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