Friends of Athletic Fields (FAF) is busy keeping up with the many activities and meetings associated with active recreational facilities around the Puget Sound region and state-wide. Here are some of the issues that have been our recent focus:

Seattle Budget: It's that time of year again: Seattle City Council is adjusting the Mayor's proposed 2012 budget; be on the lookout! Haven't seen any surprises yet this year (no fee increases planned) and the Parks Dept has mostly been spared harmful cuts (probably because it got whacked so much last year) but still is losing positions in planning and management since a lot of projects have been designed and constructed already. You missed the first public hearing but there is another one on October 26th if you want to let Councilmembers know what you think about how they changed fees last year, how the budget process works for you, etc. You can always submit comments electronically too.

Everything here: http://www.seattle.gov/council/budget/

Seattle City Council Candidate Questionnaire: We've started receiving responses back from Council candidates; five positions will be on the November ballot. See Current Issues for the responses we've received to date.

Parks & Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund 2012!!  The P&GS Levy Oversight Committee began discussions at their September meeting about implementation of the next round of the Opportunity Fund. They are considering revisions to the selection criteria; public meeting this month (October 2011) - see levy website for more info:

If you have an athletic field upgrade project in the works or been thinking about it and want funding, NOW is the time to move things forward. Initial letters of interest may be due as soon as February 2012. If you want the Oversight Committee to reconsider the criteria that led to active recreation getting very poor rankings in 2010, send them your comments - before it's too late.

Adult League Taxes: We tried but the temptation was too great for WA legislators to pass up imposing "new" taxes on adult recreational leagues during the 2010-2011 session. Senate Bill 5422 that would have allowed exemptions for this sales tax never made it out of committee despite the valiant efforts of the Washington Recreation and Parks Association (WRPA) - thanks for trying Doug Levy. Most importantly, adult leagues are supposed to be collecting this sales tax and a new B&O tax for submission to the state. Seattle Parks does not have anything to do with this. Check here for details:

Seattle Parks Funding: The Seattle Parks Foundation issued a report earlier this year called Sustaining Seattle Parks on possible future funding options for the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department. They have been following up that effort working on final recommendations; hoping to be issued by the end of 2011. Given the recent downturn in the economy and the low priority that parks departments typically receive from government, some greater assurance is needed that parks will have the ongoing funding for proper care.

SPF Survey here: http://www.seattleparksfoundation.org/

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• Maple Leaf Reservoir Lid Design. Construction of the buried reservoir is ongoing with major progress. The last Maple Leaf Reservoir Lid design meeting was held on June 16, 2010 with presentation of the preferred concept that includes a large open grass meadow on top of the lid and improvements to the existing athletic fields on the south side. Seattle Parks and Berger Associates have moved into design development phase when construction documents will be developed thru end of 2012. Seattle Parks is focusing on developing the space being created on the lid and is not providing reassurance on funding being available for improving the athletic fields. If this concerns you (as it does FAF), send your feedback to Parks' project manager Kim Baldwin (kim.baldwin@seattle.gov). Good summary of the process and concepts at the Maple Leaf Community Council website: Maple Leaf CC Reservoir Lid Design Concepts.

• West Seattle Reservoir Lid (Westcrest Park) Design. Construction of the buried reservoir is ongoing with major progress. The last West Seattle Reservoir Lid design meeting was held on June 26, 2010 with presentation of the preferred concept that includes a large open grass meadow on top of the lid. The design for this project is ongoing with construction start scheduled for late 2011-Spring 2012. Feel free to provide any feedback to Parks' project manager Virginia Hassinger (virginia.hassinger@seattle.gov).

• Jefferson Playfield Upgrade, Beacon Hill

  Jefferson Playfield adjacent to Asa Mercer Middle School is being upgraded as part of Jefferson Park Phase 2 to include synthetic turf and lights. Construction is ongoing with sub-base down and lights already installed. This multi-use field will accommodate soccer, football, ultimate, lacrosse, and baseball and include a track along the west side. This improvement project providing for year-round play on a high quality surface will be a major benefit to the Beacon Hill community.

We are active in many community and municipal organizations including Seattle Parks' Sportsfield Review Committee (SRC), Seattle Sports Advisory Council (SSAC), and the Parks Levy Oversight Committee. We do all this while endeavoring to keep up with our own sports activities both as players and coaches. Please take whatever time you can to join us in helping the active recreation community improve the quality and quantity of the athletic fields available to both youth and adults. Feel free to contact us via email if you have any questions or want to become more involved.

Check out the Current Issues page for the latest news.

(last updated October 15, 2011)