Friends of Discovery Park Annual Meeting to be held Saturday March 10, 2012 February 25, 2012 Retiring of the Colors The Army is having a Retiring of the Colors Ceremony at 10 AM on Saturday 2/25/12. It will take place at the Flag Pole on the Fort Lawton Army Property (i.e. NOT the Flag Pole inside the Park up by the big yellow houses.) Following the ceremony, there will be a Reception at the Daybreak Star Indian Center. Erroneous and mis-information has been published about this event. It does NOT involve Discovery Park (which has not been military property since 1972.) It does NOT involve the yellow houses (Officers Row and Montana Circle) which are owned by the Navy and Forest City. It does NOT involve the mothballed yellow buildings on the Parade Ground in the Park - these are part of Discovery Park. The Army property is located at the NE Corner of Discovery Park. Texas Way and Metro Rt 33 run through it from Government Way to the North Parking Lot of Discovery Park. It was a Reserve Base, but as of September 2011 the Army has move all their personnel elsewhere. Leisy Hall and Harvey Hall and the various garages are now mothballed. The "FLARC" building was sold to the Veterans Administration several years ago. This building is currently being remodeled for VA use. BUT the ARMY still OWNS and will continue to own and be responsible for the remainder of property - it is NOT being transferred to City ownership. (Contrary to what various media outlets have reported.) More information about this property: Ft Lawton BRAC As part of the activities this weekend, they will be firing their ceremonial cannons sometime between 9AM and 1PM both on Friday 2/24/12 to practice, and on Saturday 2/25/12 for the actual event. The Public is invited to Ceremony and the Reception that follows. The Army will also be providing bus tours through the Fort Lawton Landmark District. Therefore, you may see them driving through the Park in a circular route on Saturday.  West Point Treatment Plant Construction Update February 2012 October 2011 NEWS FLASH - Full-time Manager for Discovery Park Discovery Park will once again have a full-time Manager. Patti Petesch will be returning to Discovery Park :) :) :) Many will remember Patti from when she was our previous Park Manager until her position was eliminated and she was re-assigned. Now she is coming back, and we are absolutely thrilled !!! Landmarks Preservation Board finalizing Guidelines - we think After 5 years, the Landmarks Preservation Board held the FINAL Public Meeting on the Guidelines for the Fort Lawton Landmark District in Discovery Park. FoDP has been involved in this process since it began, but sadly, the LPB has failed to provide thoughtful consideration or discussion of any of our comments or suggestions. But, the LPB did not take a vote on 9/7/11 as scheduled - they postponed it until October. And October has come and gone, with still no further discussion, so we have no idea when a vote will come up again. Therefore comments for change are still welcome. FoDP is particularly unhappy with some of the positions that the Park Department has taken - wanting to have external lighting on the Parade Ground, and also wanting to allow decorations and signs on the Parade Ground and the Chapel Area - all in conflict with The Master Plan. Update 2/14/12 The LPB has released yet another DRAFT of the Guidelines after having it reviewed by the Law Department. Digital copies may be obtained from Karen Gordon, and the next deadline for comments is 2/28/12. LPB contact: Park Department contact: July 2011 - SPIF Money for Discovery Park $750,000 of SPIF money from a 1995 Fund has become available for Discovery Park. Kevin Stoops (DPR) has proposed that this money be spent on two projects: $500,000 to re-surfact the North Parking Lot $250,000 to re-route a broken water line around Montana Circle and Idaho Ave. The Citizens Oversight Committee for the West Point Settlement Fund has suggested the parking lot surface be replaced with a porous concrete product to reduce water runoff. We have been assured that the new parking lot surface will be environmentally friendly and "green" - and possibly involve some daylighting of waterways. Park Department contacts: Jan 2012 Capehart Restoration Planting is Now Underway Please see our webpage for the latest on this Project:  | IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS (for additional numbers, see CONTACTS in sidebar): *** Single Point Contact Person for Discovery Park to report Campers, Safety Concerns, Repairs Needed, ANY Park Issue good or bad, etc. Patti Petesch *** Criminal/Illegal Activity: Seattle Police Dept 911 *** West Point Sewage Treatment Plant to report Odors, Discharge, problems you encounter along the shoreline next to the Plant, etc. OR to schedule a Tour of the Plant: 206-263-3800 (24 hours) Dan Grenet To report a problem, please call immediately so any problem can be located in the Plant while it is still occurring. Area South of Old Nike Site Restored Feb 2012 The Conservation Corps has completed it's work on the area south of the old Nike Site. They removed the invasives (Blackberries and Scot's Broom) and hydro-seeded the area. Following the hydro-seeding, trees donated by Friends of Discovery Park were planted by volunteers.     Removal of Louisiana and Carolina Streets East of South Parking Lot - Nov 2011 The Conservation Corps is very quickly removing the remnants of Louisiana St and Carolina St in the 500 Area east of the South Parking Lot. This project is being paid for by interest earned on the West Point Settlement Fund account.    |