Save the date for Gemenskap park grand opening

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The grass in Gemenskap park went in last week and the park was transformed this weekend with kids rolling around on the hills, neighbors having picnics, dogs playing fetch and people saying hi as they strolled or rolled by!

After 13 years of waiting for this day to finally happen, East Ballard is ready to celebrate!

Save the date!

East Ballard Fall Festival & Gemenskap Park
Grand Opening Celebration
Saturday October 27
10:30AM-12:30PM

We need your expertise!

join us Thursday Sept 27, 7:30PM for our first event planning meeting. please reach out to eastballard@gmail.com and we’ll send you details. If you are unable to attend, but are interested in helping us on the day of the event, have connections to local musicians, are good at getting donations, or have other ideas on how you can help, please contact us!

Stay tuned for more details of the celebration. Rumor has it, a Halloween costume parade is in the works! In the meantime, check the awesome new aerial photos we added to our Gemenskap Park construction photo album on Flickr or better yet, get outside and enjoy the park in person!

Update on Gemenskap park

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We’ve got plants in the rain gardens!

Now that the weather is getting cooler and we have water on site, we’re seeing new plantings in the rain gardens and a few trees scattered throughout the park. There will be a couple more planted later in the winter since Parks has to wait for them to go dormant before they can be moved.

…we’ve got trees and more on the way!

Click on the bench to see more park construction pics or just click here.

The irrigation system should be complete soon, and if all goes well, they will be planting sod next week. We’ll continue to keep you posted.

Be on the lookout for an opening celebration before the end of this year. If you’d like to help us plan, please reach out to eastballard@gmail.com.

Lights, water, action at Gemenskap Park!

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Activity is finally moving forward with Gemenskap park. We noticed the lights turn on in mid-July and just this week, we confirmed that SPU has tapped into the water mainline and hooked up the water meter for the irrigation system!

Our Parks manager, Toby Ressler advised that now that electricity and water are connected, they can now schedule landscaping! We’ll keep you posted when we learn more.

For more pictures of Gemenskap park construction, check our our Flickr photo album.

East Ballard Crime Prevention Resources

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Many thanks to Mary Amberg (SPD Crime Prevention Coordinator), Colleen Hackett (Seattle Parks Division Crew Chief) and Thomas Whittemore (Dept of Neighborhoods Community Engagement Coordinator) for spending the evening with us at St. Alphonsus Family Center to inform us on how we can keep Gemenskap park and our surrounding neighborhood safe and vibrant. if you missed the meeting, or just want a reference for all the great info we learned, here you go!

SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAFETY TIPS
Call 911 every time you see anything suspicious (e.g. potential lurkers outside your neighbor’s house, car prowling, strange people or behavior), even if you aren’t sure what to make of it!
  • According to Crime Prevention Coordinator Mary Amberg, the lines are staffed for this purpose. It is up to the operator, not the caller to determine whether a situation is an emergency or not. Your role as a citizen is simply to help SPD know what’s going on in our neighborhood. SPD’s strategy for our neighborhood is data-driven, and data points such as our reports and phone calls are required in order for more comprehensive action to be taken.
  • If you’d like an officer to contact you, just tell the operator and they will.
  • Don’t call the non-emergency line unless the crime is well in the past.

If you’re aware of chronic problems (e.g. long-term unauthorized parking, vacant houses attracting unwanted activity, camping in the park, etc.), alert Community Police Team Officer Mike Cruzan (206-233-3733) if west of 14th Ave NW, Joseph Bender  (206-233-3984) if east of 14th. Contact both if on 14th.

Call the Ballard High School security officer at 206-252-1000 to address concerns specific to BHS student activity.

Leverage the Find It, Fix It app on your smartphone for the fastest action on the following issues and more (many of our neighbors can attest to this service working well!): 
  • Abandoned Vehicle: report vehicles parked in a public right of way more than three days.
  • Graffiti Report: report graffiti so it gets automatically routed to the appropriate department for response.
  • Needles
  • Illegal Dumping: report illegal dumping — junk, garbage or debris — on public property, including roadsides, open streets and paved alleys.
  • Parking Enforcement: make an inquiry regarding a parking concern.
  • Homeless Encampments: (select ‘Other’ inquiry and title it ‘encampment’
  • Tall shrubs/weeds in street medians: Select ‘Other’ inquiry and title it ‘street landscaping impeding sight lines’.
HELPFUL LINKS FROM SPD
Online Crime Reporting (only crimes that have no suspects, are not in progress, and do not involve injury can be reported this way, e.g. car prowls, signs of narcotic activity and other small crimes)
Property or Building Complaint
Narcotics Activity
Tweet By Beat
Police Blotter
Police Reports

Crime statistics and reports by neighborhood. East Ballard is in the north precinct and our micro policing neighborhood is Ballard South.

