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Thursday, May 17, 2007

Neighborhoods Vs. Schools and Skateparks

posted by on May 17 at 17:32 PM

IN_OTHER_HOODS.jpg

In this week’s paper, I covered the ongoing legal battle between the Lower Woodland Neighborhood Association (LWNA) and the Seattle Parks Deparment’s Skate Park Advisory Committee (SPAC). Today, I spoke with LWNA member Kristine Fuller about the controversial development.

Fuller complains that the proposed skate park is “a bad site for kids” since, according to Fuller, there are “no sidewalks,” “poor bus service” in the area, adding that the skate park would be “jammed right up next to a soccer field.” She says that the site is ” a spot that is [frequently] used by the neighborhood” and that neighbors “don’t want to be displaced.” She adds that she doesn’t think the soccer or baseball fields should be at the park either. Fuller also says that kids have plenty of city streets they can skate, and feels that the parks department is all too eager to encroach on “passive parks.”

In a bizarre moment in our conversation, Fuller alluded to the fact that SPAC board members Matt Johnston and Ryan Barth “aren’t locals,” implying that they had moved here as part of some massive, pro skate park conspiracy. She was completely serious.

While Barth did not directly address whether he was part of some super-secret pro skate park agenda, he notes that he is well connected to the area and lives just over 2 miles away from Woodland Park. Barth also adds that half of the SPAC board lives within a five mile radius.

Addressing Fuller’s concerns about the safety of the park, Barth says that “once the facility is built, it will be surrounded by other recreational facilities and constant user activity will lead to self policing of the park.”

After my interview with Fuller, she sent me an email:

PS I know the slant Stranger will take since I’ve been reading the paper for years. I’ll forgive you (phew!). PPS, I own and use a skateboard. I will never be any good on it, but you can at least give me credit for even trying it out. And I am no spring chicken.

So maybe that’s the solution for SPAC: take Kristine out and teach her the Stalefish.

Speaking of combative neighbors, Hamilton Middle School’s renovation - scheduled for 2008 - is causing a bit of a stir in Wallingford as neighborhood residents worry that the building remodel will have a major impact on Wallingford Park, which sits just north of the school.

Wallingford resident Greg Flood spoke with me about the neighborhood’s issues with the proposed renovation. He says that Seattle Public Schools’ plan is playing fast and loose with city zoning standards, overbuilding on a two-acre property not meant to hold 900-1000 middle-schoolers.

Seattle Schools spokesman David Tucker sent me an email in response to Flood’s concerns about school’s population:

“Hamilton’s current capacity is 923, although enrollment runs under capacity right now. The new school will be able to house 900-1000 students, so essentially capacity stays the same. ” Tucker also adds that Hamilton will get a skylight in the middle of the building, as part of the remodel, which will “only slightly” increase the building’s height.

Many years ago, Seattle Public Schools had planned move Hamilton to Lincoln and turn Hamilton into a community center, but plans changed as demand for middle schools in the north end grew and Lincoln became an interim site while the district’s aging high schools are being revamped. Hamilton neighbors have accused the school of attempting to annex part of the adjacent park, which Seattle Public Schools capitol projects community liaison Eleanor Trainor says “that’s just a false perception.”

RSS icon Comments

1

Uppity bitch!

Posted by Layback | May 17, 2007 5:59 PM
2

Wow! Isn't it interesting how everyone wants to work with these neighborhood groups, only to find out that the neighborhood groups don't represent the neighborhood at all -- just a tiny kook minority. Who is this Fuller nutjob? she doesn't want baseball or soccer fields either? Uh, right; they're already there, and have been for ages, and are in an area totally unsuited for a "passive park", and are about as likely to be removed as the Space Needle is.

I live a lot closer to Woodland Park than either of these people, and I can tell you that Fuller doesn't represent anything except her own hallucinations, and the city shouldn't be talking to her at all.

I love that she thinks kids should skate in the street. Here, have some broken glass while you're at it. Whoops, look out for that--

Posted by Fnarf | May 17, 2007 6:01 PM
3

Wow again! Check out the Lower Woodland Neighborhood Association's fabulously informative website: http://www.lowerwoodland.org/.

I can find no evidence at all that the LWNA is anything other than a pseudonym for Kris Fuller, full stop. And it apparently came into being specifically to stop the skate park, and have no other agenda or function. It's not a proper "Neighborhood Association" at all; it's Kris Fuller glomming some fancy words onto herself in order to get the media to listen to her. I'm a homeowner in the area and I've never heard of her or her supposed organization.

I ask again: why is the city even talking to her? Why don't they negotiate with the drunks on the park benches instead? They are certainly more numerous.

