The park planned for 16th and Howell is a similar project to the Summit & John effort — both are planned park/p-patch spaces and both had budget issues. But only one of them is getting a big injection of cash. We reported recently about the park at Summit & John getting $150,000 from the parks levy to complete its design and get on track to begin construction by the end of summer.

So where does that leave the 16th and Howell project that wasn’t named in this year’s levy projects? We asked parks department project manager Virginia Hassinger about the status of the planned open space. Her e-mail:

Design work is 95% complete. We plan to advertise the construction contract in July 2009! The final budgeted project includes basic park elements such as grading, lawn, pathway, plaza, steps, etc. There is not funding in the project to construct the trellis shown in the schematic design, nor to install all of the site furniture (picnic tables, BBQs, benches, bike racks, etc) and the art feature. We will complete design drawings for all the elements (including the trellis), so that the plans are ready if and when funding is available. We do plan to include the site furniture as contract bid additives which will be included in the upcoming construction contract as budget allows.

 

A Friends of Capitol Hill Park group has formed to support the park and build community. A  group of neighbors is also working with Department of Neighborhoods to develop a community garden on the site.

 

We plan to complete construction by year end.

We checked the Friends of Capitol Hill Park Web site to see what’s new with the neighborhood group Virginia mentioned and have dropped them an e-mail to find out how people in the community can get involved in their effort. Given that the park abuts the First Church townhouse project, seems like there should be some well-financed community interest in park and p-patch progress.