A favorite place for many young adults, Belltown has always offered great options for a night out in Seattle. With a growing number of residents, the city is making improvements to enhance the neighborhood’s community attributes. Seattle Parks and Recreation will implement two projects that will enhance the neighborhood for residents and families.

Seattle Parks and Recreation is working on two projects for the Belltown community that will have a significant impact on the neighborhood: Bell Street Park and Belltown Community Center. Parks staff will provide project updates at the “Best of Belltown” event on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Crocodile Café, 2200 2nd Ave. 

The Bell Street Park will transform Bell Street from 5th Avenue to 1st Avenue into a 17,000-square-foot linear street park. This project is funded by the Parks and Green Spaces Levy and will feature enhanced landscaping, state-of-the-art stormwater management, and pedestrian and bike friendly curbless construction. Parks is currently working to get Seattle Department of Transportation Street Improvement permit approval.

The new community center, funded by the Community Center Levy, will fulfill a commitment from the city to provide an important gathering and learning facility for the Belltown neighborhood. The intent of this project consists of leasing a 6,000-square-foot space and partnering with an independent operator for community programming. Parks is currently in the design phase and lease negotiations.

The “Best of Belltown” event, sponsored by the Belltown Business Association, highlights positive news and happenings in Belltown. The park update will include a construction schedule and community center target opening date.

For more information on the community center, please visit the website or contact Susanne Rockwell, Project Manager, at 206-684-9286 or susanne.rockwell@seattle.gov.

For more information on Bell Street Park, please visit the website or contact Patrick Donohue, Project Manager, at 206-684-9286, or email him at patrick.donohue@seattle.gov.