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Join the Seattle Parks for All Campaign, and help pass Seattle Proposition 2 — the Parks and Green Spaces Levy

As you may know the Pro Parks Levy is expiring at the end of the year. Over the past 8 years, the levy supported over 70 park development projects many of which were led by landscape architects. The passing of the new levy is an important issue that we all need to rally behind. It is for this reason that I ask you to join the Seattle Parks for All Campaign, and help pass Seattle Proposition 2 — the Parks and Green Spaces Levy.

As landscape architects, we need to support this levy for a number of reasons. But the most important may be that as our city grows and becomes denser, it is important to continue to invest in our parks and green spaces to protect our quality of life and provide for an active and healthy lifestyle for all of Seattle. Parks are where we meet our friends and neighbors, where our children play, our senior citizens walk, and our athletes perform. They entice us out of our homes and workplaces.

Investing in our parks for future generations to enjoy is good for our profession and our whole community. We have all enjoyed Green Lake, Seward Park, Lincoln Park and the Arboretum. We need to make similar investments as our own legacy for future generations.

Here are some of the projects contained in this levy:

• Improvements to 23 substandard playgrounds, currently out of compliance with federal safety standards

• 4 rebuilt playfields which will improve playing conditions and conserve water

• 3 new skateparks

• 3 new spray parks

• 2 off leash dog parks

• 6 million dollars for new parkland in our greenbelts/natural areas

• 24M to purchase park land our most densely populated neighborhoods

• 3 new parks on city owned reservoirs

• Improvements at major parks including the Arboretum, Jefferson, Magnuson, and the Children’s play garden

• New park development and improvements at 9 neighborhood parks

• 3 significant trail additions to Burke-Gilman Trail, West Duwamish Trail, and Bay to Shore Trail

• restored urban forest and stream corridors

• Improved access to our shorelines

• New and improved community food gardens

• $15M Opportunity Fund for community initiated park projects

For more information about the levy, go to www.seattleparksforall.org.

This levy is on the ballot because people across Seattle came together to renew the expiring Parks levy. This levy will only pass if we come together and let our friends and neighbors know that we need good parks for all of Seattle.

I ask you to do the following:

1. Join the campaign at http://keep.seattleparksforall.org/welcome.php - the campaign's online headquarters. Join the site and one of the online groups organizing to make the levy a reality. Work with others in your neighborhood to help spread the word at local events.

2. Come to the kickoff party, Friday, September 12th at 5:30pm, 8556 Dayton Avenue North.

3. Please donate to the campaign! https://www.upwardstech.net/seattleparks/.

4. Spread the word to your friends.