Give Input At Special Community Meeting Tomorrow On Waterway No. 1 Enhancement Project

 

Waterway Number 1 in Laurelhurst

Tomorrow from 6:30-8:30pm, Seattle Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a special community meeting about Phase 3 of the Waterway No. 1 Enhancement Project, located in Laurelhurst at the corner of 43rd Avenue NE and NE 35th Street.

The community is invited to share ideas on the ongoing project. The meeting will take place on the basketball court at the site.

The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) recently sent out this information:

Come learn about the landscape plan, offer your comments, meet Parks Neighborhood Planner Pamela Kliment, landscape architect Michael Lee, plant expert Arthur Lee Jacobson as well as other project leaders. 

Michael C. Lee, registered landscape architect and owner of Colvos Creek Nursery, designed a landscape plan that addresses the safety and access needs of visitors; soil erosion concerns; vegetation that both helps wildlife and beautifies the site.  

The plan is based upon the concept plan developed as a result of community consensus at a design meeting years ago. The plan also includes design and possible installation of an ADA pathway.  

The Laurelhurst Community Club received a $25,000 grant from the Neighborhood Park and Street Fund to implement the plan.

What is Waterway #1?  Waterway #1 is a parcel of waterfront property located where Northeast 35^th Street meets 43^rd Avenue Northeast in Laurelhurst.  Long ago it was used as a boat launch for one of Seattle’s mosquito fleet ferries, the Laurelhurst Launch, which shuttled folks from Laurelhurst to Madison Park and back.  Now it is a rare and treasured public access point to the waterfront where people can go to observe nature, walk dogs, launch non-motorized boats and play basketball.  The property is owned by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and regulated by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).

 

Community Consensus on WWI:  In addition to agreeing on safety improvements at the water’s edge, at the community design meeting in 2005, neighbors agreed to the following:

1.      Combination basketball court, grass, garden, and kayak launch

2.      Benches

3.      Accommodate a wide range of ages, interests and needs

4.      Drought tolerant, disease resistant plants

5.      Retain and improve the basketball court

6.      Path to water – not interfering with court if reasonable

7.      One or two small trees near the water’s edge with benches underneath to provide shading for older neighbors

8.      Enhance shoreline to improve ecology and habitat

 

Progress on the WWI Enhancement Project:  Phase 1 of the project in November 2005 involved installation of several large, granite, slip-resistant boulders on the water’s edge to improve safety for access to the water.  LCC was assisted by Shane DeWald, SDOT’s landscape architect, and DPD in planning, permitting and installation of this phase. 

Over the years, LCC hosted several work parties, most under the direction of Arthur Lee Jacobson.  LCC partnered with Seattle Children’s which contributed two truckloads of wood chips to cover the area where the large laurel hedge was removed. 

Over a lengthy period, LCC, with the assistance of State Representative Gerry Pollet, and the cooperation of the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department, received approval for implementation of Phase 2 of the project—replacement of the 80-year-old dangerously dilapidated basketball court.  This project would not have been possible without the support of many neighbors who contributed to the project.  The project was completed in 2014.

 

Phase 3 Plan:  Michael C. Lee, registered landscape architect,  designed a landscape plan that addresses the safety and access needs of visitors, soil erosion concerns, and vegetation that both helps wildlife and beautifies the site.  The plan is based upon the concept plan developed as a result of community consensus by SDOT’s landscape architect with input from noted plant expert Arthur Lee Jacobson.  The plan also includes design and possible installation of an ADA pathway.  LCC received a $25,000 grant from the Neighborhood Park and Street Fund to implement the plan.

Policies:  LCC has adopted specific policies regarding shoreline street ends and waterways.  These policies are similar to those of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, owner of Waterway No. 1, and SDOT, which has regulatory authority over the waterway.  LCC’s policies call for:

 

·          Supporting full public access except in areas of permitted private uses

·          Supporting the elimination of private use permits as circumstances allow

·          Protecting views

·          Improving ecology

·          Ensuring buffers are maintained along property lines in recognition of the impacts that public uses have on abutting property owners

·          Developing community consensus on improvements

·          Making improvements that consider the needs and interests of all of our neighbors

·          Encouraging community stewardship

To view a PDF of the plan, click here to visit the Waterway No. 1 page on LCC's website.

To comment on the Waterway Landscape Plan email waterway1@lcc.com.

For questions contact Liz Ogden at 517-5862 or lizogden@comcast.net, or Jeannie Hale at jeannieh@serv.net.

 

Waterway 1 Landscaping Funds Approved

 Waterway Number 1 in Laurelhurst



The third phase of  the Enhancement Project through the City’s Neighborhood Park and Street Fund for Waterway 1, located at 43rd Avenue NE and NE 34th Street, was recently approved.

