GROUNDSWELL NW JULY 2018 NEWS

CREATE A GARDEN THAT HELPS WILDLIFE!

CREATE A GARDEN THAT HELPS WILDLIFE!

Summer is the perfect time to make improvements not only to your home but for our local wildlife habitat.  Private residential property, including apartments and condominiums, make up approximately one-third of the urban landscape and studies show that the impact of wildlife gardening is substantial to our wellness and local ecosystem (2018 NWF).  Help us reach our Northwest Seattle Community Wildlife Habitat Certification GOAL of 300 Certified Wildlife Habitats with the National Wildlife Federation!  Find out how you and your neighbors can certify your yard and help sustain beneficial wildlife in our community HERE. 

Other interesting happenings in NW Seattle include a meeting June 21st with the Green Infrastructure Partnership, Salmon-Safe and the Aurora Bridge Team to learn more about the Aurora Bridge Bioswale Project. The project is a series of rain garden/swales, separated by metal weir walls,  to mimic effects of a natural stream bed.  The goal is to prevent the death of endangered salmon in Lake Washington from toxic stormwater pollution.  

And speaking of summer gardening....are you looking to garden but don’t have the yard space to build your own? Join a Department of Neighborhoods P-Patch Community Gardening Program!  Plots are still available in several P-Patches throughout the city!  With your own P-Patch plot, you can grow fresh organic produce for yourself and your family while also supporting your community and learning gardening techniques from your neighbors.  Most plots are 100 square feet and cost $43.00 annually. Plot fee assistance is also available to help reduce or eliminate the cost of your annual fee. 

Check out upcoming summer events in NW Seattle:

  • East Ballard Community Association is sponsoring two summer events related to Gemenskap Park:  Crime Prevention Meeting - July 12 @ 6:30pm, St Alphonsus Family Center, 1415 NW 58th St, and Summer Clean Sweep -  July 14 @ 10am, Blowing Sands Glass, 5805 14th Ave NW.  For more information tap HERE. 
  • Salmon Bay Park Stewards hosts their first Community Movie Night August 17 @ 8pm. Their Monthly meeting and a Safety Walk will be July 11 @ 7:30pm at the picnic tables.

 

And a BIG THANKS to those who supported Groundswell via GIVE BIG 2018 and Amazon Smile.  Have a safe and joyous July 4!!!

Groundswell NW Board

GROUNDSWELL NW JUNE 2018 NEWS

SalmonBay4.jpg

It felt a lot like summer here in May and our community looks especially green this year. A big THANKS to those who GAVE BIG green ($$) to Groundswell NW during this year's Seattle Foundation Giving Campaign!  The Seattle Foundation campaign ignites philanthropic giving to make Greater Seattle a stronger, more vibrant community for all.  We appreciate your continuing support of Groundswell NW.  

NW Seattle has been busy with many volunteer activities.  On Mother's Day, volunteers worked to spruce up the Salmon Bay Natural Area.  And Salmon Bay Park Stewards met to plan their first community picnic June 16 @ 4-6:30pm.  Randy Wiger from the Parks Commons Program attended to assist in funding and planning resources for music and games.  Everyone is invited to the picnic June 16th  — come out to play and support Salmon Bay Park!!

Gemenskap Park (pronounced Yuh-MEN-skawp), Swedish word for “community,” is close to becoming a reality.  This new park will provide open space for the Ballard neighborhood by converting two full blocks of 14th Ave. NW between NW 59th and NW 61st streets to a new green space. Keep an eye out on our Facebook posts for an official opening date.  

Susanne Danielle
Groundswell NW Board Member

GROUNDSWELL NW MAY 2018 NEWS

Golden Gardens Park

Golden Gardens Park

Happy Spring Groundswell Neighbors!

There have been some exciting changes happening in the hood lately.  Last month, Salmon Bay Park Stewards held their second meeting to discuss improvements to enhance enjoyment and safety in the park. The group learned about SPD resources and the Parks Commons Program.  Groundswell NW is supporting this group with a $500 micro-grant for publicity and start up materials. If you would like to participate with this group, the next planning meeting is May 8th, 7:30-8:30 at Mabel Coffee. Find more information about this meeting and other upcoming events CLICK HERE.  

And don't forget, May 9th is the eighth and FINAL GIVE BIG event sponsored by the Seattle Foundation.  You don't have to wait until May 9th, you can schedule your pledge early HERE.  Groundswell NW appreciates your continued support of our mission, to provide mentoring, awarding microgrants for start-up projects, providing fiscal sponsorship, and advocating for parks, open space and habitat in NW Seattle. We couldn’t do it without you!

Groundswell NW Board

Groundswell NW April 2018 News

Salmon Bay Park

Salmon Bay Park

 

We often have funny weather in March and April — snow lightly dusts emerging daffodils.  But spring certainly has arrived and neighbors are out enjoying the fresh air in our parks and open
spaces.  A few noteworthy events  happening in NW Seattle:

  • Salmon Bay Park Stewards held their first meeting to discuss improvements to enhance enjoyment and safety in the park.  If you would like to participate with this group, the next meeting will be April 19 from 7-8:30PM at Mabel's coffee, and will focus on building a block watch. Find more information about this meeting and other upcoming events tap here.
     
  • Gemenskap Park construction is continuing, with completion anticipated in May 2018.
     
  • The Webster School Departures Advisory Committee met March 19 to review Seattle Public Schools' proposed redevelopment and their requested deviations from city regulations. This is typical for schools, which are usually in single-family zones, and include departures for building height, lot coverage, setbacks from single family parcels, parking and school bus loading. The school district is in the early planning phase and has not yet determined the type of school which would occupy this site. Groundswell NW weighed in on concerns about the impacts to Webster Park and opportunities for reciprocal community use of the proposed school play areas and gym. A second meeting of the committee is tentatively scheduled for April 30 - check this LINK for more info, and we will also be posting details as they become available.
Webster School Departure (Rendering)

Webster School Departure (Rendering)

And don't forget GIVE BIG 2018--sponsored by the Seattle Foundation--is May 9.  Groundswell NW appreciates your continued support of our mission: to provide mentoring, awarding microgrants to start-up projects, providing fiscal sponsorship, and advocating for parks, open space and habitat in NW Seattle.  

Happy Spring!
Groundswell NW Board

Groundswell NW March 2018 Newsletter

Salmon Bay Park

Although creating new parks in NW Seattle is a big part of Groundswell NW’s mission, helping to activate and care for our parks after they’ve been built is where we can really make a difference.  This is why we are so thrilled to be mentoring the newly formed Salmon Bay Park Stewards (SBPS) who have come together to promote and facilitate safe, active community use of Salmon Bay Park. If you love Salmon Bay Park and want to ensure it remains a safe, beautiful, a vibrant space for all, we encourage you to attend their kickoff meeting at 6:30 pm on March 22, at Ballard Homestead(6541 Jones Ave NW). You can find more information about SBPS and its upcoming meetings and activities at this LINK OR email.

Dawn Hemminger
Groundswell NW Board Advisor