Summer at the PlayGarden

Hello!

I am so pleased to be included in your neighborhood group. I would like to introduce the Seattle Children's PlayGarden at Colman Playfield. I'm sure many of you have noticed the changes to this park over the past few years. The Seattle Children's PlayGarden has a long term lease with the City of Seattle and the Department of Parks and Rec. to develop the south end of Colman Playfield into a PlayGarden for children of all abilities. This project has been in the works since late 2002 when this neighborhood was called the Rain-King neighborhood. Our first priority was to refurbish the basketball court. The PlayGarden raised over $200,000 to make this happen. We then developed gardens and set to work raising funds to renovate the shelter building. The building, which was built in 1936, now has a new roof, no lead/asbestos and will be completed in the Fall. We installed new play equipment on site and and have been running summer daycamp and free "playdates" for the past three summers. It has been so amazing to see how much fun kids have digging in the garden,. planting seeds, harvesting vegetables and hunting for bugs. The PlayGarden attracts children from all over the city because we offer a welcoming accessible play space for all kids regardless of their cognitive or physical disabilities. But we also have many neighborhood children participating as well. You can learn more about the project on our website www.childrensplaygarden.org

We love visitors and would love give you a tour to learn more about the project. We have regular work parties that you are welcome to attend and we really appreciate those who keep an eye on the gardens!

Hope to meet all of you at the PlayGarden,

Liz

Blue Dog

Everybody in the neighborhood, keeper-of-dogs or not, knows our Citizens for Off-Leash Areas (COLA) local dog park, Blue Dog. It's a giant hole in the earth intended to catch storm-water overflow. In winter, the place is, well, wet. Too wet for humans and dogs; only the very brave visit. In the summer, it's quite dry. Dusty, even.

It is rarely busy, and hasn't yet struck me (person to a big yellow labrador retriever named Yagi) as a great community-building place. I hope I'm wrong about that, though we've been visiting there since for about seven years.

In spite of how quiet it is, there seems to be good stuff happening. The basin got some attention last week from the Parks Department (sand and grading, at right), and park stewardship (which I am embarrassed to say does not include me) has posted a list of planned improvements to the grounds, including terracing the steep slopes, installing drains for improved water flow (though the whole park is a drain), and planting a flower garden.

Blue Dog is one of many great resources we have in the Colman Triangle. It may be tough to find a cup of coffee within walking distance (more on this later), but I don't have to load my dog into the car to take him to an off-leash area, which is great. Thanks, COLA!

Top image: http://www.coladog.org/images/pic_bluedog.jpg

Pb Elemental in the hood

I'd like to introduce Pb Elemental to those that perhaps aren't aware of the terrific architectural/construction firm located in our neighborhood:
http://www.elementalarchitecture.com/index01.html

They have a converted warehouse on 1916 23rd Ave. S.:
http://www.elementalarchitecture.com/projects/mixed/Pb%20OFFICE/index.html

I just found out from them that they are the architects and builders for 8 live/work units on 25th Ave S. (Holgate? the block S. of S. Grand):
http://www.elementalarchitecture.com/projects/mixed/25th_L_W/index.html
This is awesome for our immediate neighborhood!!!

They have a master plan for a block on the other side of Rainier Ave, running along 20th Ave S. and S. Grand St.:
http://www.elementalarchitecture.com/projects/masterplanning/valentine/index.html
They have received construction funding for this and permitting is in works. This is an 11 unit project.

Other local projects in the works include:
http://www.elementalarchitecture.com/projects/mixed/RAINIER%20MIXED/index.html

http://www.elementalarchitecture.com/projects/multi/3501_rainier/index.html

http://www.elementalarchitecture.com/projects/mixed/23rd%20MIXED%20USE/index.html

http://www.elementalarchitecture.com/projects/multi/MLK/index.html

http://www.elementalarchitecture.com/projects/multi/dakota/index.html

http://www.elementalarchitecture.com/projects/multi/alexander/index.html

Completed:
http://www.elementalarchitecture.com/projects/single/norman/index.html

PB Elemental is a great addition to our neighborhood! I've invited them to join us on Night Out (25th Ave party).

David

Night Out Tuesday Aug 5th 6:00 p.m. on 25th Ave S and S Grand

Hi all,

Just a reminder about Night Out on my block. We're providing bratwurst dogs and corn on the cob. If we can get a number of folks planning to attend that'd be great! Also, if folks could bring a dish to share and plenty of bevs of choice, that would make the party even better!

David

The Triangle, 1907

Dugdale Athletic Park, circa 1907. Copyright deposit; Fremont C. Plummer; November 24, 1907; Image courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

This morning's history lesson comes by way of Vintage Seattle. At the south end of our triangle is a Lowe's (which may move north to Dearborn). Many people know this also as the site of the old Sicks' Stadium (there's a little monument to the field in the Lowe's lobby). I just learned this morning that the Sicks'/Lowe's site was also the home of Dugdale Park. Dugdale was burned down in 1932, an early example of our neighborhood's unhappy relationship with arson.

Umoja Fest, August 1-3 in Judkins Park

It's not precisely in the triangle, but adjacent, and looks like a good time. Umoja Fest is coming to Judkins Park August 1-3. By way of the Rainier Valley Post, activities will include (quoting here):

• numerous food vendors at the Taste Of Africa
• local artisan and craft vendors
• performances by some of Seattle’s best soul, blues, jazz, gospel and hip-hop artists
• spoken word showcase
• Fashion Expo featuring designs by local stylists
• African Drum & Dance exhibition
• Step competition
• Children’s Day Activities
• Knowledge is The Key Education Expo
• Community Resource Fair
• Voter Registration Drive

Looks fun, and it's right next door!



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Triangle Map

My opening contribution: triangle boundaries. The south tip of the triangle is somewhat arbitrarily placed, but the heart of the neighborhood--the area most of us live in--is well-described.


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More map-like explorations to come...

Hello Neighbors!

Welcome to the Colman Triangle News! What is the Colman Triangle you ask? It's a hip description of our triangular neighborhood bordered by I-90 at the north, MLK to the east, and Rainier Avenue to the west. Click here to see our neighborhood on Google Maps.

The intent of the Colman Triangle News is to provide a 24-hour communication platform for neighbors in the area, to increase neighborhood safety and awareness, and to build a greater sense of community.

People interested in contributing to this blog should contact David Story at ColmanTriangle@gmail.com.

Hope to hear from you!
David