The Laurelhurst Community Club posted this information in their most recent newsletter:

In a highly competitive process, the Northeast District Council approved $20,000 to fund the third phase of LCC’s Waterway No. 1 Enhancement Project through the City’s Neighborhood Park and Street Fund. The Bicycle Master Plan will contribute an additional $5,000 for the project.   

This phase will replace weeds and bare space with attractive, low-maintenance, native and appropriate non-native landscaping. The project also includes design of an ADA pathway. Labor largely will be volunteered by neighbors. Michael C. Lee, landscape architect and owner of Colvos Creek Nursery, prepared the approved landscape plan. He will assist in implementation of the plan that addresses the safety and access needs of visitors, soil erosion concerns, and incorporates vegetation that both helps wildlife and beautifies the site.

The first phase of the Enhancement Project was installation of several large, granite slip-resistant rocks on the water’s edge to improve safety in launching non-motorized boats. The second phase was replacement of the 80-year-old basketball court. Noxious weed removal is ongoing. 

Waterway No. 1 is owned by the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which has entered into a management agreement with the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department. This arrangement follows a seven-year “Right of Entry Agreement” between DNR and LCC in which LCC assumed restoration, maintenance, and enhancement of the site. The Parks Department fully supports Phase 3 of the Waterway No. 1 Enhancement Project.

In May of this year, LCC recently was pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement with Seattle Parks and Recreation to maintain the site, similar to the agreement with DNR, in which the City will work with the neighborhood on continuing to maintain the Waterway, including plant maintenance, shoreline clean-up activities, and rebuilding the existing basketball court.

Ring Found At Waterway 1 Basketball Court

A Blog reader let us know that she found a narrow silver ring on the rock at the new basketball court at Waterway 1, 43rd Avenue NE and NE 34th Street.

Please contact at laurelhurstblogger@gmail.com for more information.

Stand Up PaddleBoard Found Near Waterway 1

We received this email:

My husband was on his stand-up paddle board Monday, August 26th, in Union Bay and found a stand up paddle floating in the water off of Waterway# 1, 43rd Avenue NE and NE 34th Street in Laurelhurst.  We're storing the paddle in our garage in Wedgwood.

The paddle is probably worth about $300 and is made of carbon fiber.  If someone thinks it is their paddle, please contact laurelhurstblogger@gmail.com telling the size and brand.

Sign Petition Now To Save Laurelhurst's Waterway Basketball Court

 Waterway #1 Basketball Court

 

 

The popular Basketball Court at Waterway #1, located at 43rd Avenue NE and NE 34th Street, needs your help today.

 

Here is what the Laurelhurst Community Club wrote in its latest news bulletin:

The 70-year-old basketball court is  old and decaying with cracks and a two-foot sinkhole at one end. The community council has a contract with the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to maintain, enhance and restore the site and volunteers have been great stewards over the years. 

 We want to fix the basketball court the right way, with gravel and packed dirt underneath and concrete on top. Volunteers have raised the $11,000 from the community to redo the court to make it safe for our kids.  

Now DNR  says this work is a new facility, rather than a repair, and they want to charge us an annual lease fee based on fair market value-between $4,000 and $11,000 each year, plus assume liability for any accidents. 

This is unacceptable and unfair to neighbors and our kids. It also is contrary to what the state law says:

RCW 79.105.230 Use for public parks or public recreation purposes.
Use for public parks or public recreation purposes shall be granted without charge if the state-owned aquatic lands and improvements are available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis and are not managed to produce a profit for the operator or a concessionaire. [2005 c 155 § 144.]
 

You can sign the petition now at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/basketball-court-resurfacing-project/.

 

The Laurelhurst Community Club told us that "Every signature counts as we're hoping to get 1,000."

 

LCC received many comments, among them, one that said:

Is this really true???? Are you seriously going to charge us a annual lease fee just because we are taking something junky and turning it into something useful? This sounds absurd. Please tell me this is a mistake.

LCC also urges the community to contact the Commissioner of Public Lands, Peter Goldmark, and "ask him to allow the basketball court project at Waterway No. 1 to move forward with no annual fees or assumption of liability for accidents. The project promotes public access and fixes the sink holes and cracks to create a safe court for all to enjoy-at no expense to the state."

 

Commissioner Goldmark can be contacted at  the Commissioner of Public Lands, email cpl@dnr.wa.gov or write to him at: Peter Goldmark, Commissioner of Public Lands Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 47000, 1111 Washington Street SE, Olympia, WA 98504-7000.

 

Include on your message Laurelhurst's 46th District Legislators: David.Frockt@leg.wa.gov, gerry.pollet@leg.wa.gov, Jessyn.Farrell@leg.wa.gov, who LCC said are working behind the scenes to secure the cooperation of DNR.

