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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Four Parks Named, Including One for Community Activist
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
4/21/2005 2:43:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
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Four Parks Named, Including One for Community Activist
Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Ken Bounds decided today to name
a recently purchased park on the Magnolia Bluff Ursula Judkins Viewpoint,
after the late community activist who was instrumental in the acquisition of
the property. Bounds also named three other parks: York Park in southeast
Seattle, Northlake Park at the north end of Lake Union, and Nantes
Park in West Seattle.
Seattle Parks and Recreation purchased 7.3 acres in the Smith Cove area in
Magnolia from the U.S. Navy in 2003. The land is divided into two parts, the
lower portion along 23rd Ave. W at the foot of Magnolia hill, and the upper
portion, 2.4 acres of property on W Galer St. at the top of the Magnolia Bridge
overlooking Elliott Bay. Opened to the public in April 2004, this upper portion
constitutes Ursula Judkins Viewpoint.
Before she passed away in December 2000, Ursula Judkins was active in Magnolia
community organizations, and persistently advocated for parks and open space
in Magnolia and improvements to Discovery Park. "Ursula was an inspiration
to all of us, passionately committed to the community and open space in Seattle,"
said Bounds. The Discovery Park Advisory Council, Magnolia Community Club, Heron
Habitat Helpers, and the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce all supported the naming
of the new park after Ursula Judkins.
York Park is located on the site of a former City Light substation at
3650 Renton Ave. S in southeast Seattle. It was one of several substations in
the city surplused by Seattle City Light and purchased in 2003 for park purposes
with funding from the Pro Parks Levy. The Levy will also pay for development
of the 12,000-square-foot site with contributions from the Safeco Foundation,
the Miller Foundation, the Department of Neighborhoods and King County. The
plan includes paths, park furniture, lawn and other landscaping. These improvements
will be completed later this year.
Northlake Park is a new park at the intersection of Lake Union Waterway
14 and Northlake Way at the north end of Lake Union (between I-5 and University
Bridge). It will be developed into a small park with seating and landscaping.
The Pro Parks Levy is funding these improvements, which should be completed
later this year.
Nantes Park is another former City Light substation. Located in West
Seattle at the intersection of Admiral Way SW and SW Garlough St., it is approximately
10,000 square feet in size. The substation was built in 1946, and decommissioned
in 1992. There is a steep slope on the north side of the site, created by early
gravel mining; it is now covered with blackberries and other invasive shrubs.
The first phase of this neighborhood park has been completed and includes walkways,
benches, and native plants. The Pro Parks Levy provided funding for the acquisition
and development.
Nantes is Seattle's sister city on the Atlantic coast of France. The park name,
endorsed by the Nantes Sister City Association, continues the tradition of naming
parks after sister cities, including Tashkent Park, Beer Sheva Park and Kobe
Park.
The city is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Nantes sister city relationship
this year with numerous projects, reciprocal visits to each city, and now, with
the naming of this park.
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Seattle Parks and Recreation
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