City Manager Kamuron Gurol gives some kids a spin on the new playground equipment.

Story & Photos by Scott SchaeferOn Wednesday (July 22), City of Burien leadership – along with officials from around the region – celebrated the newly-renovated Dottie Harper Park Playground, as well as a new roof on the Burien Community Center. On hand to celebrate were Michael Lafreniere, Parks Director, Mayor Lucy Krakowiak, Jack Peters, Director, Region 10, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Mark Ellerbrook, Manager, King County Regional Housing & Community Development, Steve Roerm, Parks Development & Operations Manager, Councilmember Nancy Tosta and about 20 or so kids from the nearby ‘From Roots to Wings’ daycare center. A ribbon was cut, and as if on cue, a bunch of excited kids ran out and started playing, as evidenced in this video: [youtube]https://youtu.be/O7eUX6_I3GM[/youtube] The two projects came about through a partnership between the City of Burien and King County Community Development Block Grant Program. Both were funded through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City of Burien. Burien’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, adopted in February 2012, had identified this playground as being in need of replacement. Safety and accessibility standards for playgrounds have evolved over the years, and the PaRCS Department has sought to update the City’s various playgrounds as resources become available. In 2013, the Burien City Council authorized the upgrades to this playground and added it to the City’s Park & General Government Capital Improvement Program. At the same time, PaRCS staff began exploring the potential for grant funding, and focused on a traditional, competitive source for such projects: the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Administered by King County, the CDBG grant program provides funding for areas that meet certain income characteristics. The project was selected and the City was awarded a $195,000 grant. The City also allocated $10,000 of City funds for the improvements. The new playground was designed by a local firm, LA Studio, LLC and constructed by Sundstrom, Inc. The new playground provides several climbing rocks, spinner, slide and swings: P1100896P1100875P1100872P1100879P1100884
P1110034
Michael Lafreniere, Parks Director.
P1100986
Mayor Lucy Krakowiak.
P1110028
Jack Peters, Region 10, US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.
P1110043
Mark Ellenbrook, Manager, King County Regional Housing & Community Development.
P1110077
Steve Roemer, Parks Development & Operations Manager.
]]>

Since 2007, The B-Town Blog is Burien’s multiple award-winning hyperlocal news/events website dedicated to independent journalism.

6 replies on “PHOTOS/VIDEO: Newly-renovated Playground opens at Dottie Harper Park”

  1. Are they going to do something about the drug activity in this park. I have seen parents and children in the park and then outrageous doping and drinking by vagrant youth who hang out between here, the City Hall Plaza and the notorious Burien Transit Center Drug Mart? The police are always heading to White Center and provide little or no observation of this drinking and drug center… The City Manager and Mayor should visit during the drinking drug activity not just for a photo op…shame on you! What a waste of money…I would never take my family to this notorious “needle” Park….

    1. Yes, it’s great that the city invested in this park that hardly anyone uses. For the reasons you mention above, most parents would never take their kids here due to the overt drug use and public drunkeness.
      Perhaps the city can severely crack down on the illicit activity that occurs in this park, then maybe parents will feel more comfortable about letting their kids play here.

  2. I love the new park and i love Burien. We are going to take our parks back from criminal activity! See…and be seen!!! Let’s all make our open spaces welcoming for our citizens to use. If law abiding Burienites are frequenting the parks, those of questionable character will stay away.

  3. To Roadsmith-The Mayor, the City Manager and Council members Armstrong, Edgar and Wagner have been working hard to get the parks cleaned up and safe. But the Council members Tosta, Berkowitz and Robison have been fighting the clean up. At the last Council meeting, Tosta, Berkowitz and Robison tried to push through open camping of all types to happen in the parks and all public owned places in the city. They also wanted to use the municipal parking lots for camping. Those would make the city a free for all location for all drug users, drunks, felons, prostitutes and the homeless to camp out everywhere in the city. That would include the public Right of Ways in your neighborhood. Luckily Lucy K., Edgar, Armstrong and Wagner voted against it.
    Also Tosta, Berkowitz and Robison wanted the city to issue gift cards to the homeless to go to businesses that sold liquor and cigs. They said it would be okay with them if the homeless used Burien taxpayer dollars and to buy booze and cigs rather than food. Watch out who you vote for in this next election. Berkowitz has already announced who she wants you to vote for because they have a like mind to hers. Avoid voting for Holli Giffin, Jon Scherer and Austin Bell.

Comments are closed.