Improvements complete at Benefit Park in South Beacon Hill

2005 Archived News

A tremendous improvement project to make Benefit Park on South Beacon Hill safe and more inviting to the community is complete! All are invited to celebrate the park dedication and grand opening on May 5, 5:05 p.m. at Benefit Park, located at 9320 38th Avenue South.

Community group Friends of Benefit Park, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Parks Foundation, and King County will dedicate the newly renovated park,, which includes a brand new play area, beautiful new gardens and a central plaza, and new walking paths.

In 2004 King County Parks awarded Parks and the Seattle Parks Foundation a $28,000 Youth Sports Facility Grant to construct a new playground. Neighbors, Parks and the Parks Foundation have worked side-by-side since 2001 to create a new design that truly transforms the park.

'With the recently completed renovation of Benefit Park, our South Beacon Hill neighborhood now has a beautiful and safe community gathering place, with quality play options for people of all ages,' said Chris Morrow of Friends of Benefit Park.

Improvements include the leveling and replacement of the basketball court asphalt and upgrades to the children's play area, including the addition of new swings. The project also removed fencing around the park's perimeter and a wall behind a shelter, making the park more open and visible and resulting in a safer park setting. Unwanted vegetation was also removed and the landscaping prepared for new plantings.

King County’s Youth Sports Facility Grant has awarded 38 grants totaling $1,326,914 since 2004. The Youth Sports Facility Grant is a matching grant program that seeks partners interested in building or renovating youth sports facilities. King County Parks is now accepting applications for its June 24, 2005 deadline. For more information on the YSFG program, please call 206-263-6267 or visit the Web site at http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/ysports/ysports.htm.

Call Justin Hellier at Seattle Parks Foundation, 206-332-9900, ext. 13, or visit www.seattleparksfoundation.org for more information about the park or its grand opening.