Posted by Fnarf | May 17, 2007 6:20 PM
4

So, Kristine Fuller: who are you? What's your organization's charter? Who are your members? When do you meet? How did you choose your "representative", namely, you?

Maybe I should play this game. Here, from now on, call me "The Woodland Neighborhood Association", for maximum confusion. I'll be president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, sergeant at arms, and spokesman. We support the skate park, the baseball diamonds, the soccer fields, the tennis courts, the BMX tracks, the golf course, the lawn bowling place, the horseshoe pits, the barbecue areas, and also the banning of triple-wide strollers from the Green Lake jogging path.

I await the media.

Posted by Fnarf | May 17, 2007 6:33 PM
5

One of the most annoying aspects of the "Seattle Process" is that there has always been a certain segment in Seattle that wishes every inch of land controlled by the parks department was only a passive - nature - meditation park. Even if its been 100+ years since Native Americans and settlers first tore up that property to play a sport, pasture animals, or gather for community events. They hate baseball fields, skateboarding, dog runs, concerts, political events, senior centers, playground equipment equally.

If you want to see viciousness read back on the creation of the Daybreak Star center. Native Americans in Magnolia?! the horror! Its especially ridiculous at Discovery Park(Fort Lawton) and Magnuson Park(Sandpoint Airfield), they were military bases. We should use as many of the buildings that are still usable or their sites for for housing if not various community centers.

Watch for the fights over Seattle Center to turn it into another meditation garden instead of the better civic gathering spot it could be.

Posted by anna | May 17, 2007 7:44 PM
6

good point, anna

Posted by nicely done | May 18, 2007 3:01 AM
7

"Seattle Schools spokesman David Tucker"

Is that the same David Tucker who used to do Marketing/PR at about half the local theatres in town?

Wondered where he'd gone.

Posted by COMTE | May 18, 2007 9:06 AM
8

I think all public parks should be grass museums. I love grass. I love staring at it untouched by vulgar games. Go grass, grow grass, mow grass but pleas stay off of it.

Posted by dicker | May 18, 2007 9:12 AM
9

Sorry, Fnarf, but if you were trying to sell newspapers in this town, which do you think is the more marketable story?

"Neighborhood group supports sensible City Hall proposal"

or

"Ragtag coalition of neighborhood activists (and a cute puppy) poses grassroots challenge to corporate backed City Hall land grab. Can David bring down Goliath?

Posted by Sean | May 18, 2007 10:03 AM
10

Kristine Fuller, you are a fucking cunt.

Posted by bobcat | May 18, 2007 12:08 PM
11

Passive Parks in Seattle are UNUSED parks. I love you Seattle, but your transition from "provincial outpost" into METROPOLIS has left the average Seattleitte with some lingering personal space issues. Parks are meant to be shared, active, and public. Skaters, kite flying families, and wondering junkies can all coincide peacefully.

Posted by Dougsf | May 18, 2007 1:09 PM
12

Good points, Fnarf. FYI, an archived version of the lowerwoodland.org home page from 3/21/07 is available here:
http://www.parents4sk8parks.org/lowerwoodland

Posted by Scott Shinn | May 18, 2007 1:20 PM
13

Thanks, Scott. That's very informative, but not in the way she thinks. Gosh, I had no idea the skatepark was going to be a giant flourescent red rectangle about forty feet high! I assume it's probably going to strobe and echo with 140-decibel techno and automatic weapons fire 24/7 as well!

She says "the only place for neighborhood kids to play, for people to walk their dogs, fly kites, read a book or just hang out. How do we know? We live here, and see it in use daily." Well, I see it daily, too, and I don't see any of those things there. I see them over at the huge lawns surrounding the lake just a hundred yards away, though, none of which are going to be taken away. The strip they're turning into a skatepark is partly the BMX mounds, but mostly it's just scabby grass areas that are only used by soccer players walking to and from their cars.

Bear in mind that the houses, or just house, rather (Kristen Fuller's house, I'm guessing), that this complaint is coming from, is across one of Seattle's widest streets, with not one but two parking strips and a double row of parking lot.

Color me unimpressed. I can guess why she took down that site. It's bullpucky.

Posted by Fnarf | May 18, 2007 2:20 PM
14

nice debate tactic bobcat. can't imagine why folks aren't eager to welcome you to their neighborhoods.

Posted by Mat | May 20, 2007 9:02 PM
15

Its MY neighborhood too dipshit.

Posted by bobcat | May 21, 2007 8:33 AM
16

yay bobcat!! eat a bag Fuller!!

Posted by Doublewide | May 23, 2007 6:31 PM
17

Yesterday, King County Superior Court denied the Lower Woodland Neighborhood Association's appeal.

Posted by Scott Shinn | May 23, 2007 7:35 PM

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