Seattle set to build first downtown playground
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SEATTLE -- In a matter of months, downtown Seattle will get its first public playground for kids, but the playground's location is raising some eyebrows within the community.
Westlake Park draws a rather diverse crowd, including both locals and out-of-towners, and now the Downtown Seattle Association is raising money to install a playground.
The site is right in the middle of the city's retail core, and it happens to also be popular with protestors.
Jon Scholes of the Downtown Seattle Association said since 1990, the downtown area has ranked as the fastest growing neighborhood in the city, and that includes thousands of families with children.
"What we heard is that within the core of downtown what we're missing is a park space and play space for kids," Scholes said.
The land already exists as a park, so the Downtown Seattle Association partnered with the Seattle Parks Department and started raising money privately to pay for the playground equipment. Seattle Children's Research Institute started the campaign with a $40,000 contribution. Other sponsors and donors quickly increased that amount to more than $90,000. The budget is $125,000, and the goal is to get the equipment installed this summer.
That's good news for local families who have been forced to leave their neighborhood to find playgrounds.
"I think it would be great for the parents and the children to have a place to play," said Teresa Kummer.
Jenn Kelly and her husband moved to Pioneer Square five years ago. They're now expecting their first child -- a daughter -- and they've decided to stay in the area.
"We're going to give it a try see out how it goes and try urban living," Kelly said.
A variety of economic backgrounds and cultures currently co-exist in Westlake Park, and some feel those elements could clash with families visiting the new playground.
"Now, I don't know about that being such a good idea, but I think that Seattle is very family friendly and I think it will probably work," said Teresa Kummer.
Others say if you want a city playground, you're going to have to deal with the people who live in cities.
"There's homeless everywhere, so they're part of the city, for lack of a better term," said Vivian Garcia-Tulon. "It's like new york city, you have the homeless and you have the parks."
The association still needs to raise $35,000 to get the playground installed this summer. It will initially be put in as part of a two-year pilot program. So if it doesn't work after two years, they'll move the playground to another location.
Westlake Park draws a rather diverse crowd, including both locals and out-of-towners, and now the Downtown Seattle Association is raising money to install a playground.
The site is right in the middle of the city's retail core, and it happens to also be popular with protestors.
Jon Scholes of the Downtown Seattle Association said since 1990, the downtown area has ranked as the fastest growing neighborhood in the city, and that includes thousands of families with children.
"What we heard is that within the core of downtown what we're missing is a park space and play space for kids," Scholes said.
The land already exists as a park, so the Downtown Seattle Association partnered with the Seattle Parks Department and started raising money privately to pay for the playground equipment. Seattle Children's Research Institute started the campaign with a $40,000 contribution. Other sponsors and donors quickly increased that amount to more than $90,000. The budget is $125,000, and the goal is to get the equipment installed this summer.
That's good news for local families who have been forced to leave their neighborhood to find playgrounds.
"I think it would be great for the parents and the children to have a place to play," said Teresa Kummer.
Jenn Kelly and her husband moved to Pioneer Square five years ago. They're now expecting their first child -- a daughter -- and they've decided to stay in the area.
"We're going to give it a try see out how it goes and try urban living," Kelly said.
A variety of economic backgrounds and cultures currently co-exist in Westlake Park, and some feel those elements could clash with families visiting the new playground.
"Now, I don't know about that being such a good idea, but I think that Seattle is very family friendly and I think it will probably work," said Teresa Kummer.
Others say if you want a city playground, you're going to have to deal with the people who live in cities.
"There's homeless everywhere, so they're part of the city, for lack of a better term," said Vivian Garcia-Tulon. "It's like new york city, you have the homeless and you have the parks."
The association still needs to raise $35,000 to get the playground installed this summer. It will initially be put in as part of a two-year pilot program. So if it doesn't work after two years, they'll move the playground to another location.
Parents need exercise too. I hope the Westlake Playground will include exercise equipment for Mom & Dad so they can get exercise while watching the kids play. Thanks.
Andrea Levy