[Full disclosure: Josh is an elected representative of the Capitol Hill Community Council and an active member in the John Street Enhancement Project]

Last month, the Capitol Hill Community Council began a campaign to implement a bold plan for the Capitol Hill section of the First Hill streetcar.  While this progressive proposal has garnered some publicity in recent weeks, it is important to note that the group has also been working on some less grand, but just as exciting, projects as well.

Last week CHCC officially applied for the Seattle Parks Opportunity Fund to enhance the streetscape along John St. adjacent to the future Unpaving Paradise P-Patch and soon-to-be-named park.

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Bioswale by SvR Design

The John St. Enhancement Project, led by community activist Chris Hoffman, was developed to improve the pedestrian experience along John St. between Olive Way and Summit and to better connect the Olive Way commercial district to the future P-Patch and Park. The plan calls for a narrowed street, limiting traffic to eastbound only, and designating the street a festival street so that it can easily be closed down for community events. Parking on the northern side of the street would be replaced by a ten-foot-wide bioswale and an improved sidewalk that incorporates community artwork. The entire project is estimated to cost between $200,000 and $300,000, much less than the $1.5 million limit for project applicants.

The Opportunity Fund is part of the 2008 Parks and Greenspace Levy which provided $146 million for Seattle park space. In addition to the Acquisition and Development funds, the Opportunity Fund provides $15 million “solely to community initiated park projects”. The first step in the Opportunity fund application process was the Letter of Intent, due February 1st. Project ideas are then developed and a full application is due on April 2nd. Parks will review all applicants and make funding recommendations in late 2010 with implementation beginning in January 2011.