Jackson Park Trail (drum roll, please!)

Things are moving forward on the Jackson Park Trail design project:

1. We are ready to contract with the City of Seattle on the grant that we were awarded. The grant (along with matching donations and your volunteer time) will pay to hire a design consultant to hold community outreach sessions and develop a design for Jackson Park Trail.

2. We are ready to convene committees for the project and welcome you to join us as a member:

• Steering Committee: The role of the Steering Committee is to oversee the whole project, to work with the design firm, Seattle Parks and Recreation and Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, and to coordinate with the Hiring Committee and the Outreach Committee. Time commitment for the Steering Committee will be about 5 to 10 hours in August and September then about 10 to 15 hours in total (not per month) from October through March 2010. This time includes attendance at community meetings.
• Hiring Committee: The role of the Hiring Committee is to develop the request for proposal (with input from and final approval by Seattle Parks and Recreation), interview and then select the design firm. Time commitment for the Hiring Committee will be about 5 hours in August and September.
• Outreach Committee: The role of the Outreach Committee is to get word out to the community about our community meetings and about the project. Time commitment for the Outreach Committee will be about 5 hours in October and February (total, not per month).

3. Before we can publish the request for proposal for the design firm, we need to have all matching funds on hand so that we can show that we can pay the consultant. If you have pledged to donate to the project (and if you did not pledge before and wish you had!), now is the time to send in your donation. Donations should be written to “Seattle Parks Foundation” with Jackson Park Trail written in the memo field. Contributions are deductible for tax purposes. You can mail your check to:

Leslie Martin
Seattle Parks Foundation
860 Terry Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109-4330

We are looking forward to working with all of you on this project and to seeing the plan for Jackson Park Trail! If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know.