After years of planning and months of hard work, Ballard Corners Park at 17th Ave. between 62nd and 63rd St. is now open.
The fence came down today, and neighbors ventured out into the new grass.
“Waiting for this park, it’s been like torture,” said Ann, who explained how excited she was to play catch with her son for the first time in the park.
Ballard Corners Park features a playground, environmentally-friendly rain gardens and this “living room” area with concrete furniture. Organizers are still mulling an idea to add a “corner store” entryway in the northeast corner.
The park has been a labor of love for many neighbors for years. In 2003, Seattle Parks acquired the first chunk of the property. In 2005, Friends of 63rd St. Pocket Park (now the Friends of Ballard Corners Park) received the first funding to begin planning the park. Last year, construction began, with David Folweiler and Rebecca Carr co-chairing the volunteer committee. And now, thanks to the donations and hard work of many neighbors — many of whom are immortalized in donor tiles — Ballard Corners Park is open for your enjoyment.
Ballard Corners Park is now open
it's beautiful and i hope it can stay that way.
Woo hoo!
I think it's great they've provided a welcoming space for Ballard's homeless community including a nice sofa and lamp so they can feel 'housed'.
This is true Ballard compassion!
I think parks are extremely good for Ballard, meaning good for all people who are in Ballard, singles, old, young, homeless, rich, bitter, and happy people. You want to dig at people for making a park, wrongly insinuating it was done solely for homeless people? Why, nothing could be further from the truth. I bet you'll be staying away from the park and we'll never see you there, but nevertheless, a park is a place where you are invited. I'm thinking you'll be even grumpier after a trip to the park. So I invite you to prove me right about you, or to prove me wrong.
Well done everyone who made this happen. It looks great!
'torture'?? seriously.
Krispy Kreme – come on the dude was being sarcastic…as in …we have this great new park and pretty soon you're going to see a family of transients lounging on the couch…I doubt that they meant that the park was built for the homeless…duh. Lighten up !
How refreshing to see a beautiful green space in the midst of all the condo development. Kudos to everyone who made this happen!
Awesome! Wish it wasn't raining so hard – I'd be over there bouncin' on the cushions!
I love the design of this little park. Some great ideas there!
Right. Stupid Hippy has a talent for sarcasm. We take him/her with a grain of salt and a sense of humor.
It is a really pretty little park, looking at the pictures. Can't wait to saunter by later.
If only it had some concrete pigeons to perch on the back of the sofa. I'm wondering why they didn't take the checkerboard idea further and make a complete chessboard, that could have been fun….if you happened to have a set of giant chess pieces in your basement looking for an outdoor home. Some fun ideas, reminds me of the set from the Pee-Wee Herman show. Does anyone know if the sofa and chair have names yet? ;-)
I know where i'm sleeping tonight!
It's a nice space. I'm happy it has been created and now open. Very cool.
But given the direction of the neighborhood, I won't be surprised if the scumbags take it over quickly. It's especially at risk since it's quite close to the favorite episcenter of the drugged-out vargrants – that block behind Kinkos.
Let's start the countdown and see how many days (hours?) it takes for it to be tagged, shat in, and claimed by the swine (the rain will help). If it stays nice and clean and pretty and appropriate for neighborhood kids and adults, hooray. But if it goes the way of Bergen Place…I guess we'll see.
Congrats to those who made it happen. I hope it stays worthy of your efforts.
Thank you to all who made this gorgeous little spot happen! i drive by it on my way home from work every night and have been admiring the progress all along. i truly hope it stays a clean, safe, fun place for all to enjoy!
Other than a water bottle somebody had left there, it still looked good.
Hope it stays tidy. :-)
this pocket park won't go the way of bergen place and others mentioned.
this park will be used by children (note playground equipment), dog-walkers, and people just looking to chill in the park.
if it is used by upstanding citizens like yourselves, I'm sure the bums will stay away.
and as much of it is plant material, it will only look BETTER in the future.
hey, I'm pro-green space, but does anyone else in this community wonder who the dickens thinks metal sofa sculptures are aesthetically pleasing?
Congratulations to everyone who persevered and made this happen. This space is going to be enjoyed by the community for many years to come.