Slog - Comments on Neighborhoods Vs. Schools and Skateparks http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks 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... Copyright 2008 Thu, 17 May 2007 17:32:20 -0800 Wed, 23 May 2007 19:35:53 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Layback Uppity bitch!

]]> Layback http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719350 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719350 City Thu, 17 May 2007 17:59:27 -0800 Comment by Fnarf 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--

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719352 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719352 City Thu, 17 May 2007 18:01:22 -0800 Comment by Fnarf 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.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719358 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719358 City Thu, 17 May 2007 18:20:40 -0800 Comment by Fnarf 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.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719363 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719363 City Thu, 17 May 2007 18:33:57 -0800 Comment by anna 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.

]]> anna http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719389 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719389 City Thu, 17 May 2007 19:44:14 -0800 Comment by nicely done good point, anna

]]> nicely done http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719502 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719502 City Fri, 18 May 2007 03:01:33 -0800 Comment by COMTE "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.

]]> COMTE http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719599 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719599 City Fri, 18 May 2007 09:06:55 -0800 Comment by dicker 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.

]]> dicker http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719603 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719603 City Fri, 18 May 2007 09:12:21 -0800 Comment by Sean 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?

]]> Sean http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719633 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719633 City Fri, 18 May 2007 10:03:19 -0800 Comment by bobcat Kristine Fuller, you are a fucking cunt.

]]> bobcat http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719714 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719714 City Fri, 18 May 2007 12:08:17 -0800 Comment by Dougsf 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.

]]> Dougsf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719759 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719759 City Fri, 18 May 2007 13:09:46 -0800 Comment by Scott Shinn 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

]]> Scott Shinn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719764 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719764 City Fri, 18 May 2007 13:20:24 -0800 Comment by Fnarf 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.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719790 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c719790 City Fri, 18 May 2007 14:20:21 -0800 Comment by Mat nice debate tactic bobcat. can't imagine why folks aren't eager to welcome you to their neighborhoods.

]]> Mat http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c721934 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c721934 City Sun, 20 May 2007 21:02:38 -0800 Comment by bobcat Its MY neighborhood too dipshit.

]]> bobcat http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c722022 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c722022 City Mon, 21 May 2007 08:33:12 -0800 Comment by Doublewide yay bobcat!! eat a bag Fuller!!

]]> Doublewide http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c724515 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c724515 City Wed, 23 May 2007 18:31:26 -0800 Comment by Scott Shinn Yesterday, King County Superior Court denied the Lower Woodland Neighborhood Association's appeal.

]]> Scott Shinn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c724531 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/neighborhoods_vs_schools_and_skateparks#c724531 City Wed, 23 May 2007 19:35:53 -0800