HOME BREAK-INS
  • Most burglaries occur between 8AM and 5PM. Always answer a door when you’re home, but don’t open the door. Most burglars enter empty homes. If you don’t answer, then they think no one is home and will attempt to break in. If person is aggressive after you respond, call 911 and report facial features and shoes (clothes change, but people usually wear the same shoes every day).
  • Invest in strong doors with minimal glass (or apply security film), strong deadbolt and 3-4 inch kick plate screws.
  • Lock up propane tanks (can be used to break windows) and ladders (can be used to climb in through upstairs windows)
  • dowels on sliding windows/doors
  • Inventory your possessions

Contact Mary Amberg to schedule a free security assessment of your home, business or church

North Precinct Advisory Council (NPAC) meets the first Wednesday of every month. 7-8:30 p.m. The meeting is at Lakeside School, 14050 1st Ave NE, in the Kent Evans Auditorium in a building on upper school campus.

GEMENSKAP PARK MAINTENANCE AND REGULATIONS

  • Seattle Parks crews will mow, pick up litter and be eyes on the park when they are there. The EBCA will sponsor twice yearly community clean ups.
  • Parks staff cannot remove people from the park if they are not doing anything illegal (note that camping during daylight hours is legal)
  • There are no plans at this time for a porta potty in the park (like Ballard Commons).
  • According to the park drawings, there are no trash cans planned. This is part of a growing trend in “pack it out” parks in Seattle.
  • For chronic intersection crossing concerns, contact Mary Amberg to schedule someone from the city to come out and monitor.
  • For noise complaints, particularly in the park, check out the SPD Noise Complaints page for details on what’s illegal and how to report.
  • Rules and Regulations for Seattle Parks – you probably knew alcohol is banned, but did you know smoking is banned is too?

BUILDING COMMUNITY

 

Mark your calendar for 2 summer events in East Ballard

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EBCA July events flyer

Join us Thursday July 12 when the EBCA and St. Alphonsus parish team up to host a crime prevention educational meeting to learn about Gemenskap park and share concerns as well as ideas to ensure the park and surrounding neighborhood remain a safe and vibrant place for our community. Representatives from the Seattle Police Department, Seattle Parks Department and Seattle Department of Neighborhoods will be on hand to answer all of your questions and provide valuable resources and educational material.

What:    East Ballard Crime Prevention Meeting
When:   Thursday July 12, 6:30PM-8PM
Where: St. Alphonsus Family Center (1415 NW 58th St)

Then join us on Saturday as we clean up 14th Ave NW and Gemenskap park! Food and beverages will be on hand to get you motivated! Bring your friends, bring the kids, we’ll bring the rest!

What:    EBCA Summer Clean Sweep
When:   Saturday July 14, 10AM-1PM
Where: Meet at Blowing Sands Glass (5805 14th Ave NW)

Update on Gemenskap Park

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GemenskapParkWalkway

 

You’ve probably noticed that construction of Gemenskap Park has stopped and you might be asking yourself, where’s the grass, the trees, the plants? They’re not done yet are they? Well, we had the same questions and so contacted our Parks Manager to find out what’s happening. Here’s the scoop…..

The contractor, Jansen, has completed as far as they can until water and electrical are hooked up. The hole with the pipe in it is the 12” water main.  We are in the queue for Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to tap the main and install the meter.  When that’s done, they’ll be able to connect it to the irrigation. The electrical cabinet with meter and irrigation controller have been installed.  We are now in the queue for Seattle City Light (SCL) to install power to the meter, which powers the irrigation controller and lights.

Unfortunately, the Parks Dept hasn’t received any exact dates from SPU or SCL, except that the park is on their work order list. Once water and electricity are hooked up, they can start planting, since it doesn’t make sense to install plants without the capability to water them!

