City breaks ground on future public park

The long process of transforming a somewhat unkempt parcel of land is now in its final stages.

Work on Broadway Hill Park in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood began this week, according to Toby Ressler, Seattle Parks and Recreation senior project manager.

The square parcel at Map will soon be a community park, paid for by numerous levies and grants. The city estimates construction will be finished by December.

What are they building?

Funding included $1.9 million for the purchase of the property from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy. Another $750,000 for construction will come from the Green Spaces Levy’s Opportunity Fund.

Though construction just began, the design for the park was complete in 2011-12. The preferred schematic includes a large lawn area, seating in multiple areas, including a “seat wall” along the sidewalk, and an area for community gardening. Ressler said the design of the park is still “generally the same” as the preferred concept.

The future park acquired by the Parks Department in 2010 may look familiar to many. The site has been the host of the Capitol Hill Garage Sale.

The park may also gets a new neighbor. An apartment building is proposed for the lot just to the east. A design proposal for a 22-unit development within two buildings was submitted to the city on July 17.

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