GROUNDSWELL NW SEPTEMBER 2017 NEWSLETTER

This last week I had the honor of working with the amazing Thyme Patch Park P-Patch Crew clearing out blackberries to expose the sidewalk along NW 57th on the vacant lot just south of the Thyme Patch P-Patch. They received a generous $1,000 donation from the owner and permission to clean up the space to use for community purposes until final disposition of the land is determined. As fiscal sponsor for Thyme Patch, Groundswell NW will proudly continue to work side by side to support this great bunch of neighbors in transforming this space into a community gem!

Speaking of community gems, Groundswell NW's flagship, Webster Park, is in the news relating to plans for Seattle Public Schools to renovate and expand Webster School (currently leased to Nordic Heritage Museum). In the early '90s, Groundswell NW's founder, Lillian Riley, had the vision to create a community park on the west side of the Webster School site. Thanks to her leadership, Groundswell NW convinced Seattle Parks to lease the west section of the Webster School lot for a neighborhood park in 1994. Groundswell NW then raised the funds necessary to design and develop the park, leading to Seattle Parks purchasing the Webster Park property from Seattle Schools in 2009. This was visionary, because, now that Webster School will be reopening, the park should be left as is, although there may be some access limits during school hours. Check out our Sep 21 event on our calendar for information on reviewing and providing comments to Seattle Schools before the deadline.

Coming up next on our calendar is an event you must not miss! Sept 9 at 1:30pm marks our first ever Groundswell NW Parks and Projects Walking Tour as part of our participation in the l4th Annual Sustainable Ballard Festival. Join us at the Groundswell NW booth during the festival and build a habitat home to take home with you and then at 1:30pm, embark with our veteran board member, Dave Boyd, on a stroll through Groundswell NW supported parks and projects in Ballard. Tell your friends and bring the kids! 

GROUNDSWELL NW AUGUST 2017 NEWSLETTER

Hope you are all enjoying the fabulous summer weather. It’s the perfect time to get out and enjoy the open space in the neighborhood. Whether visiting the tide pools at Carkeek Park, watching the eagles and hawks soar over North Beach Ravine, enjoying the beach at Golden Gardens, dropping by Ballard Corners Park or Salmon Bay Natural Area, opportunities abound. 2017 is the 100th Anniversary of the opening of the Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks, and it’s a great time to visit. On a recent trip to the Locks, I enjoyed the sight of Belted Kingfishers, the barks and antics of Harbor Seals, the raucous commotion of Great Blue Herons feeding their soon to fledge chicks, salmon jumping in the fish ladder, watching children roll down the hill slope, and the spectacle of large and small boats crowding the large lock chamber on their way to the fresh water of Lake Washington. It reminds me that open space and commercial activity can coexist. 

In Groundswell NW news, we had a great turnout for our fundraiser at Reuben’s Brews in Ballard last Thursday. Lots of fun seeing friends and Groundswell NW supporters there. In case you missed the opportunity, you can always support us by making a tax deductible donation on our website and we hope to see you at one of our upcoming events in August!

Dennis Galvin
Groundswell NW Board Member

GROUNDSWELL NW JULY 2017 NEWSLETTER

Photo from My Ballard

The sunny weather we've all been waiting for is finally here! Whether you're heading to the spray park at Ballard Commons or taking in a late sunset at Golden Gardens, there is no shortage of opportunities to get outside. If you're looking to combine sunshine with a delicious pint of beer, we hope you will join us on July 27 at Reuben's Brews for what is becoming one of our favorite annual fundraisers.  For every pint/growler/set of three tasters you purchase between  11 a.m and 10 p.m., Reuben’s will donate $1 to Groundswell NW.  We're hoping to raise $500 this year, enough to fund a microgrant for a local project that supports neighborhood parks, open space and habitat. So come raise glass with us and support Groundswell NW!

Groundswell NW has been busy sprucing up for summer with a successful work party at the Sunset Hill - Shilshole Gateway and a clean up event with Seattle Clean Street Collective who was also a recent recipient of a Groundswell NW microgrant. Our microgrant program is a great opportunity for local groups who need a financial boost to tackle projects that will benefit neighborhood open space. If you have ideas for a local project that could be fully or partially funded with a microgrant, or if you just want to know more about the program, you can find information and an application by clicking HERE.  

Devon Shannon
GNW Board Member

Home Depot Community Impact Grants

The Home Depot Foundation offers grants, up to $5,000, to IRS-registered 501c designated organizations and tax-exempt public service agencies in the U.S. that are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community. Grants are given in the form of The Home Depot gift cards for the purchase of tools, materials, or services.  The primary goal is to provide grants and volunteer opportunities to support the renovation, refurbishment, retrofitting, accessibility modifications, and/or weatherization of centers, schools, parks, community spaces and other similar facilities.

Deadline: Rolling basis until December 31, 2017. 

Click HERE for more information.  

GROUNDSWELL NW JUNE 2017 NEWSLETTER

There’s much for Groundswell NW to be thankful for this June. This year’s GiveBIG campaign brought in a record $3500 – many thanks to all our generous donors!

There were several Groundswell NW work parties in May – planting and cleaning up at Salmon Bay Natural Area and environs with Seattle Clean Street Collective: rain garden restoration and cleaning up on 14th Ave NW and more – thanks to our dedicated volunteers!

And a special thanks to Local Hero, former President and long-time board member David Folweiler, who is stepping down from the Board of Directors, but staying involved in Groundswell NW activities and as an advisor and mentor. David became involved with Groundswell NW as one of the leaders of the Ballard Corners Park project, skillfully steering that effort to create what has become an icon for both Groundswell NW and Ballard. He since has been a key contributor of several other Groundswell NW efforts, including leading the update of the Ballard Open Space Plan and administrating our Micro Grant Applicants.  Everlasting thanks for your passion and persistence!

While bidding a fond farewell to David’s efforts on the board, we also welcome a new board member, Susanne Daniell, and renew our call for others to join our ongoing efforts to empower NW Seattle to create, activate and care for parks, open space and habitat.

DAVID FOLWEILER, GNW Board Advisor