| Vision 2014 |
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Capitol Hill is renown for its lush canopies of mature trees, naturalistic parks, and urban open spaces. Volunteer Park and the recently developed Lincoln Reservoir Park and Bobby Morris Playfield are the centerpieces of Capitol Hill's green spaces, providing visual relief as well as places for people to connect with the natural environment. P-patches, pocket parks, urban plazas, streetscapes, and trails provide opportunities for recreation and socializing. A wide range of exercise activities are readily accessible on Capitol Hill. Numerous cultural events are produced in the neighborhood by local theaters and community arts organizations. |
| Community Objectives |
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| Highest Priorities: • Maintain existing parks and trees. • Support literary interests. • Increase open space on Capitol Hill. • Expand and enhance public gathering places. |
| Other Objectives: • Support efforts to convert the Lincoln Reservoir to open space. • Protect natural systems. • Provide a range of cultural activities. • Support the arts. • Provide a range of recreational opportunities. • Create new trails. |
| Comprehensive Plan Growth Targets |
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• Existing open space: 14.08 acres • Addt'l open space expected by the year 2014: 2.25-3.5 acres (or 3 one-quarter-acre minimum sites, 1 one-acre minimum site, and 4 community gardens) • Total open space expected by the year 2014: 16.33-17.58 acres |
Maintain existing parks and trees. Outreach results indicate that parks and open space are by far the most valued amenities of Capitol Hill residents. It is notable that residents of such a dense, urban neighborhood feel so connected to and so appreciative of their natural surroundings. Volunteer Park, named in honor of volunteers of the Spanish-American War, and its historic buildings — the Water Tower, Conservatory, and Seattle Asian Art Museum — are especially used and cherished. Community members also enjoy other nearby parks, such as Miller Park, Lincoln Reservoir and Bobby Morris Playfield Park, Interlaken Park, Roanoke Park, Boren Park, and the Saint Mark's greenbelt, though most of these open spaces fall outside the official boundaries of the Capitol Hill Urban Center Village. [Figure 26.]
Stewardship of existing parks and open space is even more important to Capitol Hill residents than creating new parks and open space. Community members want to make sure that existing parks, especially Volunteer Park and Bobby Morris Playfield, are well maintained. Particular concerns are wear and tear, safety, and programming of existing parks. Residents suggested caring for parks by creating citizen stewardship groups, organizing community work parties, collaborating with the Friends of Olmsted, and working with the Seattle Departments of Parks and Recreation and Engineering to develop effective maintenance programs for parks.
Capitol Hill is blessed with a multitude of mature trees, and residents want to preserve this valuable neighborhood asset by caring for existing trees and planting more trees on Capitol Hill. Residents would especially like more street trees and flowers in commercial areas such as Broadway, 15th Avenue, and Olive Way.
Figure 26. Many of Capitol Hill's landmarks and parks actually fall outside the urban village boundaries.
Support literary interests. The many outreach comments in appreciation of Capitol Hill's bookstores and local Seattle Public Library branch, the Henry Library, reflect a strong literary bent that community members value. Capitol Hill residents requested expanded library hours and service, especially for children. Currently, there is an effort under way to establish a literary center, the Richard Hugo House, on Capitol Hill. Community outreach indicated support for the center, although there is some debate about its location. See also: "Provide amenities and services for children," p. 49.
Increase open space on Capitol Hill. According to the Comp Plan, the Capitol Hill Urban Center Village should gain between 2.25 and 3.5 acres of parks and open space over the next seventeen years in order to serve the expected increase in households. These projections assume 1.24 acres of open space per 1,000 households. It will be important for Phase II neighborhood planners to establish an area of influence for open space. In order for open space to serve urban village residents, the Comp Plan proposes it should be within 1/8 mile to 1/4 mile from the village's households.
While Capitol Hill residents value the experience of dense urban living, with its high level of activity and contact with neighbors, they recognize that growth could have a negative impact on everyone's quality of life unless amenities such as open space are increased commensurately with the increased population. Residents feel strongly that there is a need to create more open space in the neighborhood, especially pocket parks, P-patches, picnic areas, and urban plazas. In addition to naturalistic parks, residents would like more open space that complements the area's urban character and sites for special community open spaces, such as an AIDS memorial at the north end of Broadway. Planning for new parks and open space should consider the needs of the spectrum of Capitol Hill's population — children, youth, and seniors. It will be important for neighborhood planners to conduct an assessment of what types of open space community members want and where it might be located. See also: "Provide amenities and services for seniors," p. 20; "Provide amenities and services for youth," p. 49; and "Provide amenities and services for children," p. 49.
