Miller Playfield Inauguration Update: field users to be told about parking lot

Many Nova and SBOC families and students, and a few Miller

residents, gathered at Miller on Saturday Sept. 19th, and enjoyed watching lacrosse and soccer demonstrations while dining on the remarkable and delicious selection of potluck dishes that they had brought. The meal finished with a variety of flavors of ice-cream donated by Bluebird Ice Cream and Tearoom (I'm still not convinced by the beer-flavored ice-cream, even if it is Elysian Porter).

A note from (guest of honor) Councilmember Rasmussen, to the Parks Department:

Saturday evening I attend the celebration of the completion of the Miller Playfield. It was well attended and the community is very happy with the results. Several people wanted me to know how helpful Karen O'Connor was in the success of the event.

One area where they need help is with the amount of on street parking that impacts the neighborhood. They asked if the Parks Department would encourage the teams and other people or groups who use the community center and especially the athletic fields to use the parking lot that is between the school and the community center.

Would you be able to develop signs or provide notice to people that the parking is available and encouraged there?

Thanks very much.

Tom Rasmussen

I replied:

I second Councilmember Rasmussen's thanks to Karen O' Conner and would add that Ted Holden, the projec

t manager for th e field replacement, was a joy to work with and was very diligent.

Directing field patrons to the lower parking lot: I attach a specimen map I made a while ago (at end). I'd be happy to aid

in the design of an official map to distribute to teams and post on Parks websites, and would suggest that Parks require teams to distribute either the maps or

links to a Parks website.

I would further suggest that SDOT post brown directional signs to point out the way to the parking lot: the attached map makes good locations obvious.

Many thanks again, both for the lovely new playfield, and for last Saturday's celebration.

And many thanks to Councilmember Rasmussen for taking the time on a Saturday evening to attend the event.

The Parks Department has agreed to implement many of our suggestions:

September 23, 2009

Dear Mr. Taylor and Councilmember Rasmussen:

Superintendent Gallagher asked me to respond to your email about the parking impact at Miller Playfield. It is exciting to hear that Miller Playfield Project was such a great success and I thank you for your continued support for Miller Community Center and Playfield.

I have asked Dennis Cook, Citywide Athletics Manager, to compose a letter to be sent immediately to current Miller Playfield users to direct them to the parking lot off 20th and E Republican St., adjacent to the west of Meany Middle School and east of Miller Community Center. That letter will also be sent with all new field permits so field users know in advance where to park to help mitigate the parking impacts. Also, we will ask the larger athletic organizations to post the Miller Playfield parking instructions on their websites. Dennis will work with the Athletic Field Coordinators to plan regular meetings with user groups to explain

to them the importance of parking in the assigned parking lot. We will also look into possibly developing signs or maps to help direct Miller Playfield users know where to park.

Other athletic fields have experienced similar parking problems and we have, working with the user groups, gotten the parking situation under control. It will take the support of all involved to make the parking a success, but I am confident the field users want to be good neighbors

If you have further questions or concerns please contact me at christopher.williams@seattle.gov or 206-684-4136.

Sincerely,

Christopher Williams

Deputy Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation

cc: John Bates, Athletic Field Scheduler, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Dennis Cook, Citywide Athletics Manager, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Sue Goodwin, Recreation Division Director, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Raft Hollingsworth, Athletic Field Coordinator, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Christopher M. Williams
Deputy Superintendent/Chief of StaffSeattle Parks and Recreation
(206) 684-4136 Office
(206) 233-7023 Fax
christopher.williams@seattle.gov

I'm sure you'll join me in thanking the Parks Department for the elegant new playfield, and for the ongoing efforts to make it work for everyone.