular rain, misty rain, hard rain, and the rumored glare of the sun. Whether is will be simple and utilitarian, natural and rustic, or timber lodge-like, similar to the shelter on the upper park area, will be a result of what the neighborhood tells Friends for a Greater Maple Leaf Park (FGMLP) they would like and the funding we are able to raise. Once the comment period ends, there will be more information on the picnic shelter made available.)
Playground Equipment
Currently, there is $450k from the levy for renovation to, as the levy says it "improve and address safety issues of the Maple Leaf Playground." This is basically the reworking of the playground equipment area and replacement of the playground equipment that is up to current safety standards, current ground covering of wood chips, and provides ADA access. Depending on what the community states is important, this could also deal with possible drainage issues that have been reported in the area, possible walkways, maybe a bit for the Adventure Play or Children's Garden — we are told by the Parks Dept what will be in this area will be influenced by what the neighborhood asks for.
What sort of equipment would you like to see? Natural, brightly colored, metallic? Would you like a theme? Rustic or contemporary? Do you want swings, slides, things to climb on, a rope tree, bouncy things, twirling doodads, balancing pods, a lookout station, things that make noise — the list is endless, but the space is not. What are your favorite items?
If you would like, click on these to check out some of the recent playground equipment installations from around the city for ideas and inspiration:
Addresses of these recently constructed parks are included in case you or you and your kids would like to check out these locations in person.
Adventure/Natural Play
An Adventure/Natural Play area is described as a natural play area that doesn't look manufactured like traditional pole-n-platform equipment, but a space that encourages imagination play. From previous community meetings, people have spoken about rocks, logs, stumps, insects, plants, running, climbing, crawling, appealling to the senses of seeing, hearing, smelling, etc. One mother said she would like a spot where when she looks at it she thinks "what a nice natural space" and when her kid looks at it they ask "can I go play there?"
Is this what you would like to see?
Examples of Adventure Play (is there something here you like? Is there something you thing would be a great addition to this area?
 
 
 
   
 
Children's Garden
Think insects, plants, appealling to the senses of seeing, hearing, smelling, etc.
Think about what plantings you would like to see - would you like deciduous or something that is green all year long? Bursts of color or an even template?
Should it be an educational area or provide a more quiet place for kids to sit and read or play in the dirt. Bright and colorful or more green.
Should it include art and/ or sculpture - if yes, should the art be by an artist or community created and built?
Remember when you think about this area, the current plan includes a removal of the staircase that originates at the gazebo and goes down to the west ball field. The current gazebo will stay where it is and is envisioned more as a destination spot rather than a walk-thru. We have requested that if this needs to happen that a gravel or woodchip pathway be placed along where the southern strip of plantings are. Our concern is providing the neighborhood with a safe walkway to the lower field from the south end of the Play Area Terrace rather than the grassy slope than can be slippery when wet or damp.
Examples of Children's Garden options (is there something here you like? Is there something you thing would be a great addition to this area?
     
 
 