This stall may delay our plans for a celebration this summer, however, we’re hoping to host a street cleanup event and a neighborhood watch meeting focused around the park this summer, so stay posted for event dates. If you love to plan events, please contact us a at eastballard@gmail.com we’d love to have you join our team!

UPDATE ON THE UPDATE:
While the park is awaiting electricity and water hookup, the street and intersection work is complete. The Parks Dept is meeting with SDOT this week to get final review of the street. Upon receiving SDOT approval they will be allowed to open up 14th Ave NW. We’ll keep you posted!

Want to help plan the first big party in Gemenskap Park?

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The city is quickly coming to the end of the construction phase for Gemenskap park (should be end of May), and the Parks Dept would like to partner with the East Ballard Community to put on a big party this summer to celebrate the culmination of the 13 years it has taken to transform this patch of pavement into a community park.

We’re currently seeking a few neighbors with party planning experience and time to team up with the Parks Dept on a planning committee.  Our initial meeting will be Tuesday May 22 at 7:30PM. If you’re interested in attending, please contact Dawn at eastballard@gmail.com for more details. Please also reach out if you’re interested, but that date doesn’t work for you.

Once we get a bit more organized, we’ll have a lot more opportunities for more neighbors to provide input and help with certain tasks. If you have a great idea, a special talent to share or just want us reach out to you for some help, please contact us and we’ll put you on the list.

And, of-course, we want you to come and celebrate with us! We’re shooting for a date in mid August when parks is ready to open up the lawn and landscaped areas to foot traffic. Stay tuned!

 

Panel discussion on the opiod epidemic hosted by the Ballard Community Task Force for Hunger and Homelessness

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bcthh logo
The Ballard Community Task Force for Hunger and Homelessness (BCTHH) invite you to a  panel discussion Thursday April 26 from 10:30AM-12PM at Nyer Urness House, 1753 NW 56th St., East Meeting Room.
This meeting is going to be focused on the opioid epidemic and is open to the public. The panel members are an impressive group of professionals who are currently involved in our city.

AGENDA

INTRODUCTIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS    10 min.

UPDATES:

  • Ballard Neighborcare update on health issues of clients: Doyle McCarthy                                 5 min.

  • Report from the Ballard Street: Jenn Adams, The Bridge, Paige Killinger, REACH                 10 min.

 

PANEL PRESENTATIONS:  Health issues and the OPIOID epidemic          45 min.

Susan Kingston, Center for Opioid Safety Education, University of Washington:  Implementation of programs to address opioid overdose and new treatment models

James Walsh, MD, Swedish Medical Center: Low-barrier buprenorphine program at the needle exchange site in the University District

Patricia Sully, staff attorney, Public Defender Association

David Sapienza, MD, treatment provider: Safe consumption sites  

Q&A:  A time for meeting attendees to ask questions of our presenters       20 min.

for more info about BCTHH  check out:
www.facebook.com/ballardhomelessness and http://bcthh.pbworks.com

BCTHH mission:  
The Ballard Community Taskforce on Homelessness and Hunger (BCTHH) works to end homelessness and hunger  in the Ballard community by providing a forum for services providers, community advocates, and governmental agencies to share information, and to capitalize on their collective resources, and coordinate efforts. We will work as advocates of change and partners of compassion toward a just and supportive community.

Reminder: EBCA March Social this Wednesday!

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Whether you’re new to the East Ballard Neighborhood or been here for awhile, join us for an evening of community & conversation over bites & beverages!

EBCA March Social
Wednesday March 21 7:30PM-9:00PM
Blowing Sands Glass
5805 14th Ave NW

We’ve accomplished a lot of great projects in East Ballard over the past 10 years and are looking forward to what we can accomplish together in the next 10 years!


RSVP

 

You’re Invited!

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RSVP

Whether you’re new to the East Ballard Neighborhood or been here for awhile, join us for an evening of community & conversation over bites & beverages!

EBCA March Social
March 21 7:30PM-9:00PM
Blowing Sands Glass
5805 14th Ave NW

We’ve accomplished a lot of great projects in East Ballard over the past 10 years and are looking forward to what we can accomplish together in the next 10 years!