Pathways Park - Burke-Gilman Playground Renovation
Updated: June 5, 2024
Spring 2024
Pathways Park (previously known as Burke-Gilman Playground Park)
Please join us for ribbon cutting and community party on Saturday, June 8, 2024.
Event Day Tips:
Seattle Children’s Hospital is providing their Sand Point Learning Center parking lot just a mile up the road. They are donating the use of their employee shuttles and drivers to take people between the lot and park from 12:30-4:30. Thank you Seattle Children’s! *Please note the employee shuttles are not ADA accessible and do not have any medical equipment or staff onboard.
There are a small number of accessible parking spaces onsite. There is also a small lot in front the restrooms and we’re asking community to save those for people who may not have accessible parking passes, but would benefit from parking close.
All the parking spaces behind the apartments are reserved for residents so please be mindful of our community and their homes.
The bus #75 stops on Sand Point Way directly in front of the park at the corner of NE 52nd Street and Sand Point Way.
Walking or biking in from the Burke-Gilman trail are both great options.
Location
Pathways Park (Burke-Gilman Playground Park), 5201 Sand Point Way NE, 98105
Budget
The approximately $4.8 million project was funded through a combination of private and public contributions. These include but are not limited to the King County Parks Levy, REET I and Washington State Local Community Projects, and the Seattle Parks Foundation.
Please visit the Eli's Park Project website www.elispark.org for the most current information and to donate.
Schedule
Design: Summer 2018 - Spring 2022
Construction: Beginning Mid-April 2023
Completion: Spring 2024
Project Description
The purpose of this project is to renovate the Burke-Gilman Playground Park into a nature-based park for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. The upgrades are in response to community engagement efforts by Eli’s Park Project which highlighted the desire for a park that is welcoming and accessible to all abilities.
Here is the Illustrative Site Plan. The renovation includes improvements to the comfort station, parking, pedestrian lighting, storm water management, irrigation, new plantings, art elements, new play equipment, site furnishings, barbeques, bike racks and more.
As part of the renovation, the community wanted to ensure the park had a name that reflected the vision for this park, which was to create an accessible, inclusive, nature-based park space where people of all ages, abilities and identities can find play and peace.
The community approached Seattle Parks and Recreation in 2017. In 2018, they received a Neighborhood Matching Fund award from the Department of Neighborhoods for the purpose of renovating the park at Burke-Gilman Playground Park into a space that will provide access to nature and community for our diverse community.
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 May 27, 2021.
Download the DNS document for additional information
Download the Analysis and Decision of SPR
View the SEPA Environmental Checklist document here
Public Meetings for Eli's Park Project - A community initiated project
• Informational Flier
View the Playground Site Renovation Plan
Hear from Jesús Aguirre, Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation
In the news!
Seattle's new inclusive park to be made in memory of boy with down syndrome - KOMO News
Family wants to renovate park in memory of special toddler - King 5 News
All are welcome and wanted on our journey to design a park for all. The more diverse our interactions, the more inclusive our world can become. To receive notifications about upcoming meetings, please join the Eli's Park Project mailing list.