Planters on 14th are on the move – volunteer opportunities starting this weekend

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EBCA volunteers watering the newly installed planters on 14th in 2010
EBCA volunteers watering the newly installed planters on 14th Ave NW in 2010

It seems just like yesterday when neighbors in East Ballard applied for a grant from the Dept of Neighborhoods to install planters along 14th NW to help make the street more beautiful and create a safe buffer for intersection crossings.

13 years later, these planters have served us well, and are ready to serve a new purpose along 14th Ave NW south of Market St, thanks to our partnership with the Ballard-Fremont Greenways.

The Ballard-Fremont Greenways is a group of neighbors who are working to make our streets safer, more accessible, and more comfortable for everybody. This community group works on safe street projects and advocates for people-oriented places in the greater Ballard-Fremont area. They have a very similar mission to the EBCA, which is why we’re so excited to partner with them.

The Move
The Ballard Fremont Greenways received a permit from SDOT and is coordinating a volunteer effort to move our planters to two intersections in the Ballard Brewery District along 14th Ave NW at NW 51st and 53rd. These planters will be placed in the no-parking areas at the intersection ends to keep them free of parked cars and help keep a clear line of sight for freight and other drivers who are turning in those intersections.

Opportunities to Volunteer
If you are interested in any of the following volunteer opportunities, please email Jessi Lucas at jlklucas@gmail.com to get on her communication list.

Sunday, September 10th, 11 am until we are done
Work party to clean out the planters. Some have dirt and shrubs in them. We will need shovels and tarps to remove the dirt, plus pruners and saws to break down the vegetation.

Monday, September 18th, 10 am until we are done
Work party to move the empty planters to their new locations south of Market. We’re seeking neighbors with vehicles to help with the move. Each planter weighs about 60 lbs. Please reach out to Jessi Lucas at jlklucas@gmail.com if you can provide transportation to help with the move.

3rd Date, TBD 
Fill the planters with dirt and plants. We’ll be looking for donations to purchase the dirt and plants and how quickly that happens will decide the final date.

Thank you Jessi for volunteering to coordinate these work parties! Let’s make sure she’s not doing this all by herself! Please contact Jessi a jklucas@gmail.com today to sign up!

If you’re curious about the origin story of these planters, check out these previous posts:

Planter Partnerships on 14th – What we’re planning to do with the grant money
Check out the new planters on 14th and 60th! More to come in the next few weeks.
Thanks for all the Fish!

United by the Light: East Ballard and Gilman Park Neighborhoods Connected

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Andrew Natzel – Senior Signal Operations Engineer at SDOT and long-time EBCA organizer – wearing an orange safety vest, standing next to the new bicycle push button signal at the NW corner of 11th Ave NW and Market St.

The East Ballard community is celebrating a new milestone in our journey to improve safety and accessibility at the intersection of 11th Ave NW and NW Market St. After years of advocacy, planning, and persistence, the community has finally secured a new traffic signal and crosswalk that connects two neighborhoods that have been divided by busy Market Street for decades. The project has been a collaborative effort between the East Ballard Community, the Seattle Department of Transportation, and the Ballard-Fremont  Neighborhood Greenways group.

Click on the image to view a time-Lapse video of the vertical pole getting pulled up into position by a crane and witness how deftly the folks from Prime Electric maneuvered around the tree

The East Ballard Community Association has been advocating for this project since 2013 when we first applied for funding from the Seattle Neighborhood Park and Street Project Fund. While we received some funds in 2015 to create curb bulbs, it wasn’t until Move Seattle funding was granted for the Route 44 Transit-plus multimodal corridor that the new traffic signal was finally made possible.

Earlier this year, Andrew Natzel, Senior Signal Operations Engineer at the Seattle Department of Transportation, and long-time East Ballard Community Association organizer notified the community that signals were going to be installed this spring.

Click on the image to watch a time-Lapse video of the traffic signal arm swinging into position and being attached to the vertical pole by Prime Electric

On April 15, 2023, we gathered in the rain to watch the installation of the long-awaited traffic signals and crosswalks, and were excited to be the first to cross the intersection with the push of a button!

(click on the image to watch Dawn and Chris Hemminger, EBCA organizers, pushed the crosswalk signal at the SE corner of 11th Ave NW and Market St and safely cross for the first time.

Click on the images above to watch the videos or click here to go directly to the photo album.

Join us this Saturday, Nov 19 for a Fall Work Party at Gemenskap Park!

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We need 10 volunteers this Saturday. Can we count on you?

We have an incredible (last minute) opportunity to work with the Seattle Parks Department this Saturday, Nov 19 at Gemenskap Park to prepare the park for winter. We’re looking for at least 10 volunteers to help us weed and mulch the rain gardens. Can we count on you? This is also a great opportunity to collect community service hours! We’ll be happy to sign your paperwork!

Gemenskap Park Fall Work Party
5910 14th Ave NW
Saturday, November 19
10:30AM – 3:00PM

RSVP Today!

Did we mention that we need at least 10 volunteers? Please RSVP today to show your support for our awesome neighborhood park!

If you can’t make it, but would like to contribute by bringing us some refreshments during the day, we’d love that too!

Got questions? contact us at eastballard@gmail.com

Thank you Neighbors for a Fabulous Fall Festival!

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We had great fun this morning decorating pumpkins from our favorite local grocer, Top Banana, and noshing on yummy donuts from Top Pot. The pets got some treats from All the Best too! Thank you so much to our Ballard businesses for your donations!

