“The Ballard Bell has summoned the community since 1889 and it’s ringing for you now. As Ballard changes . . . keep growing your Neighbors!” – Peggy Sturdivant

In the effort to bring together, the community of Ballard – with all the old and all of the new – and foster more connected neighbors – Bringing in Community – Ballard Event will be held on Friday, November 20th from 6:30 – 8:30 at the Cheryl Chow Gathering Space (2014 NW 57th – across from Greenfire and the Ballard Library). This event will be free and open to the Ballard public but we ask that you bring a plate of home baked cookies to share with neighbors, and we will be accepting packaged goods donations for Ballard Food Bank.

There will be great live music by Half Rushmore, an art project and food, along with neighbors from community organizations who will share some inspiring historical information of their organization as well as what they are offering the community today.

Come out for the fun to our Friday night social and celebrate the value in gathering and growing as neighbors in Ballard. Learn more and RSVP here.

This project is funded in part by a Neighborhood Matching Fund Award from the City of Seattle, Department of Neighborhoods.

Join the Ballard Historical Society for “Military Road Through Ballard: From Steilacoom to Bellingham,” on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. The presenter will be Karen Meador, author and historian. 

Military Road connected Fort Steilacoom with Fort Bellingham, passing through Ballard and many other communities. Many buildings were eventually built along 15th Avenue NW decades after the military throughway was completed. Find out more about Ballard and other civilian communities developed along the route, thanks to federal investments in transporting military men and equipment. More event details at: https://ballardhistory.wordpress.com

Military Road Through Ballard: From Steilacoom to Bellingham
Wed Nov 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunset Hill Community Association, 3003 NW 66th St   map
Suggested donation: $5 -$20. Refreshments provided.
More info: https://ballardhistory.wordpress.com or (206) 784-2927

Seattle Parks and Recreation has some funding to renovate two playgrounds in Ballard next year. One of them is Gilman Park (923 NW 54th St). The City is just beginning outreach and the EBCA and Groundswell NW have already reached out to see what we can do to help spread the word and ensure your voice is heard. The first outreach event will be at the Farmer’s Market Nov 15 from 11am-1pm at Bergen Place. If you can’t make it to this event, you can contact the Parks Planner, Karimah Edwards at karimah.edwards@seattle.gov, 206-233-0063 and complete this online survey.

It was blustery and wet the morning of October 24, but that didn’t keep away our 13 rough and tough volunteers who joined together to clean up 14th Ave NW.

Thank-you to our expert trash picker-uppers, Chris, Linda, Karne, Beth Anne, Leon, Peter, Mary, Casey, and Mary Pat!

Thank-you to Will and Lily for cleaning out the storm drains. Will got quite a workout from lifting those grates and Lily’s small hands and fearless attitude got all the leaves and grime cleared away!

And as the rains arrive, the grass has finally turned green and the weeds have gone wild. Thank-you to Shannon, Steph, Ulysses and Sue for getting the Meserole Memorial median and rain gardens under control!

Did you miss out on the all the fun? Be sure to stay tuned to the East Ballard Blog for our next cleanup event in April!

The Friends of Ballard Corners Park invite you to a work party!

Ballard Corners Park Work Party
Saturday November 14 9AM-4PM
17th Ave NW and NW 63rd
rain or shine!

Join your neighbors in weeding, pruning, and cleaning up debris at Ballard Corners park.  Some tools and refreshments will be provided.  If you have your own gloves and tools please bring them.  Any questions, please contact Gabriella: gabriella@seanet.com or (206) 782-3238.  

As we mentioned in an earlier post, The Ballard Historical Society is launching the Mapping Historic Ballard: Shingletown to Tomorrow project, thanks to a City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods grant. The project will update and digitize previous historic resource surveys and conduct a contemporary survey, resulting in an accessible, living map of our neighborhood’s past.

Join the Party
Thursday Nov 12, 2015 at 6:30PM
Ballard Homestead, 6541 Jones Ave NW

Over the past ten years, Ballard has seen significant changes from the “sleepy” neighborhood it once was. The area has become denser as it became attractive to younger people and to families with children. At the same time, the job market has changed, but job growth has not kept up with the population growth. The community has overwhelming appreciation for the ability to visit the great variety of shops and restaurants in a beautiful, walkable neighborhood. However, they is also concern that a number of recent high-density projects being built in the area do not contribute to Ballard’s character.

In response to this and Sound Transit’s planning for light rail to Ballard, a Ballard Urban Design and Transportation (UDAT) group was formed to work with the Department of Transportation (SDOT), neighborhood groups, and non-profits, to develop an Urban Design Framework (UDF) and a multimodal transportation plan (Move Ballard). Together they will articulate a shared vision, and strategies that will guide future development and transportation investment while ensuring Ballard’s people and places thrive.

The Ballard UDAT group will be holding an Open House on Nov 18 at Leif Erikson Lodge that the EBCA encourages you to attend to learn what the group has heard from the community and share your comments on draft transportation priorities for all modes in the Ballard Hub Urban Village. Find out about the draft design concepts and evaluation of station locations for potential future high capacity transit. Also, review the draft land use and urban design recommendations.

When: Wednesday, November 18, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Presentation at 6:00 p.m.

Where: Leif Erikson Lodge in Ballard. (2245 NW 57th St.).

What is it? A City and Community partnership to create a vision that will guide new development and transportation investments in Ballard. For more information visit the Ballard Urban Design website and SDOT’s Move Ballard website.

Unable to attend? Presentation materials will be available online at the Ballard Urban Design website following the Open House. Review information online and contact the project planners.

Contact Information:
Aditi Kambuj, Planner
(206) 615-1739
aditi.kambuj@seattle.gov

Chris Yake, Planner
(206) 727-8719
christopher.yake@seattle.gov

Join your neighbors on Saturday October 24 for EBCA’s biannual Adopt A Street Cleanup. We’ve been cleaning up 14th Ave NW since the Fall of 2005 thanks to your help and our incredible volunteers who organize this event. Picking up trash is a lot more fun than it sounds and is something the whole family can do together. This is a great opportunity to make our neighborhood a nicer place to live. Plus you get to wear a brightly colored EBCA logo vest!

Adopt A Street Cleanup along 14th Ave NW
Sat October 24, 10am-1pm
Meet over coffee & breakfast snack donated by The Ballard Market
at Blowing Sands Glass, 5805 14th Ave NW
Tidy up 14th Ave NW & median plantings
Come dressed for the weather
contact eastballard@gmail.com for more information

During Ballard Summer Parkways a few weekends ago, one of our volunteers, Geoff, put out sheets of paper on the cafe’ tables with the simple statement: “NAME THIS PARK”. We got a lot of fun suggestions and thought we’d share. We’ll be continuing to ask you this question throughout the year as the Park on 14th gets closer to breaking ground. Here’s a word cloud of the names you’ve suggested so far.