Slog - Comments on Lower Woodland Skatepark Is Go! http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go Seattle's Skate Park Action Committee (SPAC) has cleared the last legal hurdle toward building a new skatepark in Lower Woodland Park. The Lower Woodland Neighborhood Association (LWNA) opposed the project, claiming that a skatepark would damage the aesthetics of the area and destroy green space, and that the park's plan did not meet the requirements of the State Environmental Policy Act. A superior court judge disagreed. LWNA member Kristine Fuller says LWNA isn't down for the count. "The laws are always open to interpretation. The judge happened to file against us. We’re going to file an appeal," she said.... Copyright 2008 Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:03:30 -0800 Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:16:34 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Fnarf Once again, there is no "Lower Woodland Neighborhood Association". It's just Kristine Fuller and a cloud of hot gas. There's no "us" involved, just one nutty lady, who is also a big fat liar.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c735744 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c735744 City Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:44:26 -0800 Comment by Gitai Hmmm...I think they'd have a hell of a time getting that bond. They're a small, neighborhood non-profit, and a bond is an extension of credit. If they lost, the LWNA would have to repay the company that issued the bond. I don't think they have the money or the balls to get such a bond.

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c735795 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c735795 City Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:37:29 -0800 Comment by MLJ She's working the system pretty effectively though. I've looked her in the eyes and I'm pretty sure she doesn't even believe her own story. She's just going to continue to stall this park as long as she can, and say or do anything to achieve that goal.

But as far as I understand it, the city has every right to move forward, now that the Superior Court has weighed in. If construction is halted any further, it's because the Parks Department and/or the City are choosing to wait. If they choose to wait, we lose the contract with the current company that was awarded the job, the whole hting has to go out to bid again, and we blow another big wad of public funds on Kris Fuller's bad hair year.

Hopefully Seattle does the right thing on this one.

]]> MLJ http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c735831 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c735831 City Tue, 05 Jun 2007 21:26:21 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle I used to live in that neighborhood, and Fnarf is right - there is NO Lower Woodland Park Neighborhood Association.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c735905 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c735905 City Tue, 05 Jun 2007 22:37:09 -0800 Comment by Justin Skate or Die!

]]> Justin http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c735906 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c735906 City Tue, 05 Jun 2007 22:38:38 -0800 Comment by MC Rove Ineffective City Council Bureaucracy or Die!

Too bad they lied about the whole seaskate thing. I can understand the viaduct, rapid transit, and urban
development/housing needing more time to plan, but what is so difficult about the public skatepark that they promised to rebuild?

]]> MC Rove http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c735979 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c735979 City Wed, 06 Jun 2007 00:04:04 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @6 - the problem is it might attract skateboarders ... like me!

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c736450 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c736450 City Wed, 06 Jun 2007 09:42:37 -0800 Comment by drew So where is the park going to go? I hope they aren't doing something stupid like putting it where the dirt jumps are down there. I would love to see some of the skatepark money go towards stuff that is a little "bike friendly." Most skateparks are NO BIKES due to the greater chance of bikes tearing up the concrete.

]]> drew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c736585 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c736585 City Wed, 06 Jun 2007 11:52:17 -0800 Comment by bobcat lower woodland is going to suck balls anyways. the ill-led SPAC (skatepark "action" committee) dropped the ball once again and let the lowest bidder, TF Sahli win the project. Let skateboarders build skateparks, not some schmuck that makes golf courses.

the SPAC also fucked themselves with the whole seask8 deal. It was PUT IN WRITING that a new skate spot would be started at the same time of the old parks' demise. It is now 6 months later and we don't have a centralized park.

Hows that for communication?

]]> bobcat http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c738354 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c738354 City Fri, 08 Jun 2007 09:39:41 -0800 Comment by Scott Shinn SPAC stands for Skateboard Park "Advisory" Committee, and we have always "advised" the City to hire qualified skater/designer/builders. Bobcat should know this, because he used to be on the SPAC before he gave up and quit. Unfortunately, the City does not always listen to our advice. This is no excuse for hiring an unqualified builder though, and I agree that the City's RFQ/RFP language for skateparks could use some refinement. We continue to advocate for this - just talked about it at last night's meeting, in fact.

Anyway, in other skatepark news:

1) The site for the new SeaSk8 will be determined at the June 20th Parks, Education, Libraries and Labor Committee meeting.

2) The Lower Woodland Neighborhood Association has filed another appeal. The City is preparing for a bond hearing.

3) In a rare bit of good news, the City Council unanimously passed Resolution 30984 (aka the Citywide Skatepark Plan) yesterday. Huge thanks to David Della, Jan Drago and Richard Conlin!

4) http://www.seattleskateparks.org is up and running, with updates and information about skatepark developments near you! Now is a great time to get involved with the cause, or to re-engage if you have previously burnt out.

]]> Scott Shinn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c740379 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lower_woodland_skatepark_is_go#c740379 City Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:16:34 -0800