All About Proposed Nearby Eli's Park

Nearby Burke-Gilman Playground Park (5201 Sand Point Way NE) is in the planning process of becoming an all abilities playground to be completed in two to three years and renamed, Eli's park.

The project is spearheaded by the Reischls in honor of their late son, Elijah, who died at 4 years old.
Paige, Elijah's mom, told the Laurelhurst Blog that Friends of Eli’s Park at Burke Gilman Playground received a grant and have hired landscapes architects, as part of the planning phase which will last about a year and will be a community process following the public process defined by both Seattle Parks and Recreation and Department of Neighborhoods.

She added about the project:

Friends of Eli’s Park at Burke Gilman Playground envisions a park space where people of all ages and abilities can spend time together. 

The group is interested in reaching out to people whose voices aren’t traditionally represented in public projects. “It’s impossible to design an inclusive park for others. To be truly inclusive this park must be created by the people who will use it.

The website says:

In August 2017, the Reischl family and their community lost Elijah Del Reischl, a sweet boy who at not quite four years old understood the real meaning of inclusion—not just being in the same space but playing, laughing, and loving together.  

We need more spaces that are designed to ensure that people have opportunities to engage and participate meaningfully with others. We imagine a world where people recognize that we are more alike than different and can form meaningful relationships with those who seem different from themselves. Everyone needs and deserves access to the outdoors. 

We aim to work with the parks department and the community to plan and build a beautiful park that is accessible to the diversity of users in North Seattle. We will invite every community group that currently feels excluded from using this space to participate in planning a natural, attractive, and inclusive park. 

Sweet Eli entered the world and changed everything. His life was a testament to the beauty and benefits of inclusion. In the not-quite four years Eli had, he left a path to follow toward a more inclusive world. The Eli’s Park Project is committed to carrying on his legacy of love. Our first project is a community-led renovation of the Burke-Gilman Playground Park. We are working with our community to create an accessible, inclusive, nature-based park where people of all ages and abilities can find play and peace.

The community group has partnered with Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Parks Foundation and has received funding for the planning phase from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. 

Community advocates include Seattle Children’s Hospital, The Ronald McDonald House, The Haring Center, The Arc of King County, The Children’s Center Preschool, The Burke-Gilman PDA, Outdoors for All, Arena Sports, City People’s and many more.

Paige invites the public to help with the costs, which will exceed $1,000,000, by donating.

For more information go here, sign up for the mailing list, go to Facebook.