A. B. Ernst Park Addition
Updated: February 3, 2025
Early 2025
In the summer of 2020, the City of Seattle turned its focus on essential functions to address the pandemic and economic crisis, which required a significant reprioritization of resources. Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) suspended many capital projects including the development of the A. B. Ernst Park Addition site. In September 2022, the Seattle City Council, acting in their role as Seattle Park District Board, passed a new six-year funding plan for the 2023-2028 Park District cycle which includes funding for this project and many more.
The project was restarted at the end of 2024, with an intent to bid in mid-late 2025 and targets construction start in late 2025-early 2026. Unfortunately, with the project on pause for several years some issues must be newly addressed and readdressed on-site, creating impacts to the overall budget.
The park design was previously permitted before 2020, but the permits have since expired. Additionally, the stormwater and tree codes were updated while the project was on hold, and the full project requires redesign before re-permitting. A small pocket of contaminated soil was also confirmed on the expansion parcel that requires additional permitting and care when handling.
Due to the nature of these new constraints, the site design is being revised to fit within the available funding.
Location
719 N 35th St Addition to A. B. Ernst Park, 723 N 35th St, 98103
Budget
$1.2 million which includes additional funding for the re-permitting effort.
Schedule
Re-permitting and Construction Documents Completion: Fall 2025
Construction start: Late 2025/Early 2026
Project Description
In December 2010, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) purchased the vacant 0.10-acre lot immediately west of the park. Subsequently, SPR and the design team worked with the community to integrate the park addition and develop both design and accessibility upgrades.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the public process. With input from the community the design below was developed and includes a small slide, pathway, gathering area, landscaping and irrigation. View the design with proposed play elements here.
A. B. Ernst Site Plan
Community Participation
To honor the previous planning efforts and the time and input expended for this park design by the community members, SPR's team is planning to reach out to the community groups with project updates as soon as they are available.
Open House and Input Opportunity 6/26/2016
Public Meeting 8/16/2016
Public Meeting and Open House 10/24/2016