Project Status

Project Status November 2009

Welcome to the November update of the Concord Elementary Outdoor Project.

We have some more great news to share. Friends of Concord Outdoor were recommended for another sizeable grant - $70,000 from the King County Sports Facilities Grant Program. This puts our committed funds at over $163,000 so far with news of other additional grants pending. There seems to be a lot of interest and willingness to improve our little South Park community.

The scope of what we can accomplish with the help of these grants is limited to the energy and spirit of the people in this neighborhood to actually pull this off.

In order to receive committed funds, we need to show the project ‘beneficiaries’ support through donated time and project involvement. We will need lots of volunteers over the next few months and will need to show community support through donated hours, work day involvement, meeting attendance etc..

Recent Events

*We had our first work-day associated with the HandsOn Schools grant, which is funded by American Express, on Saturday September 19^th. We had 170 hardy people turn up in the driving rain and sink post brackets, weed, spread mulch, paint curbs. A huge thanks to everyone who turned up and helped, especially the SeattleWorks volunteers.

The next HandsON Schools workday is scheduled for Martin Luther King Day on Monday January 18^th
The third and final HandsOn School will be held during National Volunteer Week, April 18-24
If interested in helping making these 2 work-party days a success or ideas on projects we could add to the schedule – please e-mail concordplay@live.com

*Johnson-Southerland has completed 3 alternate concept designs which are available to review through this site. We have been surveying, holding review meetings and sharing design ideas with any and all interested groups. Your opportunity to comment on these designs expires on Tuesday November 9^th. You can provide input , commentary and suggestions through the following means:

Review designs on website and e-mail comments
If you are a school parent, look for the design review table at the upcoming Math Night on Thursday, Nov 4^th.
Attend the next South Park Neighborhood Association meeting on November 9^th at 7:00 pm at the Neighborhood Center ~ 8201 10th Ave South

Project Timeline

October 2009	Design input solicited through surveys, focus group walk-abouts, SME interviews, meetings… 3 alternate designs developed by Johnson-Southerland On-going Grant-writing activities
November 2009	3 alternates posted for input and review through: ConcordPlay.com website School atrium / hallway Presented to school community on Math Night (Nov 4^th ) Presented to Neighborhood community on SPNA monthly meeting (Nov 9^th) 50% design review closes for input on Weds Nov 10^th.
December 2009	90% unified design to be communicated to stakeholders Community meet & greet meeting to be held at Concord Elementary Library Unified plan presented Comments accepted Upcoming work party discussed
Jan 2010	2^nd HandsOn Schools work party held on Jan 18^th. Projects to include erecting kids art projects, planting, weeding, mural painting, grounds clean-up, seating bench installation… Unified plan presented to Department of Neighborhoods (DoN) Department of Neighborhoods large grant contracted King County Sports Facilities grant contracted
Feb – April 2010	Construction bids accepted Art installation bids accepted 3^rd and final HandsOn Schools Workday (week of April 14-18). Projects to include: mural, grounds upkeep, sod removal, planting, rain garden installation
Jun – Sept 2010	· Project Construction
September 2010	· Community celebration party

Concord Outdoor Renovation Project

Improving play for the South Park neighborhood