This blog features highlights from the Parks and Neighborhoods committee meeting of May 3, 2012. (See the meeting on video instead.) We started committee last week with a discussion of Department of Neighborhood’s PACE program, which I wrote about at the time, so I won’t repeat it here. I’m looking forward to dropping in on [...]

If you’ve been following this blog, you already know that I’m a champion of the Department of Neighborhood’s (DoN) People’s Academy for Community Engagement (PACE). This pilot program, which is designed to provide leadership training for new community leaders, kicked off on April 26. Classroom space has been donated by Seattle University. (Thank you, Seattle University, [...]

Parks & Neighborhoods Committee Meeting April 19 recap Our Parks and Neighborhoods committee meeting on April 19 was a briefing day. We had no legislation to consider, so we took the opportunity to get updates on some of the projects I’ve been interested in, such as how the community center reorganization has been going, what’s [...]

This blog features highlights from the Parks and Neighborhoods committee meeting of April 5, 2012. (See the meeting on video instead.) Funding opportunities for local parks projects Reminder! The technical assistance workshops for the Parks Opportunity Fund are coming up at the end of May. These workshops are open to anyone interested in learning about [...]

I was delighted by how many responses we received from last week’s question of the week (What’s the park that’s nearest you? Your favorite? How often do you visit?). You confirmed how much we all love our parks, and I was impressed by how often we use our amenities. Ours is a city of active [...]

Thanks to all of you who answered my Question of the Week this week on Facebook!  (“What aspects/landmarks of the City would you preserve as we move toward density? And what’s your favorite Seattle landmark?”) Several people suggested a structure that’s dear to so many of us, the Volunteer Park Conservatory. The Conservatory has been [...]

By now the word has spread: Last week, the City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Commission abruptly cancelled a reception with a delegation of six LGBT citizens from Israel. The commission cancelled the meeting because certain activists who are vocal opponents of the Israeli government’s policies lobbied them into submission. This was wrong. The visitors [...]

 I know it’s not REALLY Spring yet, but I see the signs of it about. I’ve been cheered by daffodils downtown, cherry trees budding in the north end, and rowers back out on the water. I’ve woken to light in the sky by 6:00 a.m. in the mornings. It’s wonderful! One of my favorite recent acknowledgements of the advent [...]

Interested in doing something to help those in need, but don’t know where to start? Come to the 2nd Annual Downtown Volunteer Fair this Sunday, held from 1-4 p.m. inside the Josephinum, at 2nd Ave and Stewart St. You can meet one-on-one with representatives of more than 35 agencies that serve homeless people and others in [...]

At our February 16th Parks and Neighborhood Committee meeting, Acting Superintendent Christopher Williams walked us through the 2012 Parks budget. I know, I know,  you may think this sounds dull as dirt. Au contraire!  This is all part of the “continuing education” series we are having in Committee to assure a strategic approach to operating and maintaining [...]