What ballard needs is a model, permacultural practice playground, some place with a real creative small group design that will help open the door to families on how to manage your daily waste in a way that doesnt ship it across the state, how to feed your soils so they can feed you if need be, a long term creative investment ahead of it's time so when it's time is called on there won't be a hasted minute to throw the bone to the hungry dogs.

Think along the terms of the future's reality, we don't need another stinkin park that is nooked away in hedge rows for the growing homeless tribes to find a use for, lets feed the future.

I also agree about not changing too much, but the bushes/trees need to be thinned — as it is they are too dense and create too many hidden pockets. The grass is pretty crappy too.

Knock out the old foundations, cut out bushes and trees to get clear sightlines to all areas from the street, smooth out the lawn a little, add swings, play structures, and 1/2 size replica of space needle should do it.

I'd also suggest that there needs to be an automated sprinkler system that runs every night, for 5 minutes every couple of hours. That might help cut down on the creeps taking it over – which (unfortunately) I think has now got to be the top priority. It's really depressing that this neighborhood has come to that, but unless you want the Ballard Garbage Lady and Public Sex Pitbull Girl to take over yet another public space, something has to be done to make it less attractive to them.