  
Picnic Shelter
Currently, FGMLP is raising funds for a picnic shelter in the play area. The Parks Department has no plans to spend Park Levy funds on this. We are hoping we can raise the funds to the construction of this can be done at the same time as the Playground Equipment, the Adventure/Natural Play area, and the Children's Garden (assuming we receive the Neighborhood Matching Funds to plan and construct the last two). But in order to know how much to raise, we need to know what the neighborhood wants.
There is a balance between budget and timeline with each of these potential options. We would like to know what the majority of the community prioritizes - Do you want something functional that could be built at the same time as the rest of the Play Area (summer/fall 2012), or would you prefer something with more charactor and style in it's basic design, but could take 5 to 10 years to raise the funds to build (and, as has been pointed out, will also take funds from other park amenities we will eventually have to do fundraising for). Please send an email to tell FGMLP if you feel strongly about the Play Area picnic shelter — or if you don't care, that is also a fine reason to send an email.
What do you want from a picnic shelter in the play area? Basic protection or to make a statement? Colorful or natural? To match the feel of the Play Area or to coordinate with the entire park?
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Basic, utilitarian, no-frills.
• This is an example of what a "kit" shelter would look like — it is located at John C. Little, Sr. Park. This provides overhead protection from rain and sun, but is very straightforward. The metal uprights tend to come in colors like orange, green, yellow, and black.
• There is potential to add elements to give it a bit more charactor — the addition of these elements could be done by an artist or as a community project and could be added at time of construction (if funds are available) or possibly at a later date. Maybe a mosaic on the uprights or some maple leaves could be attached to the shelter roof. |
Natural, rustic
• This shelter is located at Bradner Gardens (in the Mount Baker neighborhood). When you look at it from underneath or from other angles, the roof is shaped like a leaf.
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Like the Basic Structure to the left, this structure also invites the opportunity of added elements to make it more "Maple Leaf-y" — one suggestion is to do add some color to the columns in mosaics like the art along the fence poles on Roosevelt, having hanging baskets around it, or possibly adding a Maple Leaf weather-vane on the top. |
Timber-lodge, architectural
• This shelter would be a version of the shelter that is planned for the upper reservoir/pavilion-plaza area along Roosevelt. This option would create an attractive visual link between the upper and the lower levels of the park.
• A shelter like this is estimated to cost 3 to 3-1/2 times the amount of the Basic Version and 2 to 2-1/2 times the amount of the Natural, rustic shelter. |
| Least expensive and the most achieveable to be constructed along with the rest of the Play Area |
Middle expensive - possibly achieveable to be constructed along with the rest of the Play Area |
Most expensive - would be years away from being able to add to Play Area and the funds that would go towards this would not be available for other park amenities the community will need to raise funds for. |
Please send an email to tell FGMLP if you feel strongly about the Play Area picnic shelter — or if you don't care, that is also a fine reason to send an email.
Please send an email to tell FGMLP if you feel strongly about the Play Area picnic shelter — or if you don't care, that is also a fine reason to send an email.
Funding
• Playground Equipment - currently, a budget of $450,000 for total project costs has been allocated to the play area. This budget covers planning, design, and construction of new equipment, ground covering, and, hopefully, other issues the majority of the neighborhood states as important.
• Adventure Play and Children’s Garden - The Maple Leaf Community Council and a local family have applied for a Department of Neighborhoods Large Matching Fund grant that could provide $175k for the Adventure Play Area and Children’s Garden. That award will be announced sometime in mid to late June 2011. If the funds are awarded, the construction of the Play Area that will take place in mid- to late-2012 would include these two areas as well. If not, these two elements could occur a bit more in the future.
• Picnic Shelter - Friends for a Greater Maple Leaf Park is currently raising funds from the community for a picnic shelter in hope that is could be built at the same time as the above areas. We need to hear from the community on what you would like to see (or if the looks matter at all) in a picnic shelter for the play area.
Schedule
The reservoir is slated to be completed sometime the middle of next year (2012). The construction of the park will occur after the reservoir burial is completed, so use of the park probably won’t be until early 2013 — everything really depends on when the reservoir burial is complete, and then on the weather. The construction of the Play Area is being coordinated to take place at the same time as the construction of the park. The construction of the Play Area will include the updated Playground Equipment, the Adventure/Natural Play Area, the Children’s Garden, may possibly include walkways, drainage, and other issues brought up by the neighborhood, and, depending on funding, could also include a Picnic Shelter.
Whole Park Update
The Parks & Green Spaces Levy provides $5 million towards the planning, development and construction of this park. Approximately 15% to 20% of this will be towards the planning and other soft costs, such as permitting. The majority of the remaining funds will be spent on the new upper portion. There is an additional $450,000 specified in the levy to upgrade the children’s playground. The Park development will not begin until the burial of the reservoir is completed (summer 2012).
This is the schematic plan presented by The Berger Partnership, our landscape architects, in June 2010. The Park is divided into four zones: the Roosevelt Edge, the Maple Leaf Terrace, the Sports Terrace, and the Family Terrace. There is a video of the meeting available below.
The Roosevelt Edge is the skinny rectangular area that runs along Roosevelt from about 84th to the water tower. The Roosevelt Edge features a Pavilion/Terrace, a Sports Court area, and a grove of Maple Trees. The plan includes a street crossing at 85th that leads to the entry thru the Pavilion. The Pavilion is a paved, plaza area which features a shelter and some seating. It looks to be about the same size as the current gravel playground area. Unlighted sports courts for tennis and/or pickle ball and basketball courts are north of the Pavilion area, with a grove of maples planted to the west of and partially between the Pavilion and the sports courts.
The Maple Leaf Terrace is the majority of the upper park area. It features a Grand Terrace, Wave Plantings, a View Terrace/Vista Point, paths, a hill climb, trees, buffer plantings, a north entrance off of 12th, and an east entrance off of 85th. The Grand Terrace — what we have been calling the “Great Lawn” for the last few years — it is a big open grassy space that dominates the reservoir lid area. It is the equivalent of a couple soccer fields. The wave plantings are on a series of curvy areas along the north and eastern edges that, from above, look like ripples. The wave plantings will create some changes in texture (by using a mix of plantings) and provide a slightly rolling landscape. The spaces in between the ripples will also create natural pathways for people to use. The View Terrace/Vista Point takes advantage of the SE corner of the upper area to create a focal point to enjoy the view. The Vista Point itself will have different levels that people can enjoy the views of Lake Washington and Mt Rainier from and will include seating. Small scale trees are planned to be planted along the east and scattered along the north edge of this Terrace zone. The swirling loop system of paths is meant to encourage foot activity and help provide cross-park connections to pedestrians. There will be low level lighting provided on some of the pathways for security and safety of park users after dark. The only pathway surface that is definite is the wide outermost pathway that must be durable enough to accommodate SPU trucks. The other pathway surfaces will be determined as the plan goes into more detail. As the plans are made more detailed, Berger plans to incorporate small sitting spaces & meeting areas throughout this area.
The Sports Terrace is where the current ballfields are located, on the SE two-thirds of the lowest part of the park. The function of this area is staying pretty much as it is now with the addition of a small sports gathering area (which also looks like a welcoming entry off of Brooklyn) and there will be some upgrading to the ballfields. The upgrades will include new irrigation, new lawn, new backstops, and, as much as it allows, doing something about the grade in the right field of the western ballfield. Creating a grassy space large enough to accommodate some sort of soccer activity is also in the plan.
The Family Terrace (aka Play Area) is where the current restroom, playground area and the grassy space next to it is, at the corner of Roosevelt and 82nd. It will include an enhanced, traditional Children’s play area, an additional Adventure play area, and a Children’s Garden. The play area will include features for toddlers and on up to 12. The adventure play will include rocks and other untraditional elements. The staircase will be removed and the gazebo will become more of a destination, seating area rather than a walk through area. This gazebo will be next to the Children’s Garden Area.
This is a brief description of the Park plan. What do you think of it? Is there anything you are surprised/pleased/disappointed to see in the park? Is there anything you are surprised/pleased/disappointed to not have included in the park? Do you have any questions? Please let us know. We are gathering the questions together to ask the Parks Department and get all the answers out to everyone. Remember, if you have a question, there are no doubt other people who may have the same question but don’t send it in. You can send in your comments & questions to FGMLP/Maple Leaf Community Council — PO Box 75595 — Seattle, WA 98175 OR email them to reservoirpark@mapleleafcommunity.org.
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