After a decade-long wait, the park project on 14th Ave NW is nearly finished. Now known as the Gemenskap Park Development, the project converts two full blocks of 14th Ave NW between NW 59th St and NW 61st St, replacing the gravel parking median and portions of the old road. The park is on the east side of 14th, shifting both lanes to the west and removing the middle parking area.
The delay this summer was because Seattle Parks was waiting on water to be installed in the park. With water, they’ll be able to finish the remaining planting and install grass.
Funding for the park came from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Acquisition Fund in which $24 million went to creating 20 different parks throughout Seattle. Roughly $2.9 million was allocated to the Gemenskap Park, with anticipated construction costs at $1.65 million.
Previously known as the 14th Ave NW Project, the Gemenskap (pronounced Yuh-MEN-skawp) Park was renamed in 2016. Gemenskap is the Swedish word for community, so-named because it is a community initiated project.
Back in 2012 when the park project came up, there were 11 Kwanzan cherry trees and two big leaf maples in the planned project area. An SDOT arborist inspected the trees and discovered the cherry trees were infected with tortrix, an invasive insect that feeds on the bark and girdles the tree, making it susceptible to further infestation. They were removed, as was one of the maples, and have been replaced by serviceberries.
Thanks Gary Tucker for posting the above photo in the My Ballard Group