Staircases as Transportation
Staircases are great connectors.
Image from King County Parks
Seattle is full of staircases. They go places that cars cannot go which makes them important to the web of active transportation – lower traffic routes that people can walk and bike – Greenways. Besides providing healthy transportation, they can be fun.
Does a staircase near you need a bicycle runnel? Contact us.
See how our stair climbing friends are celebrating staircases and places to walk. Links below: Read more 
Others’ Projects
A variety of projects that we admire and hope will inspire you.
Fremont Peak Park
Photo Credit: Jack Tomkinson
Fremont Peak Park at N 45th & Palatine N was three houses in the woods in 2001.
Photo Credit: unknown Helicopter pilot?
Fremont Peak Park (FPP) was the precursor to Urban Sparks. Jack Tomkinson and Karen Moe, members of the FPP steering committee, were so moved by the experience of creating this park and receiving guidance from park instigators from around the city that we started Urban Sparks to capture and share the hard-earned lesson from successful project leaders. We thought more people would do public work if they knew that it was within reach and if they knew where to begin.
Read more
Mt. Baker Ridge Viewpoint
We have affection for this bold vision and excellent design. Back when our founder Jack Tomkinson started Fremont Peak Park, he met David Berger, who started the Mt. Baker Ridge Viewpoint Park, at a Pro Parks Levy open house. Jack offered to take a panoramic photo for David like the “million dollar photo” that Jack carried around for 4 years raising the money and awareness required to buy and build Fremont Peak Park. David did the same with his panoramic photo. Mt. Baker Ridge Viewpoint was one of the first projects that Jack helped with before Urban Sparks was created.
Read more here: http://www.mtbakerridgeviewpoint.com/
Pinehurst Pocket Park
On New Years Eve 2000, Jack’s Friend Lorena talked about this project. That’s how Jack knew where to begin when he found the property for Fremont Peak Park. Sharing knowledge and inspiration is invaluable. Jack wouldn’t have known it was possible for mortals (no offense Lorena) to create a city park. That’s why we started Urban Sparks and why we’ll be forever grateful for Lorena’s inspiration. We now spread the word that you can accomplish a public project.
Pinehurst Pocket Park is a classic pocket park conceived of and brought to fruition by a small band of passionate neighbors, with the support of businesses, community organizations with public and private grants.
Bradner Garden
Bradner Garden is a gorgeous, mature P-Patch and Park that is the result of many years of amazing work led by a team of artists and gardeners. It has several unique buildings and structures that make it a must-see park if you’re involved in creating a park or P-Patch. Bradner’s point person, Joyce Moty, is an inspiration to many park activists and she shares her wisdom freely. She works tirelessly for parks, P-patches and the people who create them. She’s even on the city’s Skatepark Advisory Task Force. Related links:
Bradner Gardens Park, Seattle Parks & Rec, Seattle Tilth Demonstration Garden
What are Others’ Projects?
Projects we admire and find inspiring.
Annual Garden Concert at Bradner Garden
Tiana found our flyer and asked for help in creating Bradner Garden’s first outdoor concert. We brainstormed with her over the phone and told her about Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods’ Small Sparks grant program. Tiana got the grant, found musicians, gathered neighbors, had posters and postcards made, then held a fantastic summer evening concert. She did a wonderful job of jumping into a first project. It was a thrill for us to take a tiny part in this first concert at Bradner Garden. Bradner Garden is a wonderfully mature P-Patch and neighborhood park that was overdue for such an honor.
Projects we admire and find inspiring.
Joe King Park Fitness Centre, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Particularly in wet cold climates, indoor spaces can be as important as outdoor spaces.
Hornby Island’s community and aging population benefit from this new indoor fitness facility, especially during the winter months combating “cabin fever. The leaders Judith and Peter said “It was a great pleasure for both of us to see the doors open in November 2007 and watch people’s faces light up with joy as they piled in to see what was accomplished by a community effort”.
See Judith and Peter’s volunteer profile for the bigger story. volunteer profile »
What are Others’ Projects?
Projects we admire and find inspiring.
Woodland Park Zoo Children’s Play Area, 59th & Phinney
This play area was another inspiration that prepared Jack to act when he found the property for Fremont Peak Park. Bob and Cathy had raised a large sum of money to help refurbish this play area, so they were amongst the first people he called to find out how to make a park. Later Jack found out that Greg Zuhl led this park project along with several others in Phinney Ridge. Greg was great source of information in the early days of Fremont Peak Park.
The Woodland Park Children’s Play Area is a compact play area with very high quality play equipment and surfaces. It is well worth a look if you have play areas on the brain.
What are Others’ Projects?
Projects we admire and find inspiring.
Annie’s Playground
Annie’s Playground is an exceptionally well done project in the honor of Annie, a little girl who died suddenly at 3 year’s old after letting the world now how she loved playgrounds. In her honor, her mother led this project. We feature this project because it was very well done and it’s full of high quality features.
What are Others’ Projects?
Projects we admire and find inspiring.
Wallingford Playfield
We know little about this project except that it has a high quality modern playground and wading pool on the northern edge, a huge grassy field in the middle, and an old grove of trees creating a peaceful respite on the southern edge.
Friends of Wallingford Park website.
What are Others’ Projects?
Projects we admire and find inspiring.
Belltown P-Patch and Cottage Park
Did you know? The “P” in P-Patch stands for Picdaro Farm, the first P-Patch in Seattle.
This P-Patch and the adjacent Belltown Cottage Park are rich stories of reusing urban space.
What are Others’ Projects?
Projects we admire and find inspiring.
Danny Woo International Garden
This is a fascinating community garden for senior Asian gardeners. It has been the recipient of many University of Washington design/build projects including the ADA garden spaces and “One Heart-Mind One Spirit” wall build by Jack’s nephew Jay. The garden is the center of a very strong community.
What are Others’ Projects?
Projects we admire and find inspiring.
Ballard Commons and Ballard Skate Bowl
The Ballard Commons Park has finally been built after 10 years of planning and a huge controversy over the temporary-turned-permanent skate bowl. Now it’s a beautiful park with a top notch skate bowl and a fountain that you can play in. Be sure you visit this contemporary park that has plenty of timeless amenities.
What are Others’ Projects?
Projects we admire and find inspiring.
Dahl Playfield Skate Spot
Boarders 4 Parks is a group that is designing and building a skate spot at Dahl Playfield. They are one of a growing number of groups who want to put opportunities for wholesome challenging physical activity for kids in neighborhood parks. We’ve enjoyed comparing notes with them.
Image credit to Seattle Skateparks and New Line Skateparks.
What are Others’ Projects?
Projects we admire and find inspiring.
Urban Sparks 