Shoreline Parks Prop 1: finally some love for Hillwood Park
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
"Significant improvements will be made at Brugger’s Bog, Hillwood, Richmond Highlands, Briarcrest (Hamlin East), and James Keough Parks."
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| Google view. Einstein to the north, private homes to the east. |
By Diane Hettrick
If you want to play horseshoes, there's a horseshoe pit at Hillwood Park, 19001 3rd Ave NW.
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| Horseshoe pits. Photo by Steven H. Robinson |
Einstein Middle School is on the north border of the park. The school district is going to put in a new restroom and refurbish the field, and tennis courts as part of the new school construction. They are shared use, under a longstanding interlocal agreement, but the school gets first dibs.
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| The prettiest part of the park is the driveway through the trees. Photo by Pam Cross |
There is a driveway leading to a fairly generous parking area.
A huge field with patchy grass is technically the baseball diamond. However, the ground is soggy in the rain and so churned up that walking is hazardous in any weather.
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| Baseball diamond photo by Pam Cross |
When the Hillwood Neighborhood Association has a neighborhood event, it has to take place in the parking lot because the lower level is too wet and difficult for some people to access.
In the trees at the northeast section of the park, Shoreline environmentalist Boni Bieri has been laboring to restore a small stream and wetland.
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| Hillwood Stream wetland restoration is a project of the Hillwood Neighborhood Association under project lead Boni Bieri. Photo by Steven H. Robinson |
The pink flags mark the border of the wetland to keep folks out of the sensitive area.
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| The play equipment is getting tired. Photo by Pam Cross |
Planned improvements
- Replace the multi-sport court
- Expand the playground with adventure features
- New splash pad
- New picnic shelter
- Additional landscaping
- Pave perimeter trail
Shoreline Parks Prop 1 will be on the April 27th ballot.
The City estimates the annual property tax paid by the owner of a median valued home ($517,000) would be approximately $112 per year, or $9 per month.
As this is a replacement levy, it would mean an increase of approximately $3 per month from the expiring park improvement bond.
CORRECTION: The field and tennis courts are not done yet nor is the restroom replaced.
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2 comments:
Can you explain what is "tired" about the playground equipment? It looks like it's in good shape. Perhaps the color scheme is out of favor?
"The school district just rebuilt the track, tennis courts, and a restroom as part of the new school construction."
Not quite yet has that work been done. Today (April 8th) was the first time workers were fixing the track? The tennis courts have not even been touched since the school was finished. Filled with pine cones and tree debris. No nets at all.
We actually love this park just as it is. Walk there almost every single day. Today adults and kids were playing on the big field and in the playground. And during most nice days that is how that park is, simple and fun for most. It could use a bit of dressing up, swings for older children, maybe some more younger toddler type equipment. Also bring back the older adult exercise equipment. Fix the drainage on the far west side of the field and replace the stands. Then the baseball field might be fixable and usable. Biggest complaint among older people is no benches scattered around the park and looks like none in the diagram. And how about a few more garbage cans scattered around like in olden times. Maybe a stand with doggie poop bags for those who forget to bring them.
With the work done on the stream by Boni and team, that is a very beautiful walk. Short but it is a place to listen to the many birds and a place that can bring peace to many local people. It just needs a bench or two along that stream.
Really hoping that no trees are going to be sacrificed. The tree against the rock wall that gave kids and people shade during the hot summer days has had the lower branches removed so no more welcoming coolness there for sports or walker people.
So here is hoping that if this passes our small spot of happiness is not totally destroyed with some unreal improvements.
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