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72nd Ave. Planter Box Renovation Project

The planter boxes along the 72nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard corridors will be renovated to re-establish a more aesthetically pleasing landscape through the use of xeric, drought tolerant, and native plant material. These plantings will provide flowering and color throughout the growing season, which will beautify and rejuvenate this highly-traveled corridor.

Timeline: The renovations are estimated to start on April 8, 2024, with an estimated completion of Fall 2024.

Scope: 177 planter boxes along 72nd Avenue from Eliot Circle west to Meade Street and along Federal Boulevard from 74th Avenue to 72nd Avenue will be renovated. This will involve replacing dead plant material and empty planters with xeric plantings and a layer of rock mulch.

Traffic Impacts: Drivers can expect sporadic lane closures throughout the duration of the project. Please follow all directional signage in the area.

 

 

Sherwood Park: CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

The new playground equipment has been installed, and is now open!

The basketball courts at Sherwood have been resurfaced and are now open.

 

 

 

 

Trailside Park: CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE

Installation of the new playground equipment is finished and the park is now open.

 

 

 

 

 

Somerset Park: CONSTRUCTION UPDATE  

The new playground equipment has been installed and is now open!


 

 

 

City Park Tot Playground (Child Care): CONSTRUCTION UPDATE  

This project has been completed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kensington Park Totem Poles

10/30/24: Parks, Recreation, and Libraries staff have spent significant time evaluating whether or not the ageing totem poles at Kensington Park should be removed. The neighboring community members have expressed a fondness and connection to the totem poles and their importance to the identity of Kensington. Staff engaged with a national totem pole expert and historian from the Ketchikan Museums and representatives of the Wind River Arapaho Indian Nation and Reservation to get input and understand their perspectives. From those conversations, it was clear that producing new, replacement totems was not a culturally responsible option for the City to pursue.   

Staff then engaged with multiple structural engineers to gather opinions on whether the existing totems could be preserved in their current form. Those conversations yielded different approaches to stabilization. Staff then analyzed the approaches for the most cost-effective approach that ensures safety. As a result, the team has arrived at a suitable approach and are now contracted with a structural engineer for the project. Currently, the project is planned to be completed by summer 2025. As details of construction become available, they will be shared through the Parks, Recreation, and Libraries communication channels. Staff is also working with the aforementioned experts to develop interpretive signage that will provide more information on authentic totem poles, their use and significance to First Nations of North America.