Franklin Park Improvements Projects Committee Report

March 19, 2008

For the York Neighborhood Association Board

Submitted by: Helen Jackson, Coordinator for Franklin Park Projects for YNA.

 

Franklin Street Island:

  • We need a truck on Saturday, March 22 to pick up plants, trees and compost we ordered through the Whatcom Conservation District. We can pick them up between 9am and 4pm. If you have a truck please call Helen @ 656-5467 or email: hjaxon817@yahoo.com. This order is paid for with Franklin Park donations and will be repaid through the Small and Simple grant if we receive it.

Small and Simple Grant-2008

  • To date we’ve heard nothing yet on the grant awards. Travis Cary will be leaving his post within the next week.

The Work Parties:

  • Work Parties continue on the second Saturday of every month, but in April it will be on Earth Day, Saturday, April 19 from 9am to 12pm. We will be establishing the trail with supports and gravel. This is a big work day and we could use your help!

Franklin Park Improvements Grant:

The Franklin Park Improvements Committee met with Jonathan Schilk on Thursday, March 19 to view the new design plan. It was an exciting meeting where we learned that the Parks Department has invested $75,000 additional funds into our park. This brings the total budget with playground to $383,600. Improvements will include drainage work to increase the season of usage, berms, curbs and bollards to deter cars from entering, 30+ new trees, a concrete circular pathway with benches and small picnic tables, a newly paved and stripped basketball court, a shelter with two large picnic tables and disabled accessibility, a skate feature donated as a memorial to their son by the Reed family, an attractive retaining wall, new trash cans, bike racks, a new sign and the new playground. We talked about including a light on the north/south pathway and electricity in the shelter so small concerts would be possible. These improvements will create a park for all ages and abilities, extend the park’s season of usage and greatly beautify the park.