Project Update, 1/14/02, from Virginia Hassinger, Seattle Parks Department Project Manager:
 
In the past six months, we have completed planning and worked out project scope, schedule and budget issues for daylighting Ravenna Creek. Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR), with the help of community members, has selected the landscape firm of GAYNOR Inc to design the project within Ravenna Park. Meanwhile, Seattle Arts Commission has selected an artist (Mark Brest van Kempen) to work with us to reveal and celebrate Ravenna Creek.
 
SPR recently signed the design contract with GAYNOR Inc. and we are now ready to launch into the design phase of the project.
Right now, we are planning for 2-3 public design meeting to be held this spring.  I expect we will hold these meetings on a weeknight, although Saturdays are a possibility.   

Our tentative schedule is:
Public Workshop # 1 - Week of March 12
Public Workshop # 2 - April
Public Workshop # 3 (if needed) - May
 
In the next couple of weeks we will be preparing project information signs and press releases.  By month end, data gathering will be underway on site.  This will include wetland delineation, survey and soils borings. GAYNOR Inc.'s design team will spend much of February gathering and processing site information.  They will use this information, as well as input gathered at the public design workshops to develop the conceptual design for the creek daylighting. We plan to have the conceptual design completed in June 2002.
 
You may recall that we have plans from the Pro Parks levy to restore creek sections in both Ravenna and Cowen parks.  Due to schedule, funding and other project constraints we have split the segments into two projects.  The Cowen section will be managed with other Pro Parks improvements in Cowen, and addressed separately from the Ravenna segment (although of course we will maintain coordination between the two projects).  
 
The intent of the Ravenna project is to restore a segment of Ravenna Creek to the surface within Ravenna Park as an alternative to a proposed conveyance pipe (the creek is currently diverted into a sewer north of the Ravenna playfield). Restoration can provide a variety of associated benefits including increased native plantings, drainage, habitat and aesthetic opportunities. The daylighting design will accommodate current athletic field uses (youth baseball and youth soccer practice). The project will be coordinated with King County Department of Natural Resources Wastewater Division, which will build a conveyance pipe to carry creek waters from the edge of Ravenna to Lake Washington. We will also coordinate with Seattle Arts Commission, which has commissioned artwork to reveal and celebrate Ravenna Creek.