Options for Sunset School Park - public input solicited

Design status as of March 2013
Public comments are being solicited

Report from the Friends of Sunset Park

On Saturday, March 16, there was a public meeting held on the Sunset School Park grounds. The purpose of this meeting was to provide a list of potential improvements from the Master Site Plan that can be constructed with the limited available budget.

The City wants to learn which master plan improvements are important to you as we prepare our design for the construction in this first phase of improvements. 

$205,000 has been allocated for design and construction of improvements at this park; approximately $82,500 will be needed to construct required improvements to make the park usable, accessible and safe. Approximately $85,000-$95,000 will be available to make additional improvements from the following list of options below. There is not enough budget to construct all improvements. We need YOU to help us prioritize which will be implemented this year.

Community comments will be collected through comment forms and shared with the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Board at their April 25 board meeting where they will discuss the project and make a recommendation for what design options will become part of the Phase I Improvements. As of Monday, March 18, there is an online comment form, which we encourage you to use. 

Comments must be received by April 15.

Options include:

1. New Play equipment (new tot lot, swings and additional benches and picnic tables). Repairs to existing equipment will be made with other funding.
2. Basketball court on existing asphalt (a full or half court yet to be determined; new posts, backboards, nets, and striping. No new paving)
3. Community garden (approximately 35-40 raised beds, a garden shed, water access and a drinking fountain)
4. Porta-potty enclosure (wood enclosure and path connection to the enclosure) The porta-potty will be provided with other funding.
5. Pathway connections (pathway connections throughout the site including a loop path around the upper field made of asphalt to make walking and "strollering" pleasant and easier.) ADA accessibility to the upper field will be as a required improvement.
6. Field improvements (a new backstop, sand levelling, seeding and 3-row bleachers for spectator seating which is offered at parks where games are played)

Please remember that these elements were all taken off the master plan that the community (more than 400 of you!) came up with during all those community meetings. They represent options for the FIRST PHASE of this park to begin construction later this summer. If you have comments outside this scope, you can include them, but they will not be addressed at this time. Similarly, if you like one of these options but not the scale specified, you can let them know that too. When you are ranking, please rank them from 1-6, and DO NOT USE NUMBERS MORE THAN ONCE!

More information about this project and the history about the Sunset School Park Master Plan can be found on the City webpage or by contacting Maureen Colaizzi, Parks Project Coordinator, 206-801-2603.