When we first announced the grand opening of Hubbard Homestead Park, in Northgate at Fifth Avenue Northeast and Northeast 112th Street, a few readers were disappointed by the lack of a playground at the parking-lot-turned-public-park.
Donna Hartmann-Miller, a member of the Maple Leaf Community Council Executive Board, wanted us to let those community members know about an opportunity through the national nonprofit KaBOOM! that could result in a playground for the new park.
All interested parties must do is meet the criteria, apply and hope for the best.
The details can be found via the page “Playground funding opportunity needs a Seattle community partner” on Seattle City Councilwoman Sally Bagshaw’s website.
Among the criteria, the organization must:
- Serve a low-income/high-need community – we look at the median income number of the area where we would be building the playground and the number of students on free or reduced price lunches.
- Have nonprofit 501(c)3 status (government entities may partner up with nonprofit organizations to be eligible)
- Have no playground or have need to replace an existing playground – we say the typical “lifespan” of a playground is 15 years. The community partner would be responsible for taking out any old equipment and providing a flat, dirt surface to build on.
- Fundraise $8,500 USD towards the cost of equipment, due 30 days before the build. We offer online webinars to assist with fundraising ideas. This $8,500 is approximately 15-20% of the value of the playground equipment you would be receiving.
- Provide at least 2500 sq. feet in available land and complete any needed site preparation, i.e. removing old equipment, asphalt, grading the land.
- Provide additional in kind responsibilities such as breakfast and lunch for Build Day, tools, restroom facilities, and a dumpster.
- Recruit approximately 75 volunteers for Build Day and recruit parents who are excited about serving on planning committees for an 8-10 week period leading up to Build Day.
- Accept ownership and maintenance responsibilities for the playspace upon completion.
For more information, contact KaBOOM!’s Sara Fry at SFry@kaboom.org or (202) 464-6411.
@Dan, go sit at the bottom of the stairs @ Thornton Creek and eat a lump of stinky cheese ya’ filthy Curmudgeon!!
OK folks, here is the story. There was money left over from this project that was taken away from us. It was earmarked for 40 trees at the north edge and outdoor exercise equipment for seniors and adults that was to be placed along the pathway, like circuit training.
We need to make that happen and tell Christopher Williams to give it back. This needs to be the priority as that is what the community as a whole wanted per many many meetings and much outreach.
A playground is nice. However, I think a garden for North Helpline would go much further to help the community especially children in the area whose parents may rely on Helpline to supplement the monthly groceries. I just read another article on here where Helpline’s demand is up 30% yet donations are down 23%. To me that is a strong argument on a need for a garden.
@hm – There are also plenty of adults that don’t have kids that like to have at least a few city parks with artwork or natural habitat without an eyesore of plastic playground equipment and bunch of screaming kids.
Taxpayers already pay for a lot of services for your kids, mostly willingly. I vote for increased property taxes so your kids to go to school every time, but you could at least be thankful about it instead of expecting it. And to tell the parks department they should be ashamed for not using our tax dollars on your kids just wreaks of entitlement.
You want playground equipment, you make it happen. And better yet, you pay for it. u pay for it, we already pay for your kids’ education with our property taxes.
hm – There is likely City money to pay for a playground. Unfortunately, the community group that designed the park (with one exception) did not want a playground. Sentiment has changed and I actually think it is wonderful that the City is willing to help the community members who want a playground to build one.
It makes me sick every time I drive past this park and see that the city did not install a playground. They spent money to build and create this park, install bullshit water springs art, and fancy paths, but couldn’t put up a playground for what I would imagine would be the 100s of kids who live surrounding this new, huge, park. It’s unbelievable to me that now the only way to get a playground is for the neighbors to go begging to a charity, and to promise to do all the work and upkeep. The city and the parks department should be ashamed of themselves.
If you are interested in organizing a group to build the playground at Hubbard Homestead, please contact Thomas Whittemore (with Department of Neighborhoods) at 206-684-4096 or thomas.whittemore@seattle.gov. There are a number of families who want to organize to build a playground at the park and Thomas can help those interested to connect with each other and to work with Parks and Department of Neighborhoods to realize their dream.