Here is a letter a neighbor living near the basketball court wrote to Commission Goldmark:

Subject: No good deed goes un-punished”

As a resident of the Laurelhurst neighborhood in northeast Seattle, I was surprised and troubled to hear that your office has proposed charging the neighborhood an annual fee for use of the existing basketball hoop located on Waterway No. 1, Union Bay, Lake Washington.  

As you have no doubt already heard from others, RCW 79.105.230 states that “Use for public parks or public recreation purposes shall be granted without charge if the state-owned aquatic lands and improvements are available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis and are not managed to produce a profit for the operator or a concessionaire. [2005 c 155 § 144.]” 

Have you ever visited the subject property, or any of the waterways our neighborhood? We do not ask that you pay to maintain these public lands (though it would be wonderful if your budget allowed this). We and our neighbors commit our own time and resources to keep the blackberries at bay and the Lake’s garbage picked up.  

Now we wish to repair a 70 year old basketball hoop and half-court slab (original installer unknown), and our reward for stewardship of the public land is to have the State turn around and seek to charge us.  

Please re-think your position on this proposed fee for public use of public land.

 

 

Some of the repairs needed at the Basketball court

Reader Reports Unusual Green Color In The Lake

We received this email and pictures from a reader last Thursday, November 1st:

My daughter was out walking her dog at the shore access, Waterway No. 1 ( where NE 35^th Street meets 42^nd Avenue NE, with the basketball court),  and saw this fluorescent green liquid in the lake! At first she thought it had something to do with Halloween.

She took pictures of it and showed me. I wasn't sure what it was so called 911. The fire department responded promptly and they weren't sure what it was either.

The good firefighters called and found out that this is some sort of fluorescent dye put into the drainage system to track drainage patterns by SPU.

It is harmless to fish and all living creatures. Still, it was a bit of a Halloween afternoon scare.

Turns out there is a number you can call if you see funny stuff in the lake. Seattle Public Utilities has a hotline which is  386-1800.  Thought I would share both the pictures and the hotline number.

Waterways No.1 Spring Clean Work Party Last Month Very Productive

Jeannie Hale and Robert Lewis with bags and logs

One of the Laurelhurst Community Club Board Member's sent us an update on last month's successful Spring Clean work party at Waterway No. 1, located at 43rd Avenue NE and NE 35th Street.

Over 20 volunteers showed up to remove ivy, weed, till soil in flowerbeds, pick up litter, remove floating vegetation and decomposed plant material, eradicate noxious yellow flag irises and pull out heavy floating logs from the lake.

Volunteers filled 36 large bags and created a huge stack of logs and wood for removal for pick-up by the City.

One of the volunteers, Dave Skow,  received the unofficial “MVP” award for his efforts at the work party.

"Dave was in the water for three solid hours pushing the heavy floating logs to the area where logs could be removed from the water and assisting with log removal. Dave also won in the drawing to receive an autographed copy of Arthur Lee Jacobson’s well-regarded Trees of Seattle," the email says.
LCC would liketo thank the neighbors and especially Betsy Mullen and volunteers from University Presbyterian Church who helped with the clean-up.

"Without these hardworking volunteers, the progress made at the work party would have taken months," the Board Member wrote.


David Skow dubbed "MVP" during the clean-up project

Hard-working neighborhood volunteers
(photo courtesy of Judith Thornton)

Waterways No. 1 Work Party Tomorrow Morning

Tomorrow from from 10-noon will be the Waterways No. 1 Work Party, located at 43rd Avenue NE and NE 35th
Street.

It will be an exciting work party with a chance to meet Arthur Lee Jacobson, noted plant, tree and weed expert, who will direct the work party.

There will also be a drawing to receive an autographed copy of Arthur Lee Jacobon's book, Trees of Seattle.

Tasks include pulling ivy and digging out weeds and "having fun in the process," the invite says.

Voluteers are asked to bring gloves, garden tools, shovels, and rubber boots.

Children are welcome and refreshments and water will be provided.

This work party is sponsored by the Laurelhurst Community Club as part of the City’s annual Spring Clean Program to spruce up neighborhoods. 

For questions or to RSVP, contact Jeannie Hale at jeannieh@serv.net or 206-525-5135 or Emily Dexter at edexter4@comcast.net or 206-526-2927.

LCC writes about Waterways #1:

Waterway No. 1 is a parcel of waterfront property located where Northeast 35th Street meets 43rd Avenue Northeast. Long ago it was used as a boat launch for one of Seattle’s mosquito fleet ferries, the Laurelhurst Launch, which shuttled folks from Laurelhurst to Madison Park and back. Now it is a rare and treasured public access point to the waterfront where people can go to observe nature, walk dogs, and launch non-motorized boats. Neighbors adopted a concept plan to improve the waterway in September 2005. Some progress has been made, but it’s time to move forward to continue to implement the plan. Your help is needed to transform the waterway into a community amenity for all to enjoy.