Be'er Sheva Park Improvements
Updated: April 25, 2023
Spring 2023
Seattle Parks and Recreation opened bids for this project and is working to award the construction contract. We co-hosted an event on April 1 to provide the community with an update on the park renovation plan and construction impacts. Thank you to everyone who attended and collaborated on the community art piece for the future park.
Rainier Beach’s 2012 Neighborhood plan surfaced a vision of a civic and commercial core that connects Rainier Beach Link Station to the shores of Lake Washington at Be’er Sheva Park. The Rainier Beach Link2Lake (RBL2L) Steering Committee was formed in 2016 to engage the community in realizing this vision, starting with Be’er Sheva Park improvements.
From 2017-2019 RBL2L facilitated a robust community engagement process to design and voice their vision for Be’er Sheva Park. Community design parties at community centers along with a dozen other events and online surveys provided ample space for the community to shape the park’s future. Through this inclusive and collaborative process, the Rainier Beach community finalized a design that includes improved waterfront access, an outdoor stage, safety features such as lighting along pedestrian walkways and in the parking lot, and basic amenities including grills, picnic tables, and seating. It is a vision that truly reflects the dreams, wishes, and needs of one of Seattle’s most diverse communities.
SiteWorkshop helped develop the schematic design and construction documents for each of the projects: Be’er Sheva Park In-Water & Be’er Sheva Park Upland. Seattle Parks and Recreation is supporting the community by managing the design, construction documentation, permitting, bidding, and phased construction. The design and project construction is a multi-phased approach. The first phase included a comfort station mural which was completed in June 2021 by youth, young adults, and community members.
Location
Be'er Sheva Park, 8650 55th Ave S, 98118
Budget
This is a community driven project with the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) providing $133,000 for completion of initial planning, design, and permitting. This is a public, private partnership. Rainier Beach Link2Lake and their fiscal sponsor, Seattle Parks Foundation, raised the funds for construction through advocacy and grant writing to reach the $2.5 million project goal. Additional donations and grants were received from: Seattle City Council allocation, Seattle Parks District, King County Waterworks, King County Flood Control District, Washington State Department of Commerce, Amazon, Miller Family Foundation, Cuyamaca Foundation, Satterberg, 4Culture, Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, Norcliffe Foundation and many individual donations. The project committee will continue neighborhood engagement throughout construction and beyond. Please donate to Be’er Sheva Link2Lake for continued stewardship and activation of this park. Please visit Donate to Be'er Sheva Lake Access to contribute through the Seattle Parks Foundation.
Schedule
Design Completion: Fall 2019 (upland phase); Fall 2021 (in-water phase)
Construction:
• Upland: Spring 2023 (all permits received)
• In-Water: Anticipated Fall 2023 (permit dependent)
Permits Pending for In-Water work:
• Pending - Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) from Washington State Fish & Wildlife
• Pending - Approval from the US Army Corp of Engineer
Project Description
Next phase includes two components:
Upland Work: The upland work includes improved waterfront access, new walkways and lighting, picnic tables, barbeques, covered picnic pavilion, fitness area, an outdoor cultural stage, and more! Construction documents for the upland phase of work are complete and construction permits were received October 2022. Funding is secured for the project and construction will start in spring 2023.
In-Water Work: The In-water phase includes fish habitat enhancement. The in-water phase of the project is underway and headed toward 90%
completion depending on permitting. All funding is secured for in-water work.
Anticipated Impact: Specific areas of the park will be closed during construction.
Community Participation
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) has determined that the project does not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. An environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required under RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c). This decision was made after review of a completed environmental checklist and other information on file with SPR. This information is available to the public on request. The Determination of Non-Significance was issued March 8, 2021
Download the DNS document for additional information
Download the Analysis and Decision of SPR
View the SEPA Environmental Checklist document here
View the DRAFT Shoreline Permit Application Figures document here
Download the meetings information post card and map here
Schematic Design Report - July 2018
Public Meeting #1 3/3/2018
Public Meeting #2 4/21/2018
Public Meeting #3 6/2/2018
Construction Launch Celebration Event 4/1/2023
- April 1, 2023 Event Poster
Translations of event information: Amharic; Oromo; Somali; Spanish; Tagalog; Tigrigna; Vietnamese
News Items Links