We also had great costumes to show off, so we paraded through the park to the tunes of Monster Mash…

…and even survived a visit from a VERY HUNGRY BEAR!

Thank you neighbors for all the great fun this morning and to everyone who helped organize the event (Casey, Holly, Peter, Katie, Sylvia, Liz and Dawn).

We’re already starting to talk about a Holiday event in December. Reach out to us at eastballard@gmail.com if you’d like to help out!

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Click on the pic above to see all pics and videos from today’s Festival or click here.

Join us Oct 30 for a Fall Festival in Gemenskap Park and Salmon Bay Park

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Fall Festival at Gemenskap Park and Salmon Bay Park
Sunday October 30, 2022

10:30 AM-12:30 PM Gemenskap Park – 5910 14th Ave NW
1:00 PM-3:00 PM Salmon Bay Park – 2001 NW Canoe Pl

Join the East Ballard Community Association and Salmon Bay Park Stewards for a Fall Festival in two of our favorite Ballard Parks – Gemenskap Park and Salmon Bay Park. There will be fun for all, including a pets and people costume parade, a pumpkin patch, treats, and more!

got questions or want to help out? Contact us at eastballard@gmail.com

Join us for August Night Out Tuesday Aug 2 in Gemenskap Park

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Picnic basket on a blanket with food to share for a potluck

Bring a dish and/or beverage to share and enjoy a lovely evening in Gemenskap Park with your neighbors!

WHEN: Tuesday August 2, 2022 6pm-9pm

WHERE: Gemenskap Park – 14th Ave NW (meet in the plaza at NW 60th St)

Night Out is a national event promoted in Seattle by Seattle Police Department Crime Prevention. It is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite our communities. Night Out is traditionally held on the first Tuesday night in August.

Questions? Reach out to us at eastballard@gmail.com

Join us for a Spring Egg Hunt Saturday April 16 in Gemenskap Park

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WHO: Families and friends of East Ballard & Gemenskap Park

WHAT: We’re slowly getting back to hosting events in the park again! We’re kicking things off this year with a super simple Spring Egg Hunt. Bring your own baskets. We will cancel if it’s raining!

WHEN: Saturday, April 16, 2022. The hunt for kids 1-4 years will start at 9:30 am sharp. We’ll then set up for a second hunt at 10am for kids 5 and older.

WHERE: Gemenskap Park – 14th Ave NW (Between NW 59th St/ NW 61st St)

WHY: It’s a beautiful park to enjoy and we want to play in it now that the weather is getting nicer. Come join us to cheer on the kids and hang out to catch up with your neighbors! Bring your kids and furry friends too!

Questions? Reach out to us at eastballard@gmail.com

Sign up today for EBCA Spring Clean while distancing!

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This is our bi-annual neighborhood clean up event with a little twist due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Instead of a one-day event with a large group of volunteers, we are asking that you commit to a section of the neighborhood to pick up trash and/or weed the rain gardens and medians along 14th Ave NW.

Sign up today via SignUp Genius where you can adopt a section or 2 or 3 of your choice and commit to a task to be completed by the end of May (dates are flexible!). Join in the fun by maintaining a safe distance and share your pics on Instagram with #ebcacleanup.

Guidelines for safe participation
– Wear a mask
– Maintain 6′ distancing – Check here to see what that looks like
– Wear a safety vest
– Bring your own tools and bags or arrange to pick up from EBCA*
– Be smart and check out additional Covid-19 resources from the state of Washington
– Post photos to Instagram #ebcacleanup or email to eastballard@gmail.com.

What are you waiting for?
Sign up today to help keep our neighborhood clean and beautiful.

*Vests, bags, gloves and picker uppers are available upon request.
Please contact Dawn at eastballard@gmail.com to schedule a pick up.

Spring Clean while distancing May 16-31 – Sign up today!

Posted on by

This is our bi-annual neighborhood clean up event with a little twist due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Instead of a one-day event with a large group of volunteers, we are asking that you commit to a section of the neighborhood to pick up trash and/or weed the rain gardens and medians along 14th Ave NW.

Sign up today via SignUp Genius where you can adopt a section or 2 or 3 of your choice and commit to a task to be completed from May 16 to the end of the month (dates are flexible!). Join in the fun by maintaining a safe distance and share your pics on Instagram with #ebcacleanup.

Guidelines for safe participation
– Wear a mask
– Maintain 6′ distancing – Check here to see what that looks like
– Wear a safety vest
– Bring your own tools and bags or arrange to pick up from EBCA*
– Be smart and check out additional Covid-19 resources from the state of Washington
– Post photos to Instagram #ebcacleanup or email to eastballard@gmail.com.

What are you waiting for?
Sign up today to help keep our neighborhood clean and beautiful.

*Vests, bags, gloves and picker uppers are available upon request.
Please contact Dawn at eastballard@gmail.com to schedule a pick up.

Make a wish!

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East Ballard neighbor, Roxanne Baechler-Gill’s five-year-old really wants to be a wizard, and a wishing well somehow figures into this. Accordingly, they have posted a wishing well on a tree outside their house, just across from Gemenskap Park (near NW 59th on the west side). If you’re nearby, please consider dropping a coin and/or a written wish (for anything you want!) to assist a child’s wizardly wish-granting dreams! They’re checking the wishing well every morning, just in case there are any wishes to grant.