King County pleased to help Ballard and Greenwood neighborhood welcome new sports fields, complex

2005 Archived News

New sports fields, partially funded by King County, have arrived in Seattle's Ballard and Greenwood neighborhoods, replacing a 30-year-old asphalt surface at Salmon Bay Alternative School and giving the community a much-improved, safe and fun place to play.

A community celebration and grand opening of the new track and field is planned on Friday, October 7, at Salmon Bay K-8 Alternative School. The field is located north of the Salmon Bay School near the corner of 18th Ave NW and 67th St. NW., Seattle, 98117.

At 4 p.m., kids can attend five different sports clinics: basketball, track, soccer, T-ball, and Ultimate Frisbee. At 5 p.m., there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new facility and recognize the efforts of parents, students, volunteers, and funding agencies. King County and the Seattle School District help fund the improvements.

Refreshments from Starbucks, Jones Soda, and Great Harvest Bread will be served and students from Ballard High School's Marching Band will be on hand for the celebration.

"This is a terrific example of what we expect to accomplish through our YSFG grant program - it serves a true community need and it involved wonderful planning and collaboration between local government, the Seattle School District and the community," said King County Executive Ron Sims.

"Increasing ball field space for children has been an important goal in the Northwest Seattle neighborhoods I represent. I appreciate the enthusiasm and dedication of the many neighbors who I had the privilege of working with to create this valuable community asset. The Salmon Bay School project is a great use of resources, converting an existing concrete field into a synthetic turf soccer field and running track," said King County Councilmember Larry Phillips.

Seattle Public Schools and Friends of Salmon Bay School were the recipients of a $45,000 Youth Sports Facility Grant (YSFG) award given by the King County Parks and Recreation Division, which contributed to the construction of the new field.

The YSFG program has awarded more than $7 million in grants and contributed to over 200 new or renovated athletic facilities since 1993. The YSFG program is a model for capital planning and development through partnerships, a major component of the Park Division's business plan.

King County Parks will be accepting YSFG applications beginning in March 2006. To download an application, go to http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/ysports/ysports.htm. If you would like additional information, please contact Butch Lovelace at 206-263-6267 or e-mail at butch.lovelace@kingcounty.gov.

King County manages 25,389 acres of parks, pools, open space, natural land and trails. This includes 68 baseball fields, 61 soccer fields, four pools, 88 picnic areas, 34 playgrounds, 27 tennis courts, 13 boat launch sites, more than 175 miles of trails, six fishing piers, four community gardens, a climbing rock, the area's best off leash dog park and the world class Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.