Shop Today And Support Funding For Yesler Swamp Trail And Laurelhurst Park Playground

Today until 8pm,  Jack Jerome (2906 NE 55th Street), a men and women's clothing store offering American made and local design,  is having a holiday shopping fundraiser with 15 percent of the sales going directly toward funding the Yesler Swamp Trail and the new Laurelhurst Park Playground.

 

The information says: "Enjoy an evening full of delicious food, holiday spirits and festive music and help these community projects!"

Kevin Kane, one of Jack Jerome’s owners who also grew up in Laurelhurst, offered to hold the fundraiser and said “When I heard of the need to raise some community dollars, hosting an event the store made a lot of sense."

Friendsof Yesler Swamp has recently been awarded $64,000, from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to begin building the Yesler Swamp Trail and still needs to raise $16,000 on their own by Febrary. 

The money will fund Construction Phase 1 of the Yesler Swamp Trail – a professionally designed, environmentally sensitive, all-weather, handicapped-accessible path and boardwalk through beautiful Yesler Swamp.

You can see the plans, permits and other details at the Yesler Swamp Trail website and for more information go here.

Tax-deductible donations can also be made online or by check payable to “UW Foundation – Yesler Swamp” and mailed to Friends of Yesler Swamp, c/o Carrie Cone, UW Foundation, Box 354115, Seattle, 98195-4115.
 
Solicitations for funding for improvements at the Laurelhurst Park playground is also underway. In 2008, Wendy Kelley, and a group of neighbors, formed to raise money for new toddler play equipment at the Park. During that process, Seattle Parks Department deemd that most of the play equipment in the park was due for replacement, as it is over 20 years old.

So the group has continued and is embarking on the final stages of a renovated play area to include new play equipment, new path around the play area, improve ADA accessibility, increase seating areas, and enhance landscaping, slated to begin in the Spring and be completed by June.

Through the Parks and Green Spaces Levy that passed in 2008, $100,000 has been allocated for new play equipment, which will replace the large play structure, the tire swing, and the climbing web. However there is still a lot more needed to be raised by the community.

Wendy said:

Since the space being vacated is large and the cost of play equipment is high, we are making our final efforts to raise money from the residents of Laurelhurst and the businesses nearby.

Gifts of $500 or more will receive permanent recognition in the renovated play area. This additional funding will allow us to purchase another piece of equipment to fill the space and create a wonderful new play area for children of all ages.

For information about how to make a donation, contact Wendy Kelley, wendygkelley@hotmail.com.

You can also visit the "Play it Safe" playground information Facebook page or the Seattle Parks Laurelhurst project website.

(photos courtesy of Yesler Swamp website and Play It Safe Facebook Page)