06/14/04

CITY COUNCIL APPROVES MASTER PLAN FOR MAGNUSON PARK ATHELTIC FIELDS AND WETLANDS PROJECT - Seven of 13 total fields will be lighted; development will occur as money is available

SEATTLE * After more than a decade of planning and years of wrangling over final plans, the Seattle City Council today approved a master plan for an athletic field and wetlands development at Sand Point Magnuson Park in northeast Seattle.

"This argument has raised the debate over use of public parks and pitted special interest advocates against neighborhood residents," said Councilmember David J. Della, who ushered this plan through his Parks, Neighborhoods & Education Committee. "What we've learned from all this is that people citywide feel an ownership of our parks, and compromise can be reached that will provide benefits to all of Seattle's residents and visitors."

The plan approved by the Council calls for development of a multi-purpose activity and sports meadow, athletic fields and wetlands/wildlife habitat at the park, which was handed over to the City in 1991 when the U.S. Navy decommissioned its base at that location. Specifically, the master plan includes:

· Seven lighted athletic fields, and possibly two additional unlit fields (all nine fields may be synthetic turf, per decision of Parks Department);
· Four grass fields and additional recreation area in the multi-purpose activity and sports meadow;
· Lights on lighted fields must be turned off no later than 10 p.m., and no lights may be used on Sundays;
· Wetlands development will begin in the first phase of the project; and
· A wetlands/natural area monitoring and adaptive management plan for monitoring progress at key stages of creating the new wetland will be adopted.

In addition, the Council approved a separate resolution creating a citizen project advisory committee that will advise the Parks Department and report to the Council's Parks Committee on progress of the Magnuson Park project.

"I've taken so many votes on Magnuson Park in my 10 years on the Council that I literally cannot remember how many," said Council President Jan Drago. "After each vote I've heard from what seemed like thousands of residents stating their various concerns. This is truly an issue of deep concern in our City."

Under the plan, the multi-purpose activity and sports meadow and a portion of the wetlands will be developed at the park first. In the second phase, further wetlands development will occur and four lighted fields will be constructed. Further wetlands and wildlife habitat work and construction of additional fields will be contingent upon available funding and will require Council approval at that time.

"The way things work out with our funding issues, we will have an opportunity to monitor the impact after phase two with a partially completed plan," said Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck. "At that time we can measure the impact of the lights and activity levels on the park and the neighborhood."

The legislation authorizing the master plan also included several Council intentions, such as its desire for the Parks Department to facilitate more sports field development citywide; that the Parks Department consider other individual and small-group activities for Magnuson Park; and that the wetlands project move as quickly as possible when funding is available.