Expand and enhance public gathering places. Street life on Broadway and 15th Avenue plays an important part in Capitol Hill's social scene. Cafes, restaurants, coffeehouses, and bookstores are especially valued as gathering places, as are neighborhood schools, churches, and the local library. Parks are also vital community gathering places. Capitol Hill residents would like to expand the role of Volunteer Park as a neighborhood gathering place by hosting more community-wide events, such as jazz concerts, in the park. A number of community members also expressed a need for a central gathering place, like a village square, in the community. The Lincoln Reservoir site was suggested as a possible location for such a community open space. See also: "Enhance commercial streetscapes," p. 39.
Support efforts to convert the Lincoln Reservoir to open space. Considerable interest has been generated by the efforts of Groundswell Off Broadway to lid the Lincoln Reservoir adjacent to the Bobby Morris Playfield. This project will involve creating a submerged pipe system that will act as a reservoir while freeing nearly seven acres above ground for public open space uses. The new park will be the largest open space within the urban village's boundaries. Neighborhood planning can participate in this project by working closely with Groundswell to support their community-based design and planning efforts beginning in April 1997.
Protect natural systems. Residents are concerned about air quality issues, particularly air pollution due to vehicle exhaust, and other degraded natural systems on Capitol Hill. Suggestions for restoring natural systems included planting native plant species on slopes to promote slope stabilization, educating the community about Capitol Hill's natural systems by mapping water courses, springs, greenbelts, animal habitat, views, etc., and developing a natural history tour of the area.
Provide a range of cultural activities. Capitol Hill offers a number of popular cultural attractions, including the Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle Central Community College, the Broadway Performance Hall, and the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Capitol Hill is also home to three annual cultural events that draw thousands of people: the annual Fringe Theatre Festival, the Gay Pride Parade, and the Seattle International Film Festival. Ideas for expanding cultural opportunities on the Hill included increasing concerts in Volunteer Park, increasing cultural activities geared toward children, and enhancing cultural vitality in the 15th Avenue commercial district.
Support the arts. Although the Capitol Hill community tends to see itself as a creative center, the arts actually rated just slightly above average in the BIA survey. Residents would like the arts to have an even stronger presence throughout the neighborhood, not just on Broadway. Opportunities for community participation in art projects, a public art studio, more art galleries, and art walks were all mentioned as ways for community members to become more involved in the arts. Other ideas for strengthening the arts on Capitol Hill included creating a Capitol Hill Arts Council and developing a community art project that celebrates "A Day in the Life of Capitol Hill."
Provide a range of recreational opportunities. "The area has the type of environment that makes it fun to combine running errands and recreation." This comment by a workshop participant summarizes what people seem to appreciate most about life on Capitol Hill: the easy combination of home life, urban amenities, outdoor recreation, and cultural events. Community members are more interested in preserving and publicizing the range of activities that are currently available on the Hill than in providing new activities. Much of Capitol Hill's population is active and especially enjoys outdoor activities. For exercise, many residents enjoy walking, jogging, playing tennis, and riding their bicycles. People also enjoy participating in team sports and the martial arts. Residents requested more sports facilities such as tennis courts, ball fields, basketball courts, an indoor recreation center with a pool and basketball courts (particularly serving the west slope of the Hill), and a skateboarding park.
While recreational activities for healthy young adults are plentiful on Capitol Hill, activities dedicated to children, youth, and seniors are scarce. The planning effort needs to consider creating recreational opportunities that support a diverse population, which is one of the community's primary objectives. See also: "Provide amenities and services for seniors," p. 20; "Provide amenities and services for youth," p. 49; and "Provide amenities and services for children," p. 49.
Create new trails. Community members would like new trails in the urban village for walking, jogging, bicycling, and in-line skating. Suggested trail projects included linking the two parts of Cornish College of the Arts, completing the Melrose Trail between Capitol Hill and Eastlake, re-establishing a pedestrian connection between Roy Street and Lowell School, and creating a historical trail highlighting the neighborhood's history. See also: "Improve bicycle routes and amenities," p. 31.