Ballard Commons Park

About

Ballard Commons Park features a skate bowl, water feature, engaging public art, relaxing seating areas and lawns and ADA accessible walkways. The park forms part of a new municipal center in Ballard, with a Seattle Public Library branch and Neighborhood Service Center.

Current Project

Ballard Commons Park Play Area Project

Construction for the play area project began in late August 2023. An east portion of the park along 22nd Ave. NW will be closed during construction. The Ballard Alliance worked with the Ballard community to envision a new play area within the existing park. The vision is to provide a new opportunity for year-round, active play for young children and their families. By creating a new play space, we anticipate creating a refreshed park environment that increases the use and enjoyment of this beautiful urban park. The project will include nautical themed play equipment, safety surfacing, seat walls, new park trees, and corresponding utility updates.

Ballard Alliance secured grant funding from the Seattle Office of Economic Development to begin a community engagement process and hire a landscape architecture firm, The West Studio, to assist in community outreach and conceptual design development. Additionally, a volunteer steering committee comprised of local Ballard residents and business owners was assembled to actively participate and promote the community outreach efforts. The West Studio consolidated the community outreach efforts and provided conceptual design recommendations to inform the design development process and ultimately the realization of a new play area within the park. Seattle Parks and Recreation has been working with the design consultant, MIG, to finalize the construction drawings and permitting requirements.

Budget

$1,000,000 was allocated for this project from the REET I Capital Fund in 2022. This allocation will cover the design, permitting, project management, and construction. The current construction estimate is $650,000.

Schedule 

Planning and Conceptual Design: October - December 2017
Construction Drawings and Permitting: January 2018 - February 2023
[was put on hold for COVID]
Construction: August 2023 - January 2024
Completion: Early 2024

For more information about the playground, please contact Sai Fang, Seattle Parks and Recreation project manager, at sai.fang@seattle.gov