I know many of you have been hoping to have table tennis start up again at Green Lake Community Center. While there have been discussions regarding opening, there is still no word as to when and how it will happen. Until then, consider playing at the Chinatown/ID Community Center. They have recently expanded their hours. Information is at  https://parkways.seattle.gov/2021/04/17/drop-in-table-tennis-pilot-international-district/. (I love that their picture is of Chong coaching at Green Lake!) Besides the hours listed at that link, there are free over-50 slots Tues/Thurs 3-5pm, and Saturday 1-4:30 pm. To sign up, go to: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/seattle/daycare/program/410?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true&online=true You will be required enroll.

Our player's organization, the GLTTC, may be playing a greater role in managing the table tennis program at Green Lake. It is important that we continue to advocate for ourselves. One way to do this right now is to go to the Seattle Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan Implementation, ONLINE OPEN HOUSE: https://sprstrategicplan.infocommunity.org/. You must do this before October 13. Click "Go to Next Page" three times to the "Share Your Ideas" page. Under the heading, "What are you or your family most excited about as we move toward reopening ...?", check "Other" and enter "Table tennis". There are over 300 people on this email list. If half of you do this, it is sure to be noticed.

The City of Seattle is moving forward with plans for a new Green Lake Community Center, though this is still years off. I've pasted an article from the Seattle DJC below.

-- Kim

 

 

September 21, 2021

New community center at Green Lake entering into schematic design phase

By EMMA HINCHLIFFE
A/E Editor

Rendering by Miller Hull Partnership
 

 

Seattle Parks and Recreation is in the final phase of planning for the replacement of the community center and pool at Green Lake — one of the most trafficked parks in the city. Architecture firm Miller Hull Partnership and landscape architecture practice Berger Partnership are leading the redesign.

The plan is to build a new 90,000-square-foot, two-story community center at the site of the existing one. The new building will be three times the size of the current center but will maintain many of the original center's amenities, with new ones added.

The new center will have a large welcome hall that bisects the space. To one side of the hall there will be two swimming pools, a spa, locker rooms and a party room. To the other side, there will be a gym, play area, childcare space, public hygiene station and large activity space. The design would allow the gym and hygiene center to be used as a bad-weather homeless shelter in times of need. The second level will feature a versatile event space with lake views and a wraparound terrace along with a suite of dedicated activity rooms. There will also be a large outdoor “community porch” and promenade that faces the park's trail and swimming beach.

To the north of the building, there are plans for a nature-themed adventure playground, basketball courts, exercise equipment and bocce courts. Outdoor ping-pong tables are planned to the south and east. Most of the existing park amenities that neighbor the redevelopment area, such as tennis courts, playfields, a boathouse and swimming beach, will remain untouched. A sycamore walkway that leads to the current building will also remain untouched.

The conceptual designs were developed with the help of community input from three online open houses in 2020. Following the feedback, the project is now in phase two of its design phase. The project team will now begin schematic designs and identify project costs.

The team recently applied for landmark status for the existing center. It is expected that this will not be granted for an over 90-year-old property that, according to Seattle Parks and Recreation, is “at the end of its usable life.” SPR is currently working on a stabilization project for the center so it can be safely kept open before construction on the new one begins. In 2019, the department completed work that included a crucial roof repair, building electrical improvements, gym floor leveling and refinishing, and replacement of the pool pump. The current stabilization project is to replace the boilers and the air-handling system.

The Green Lake Community Center and Evans Pool is one of the oldest and most popular community centers in the city. It was built in 1928 and designed by E.R. Hoffman. The total cost for the new Green Lake Community Center is estimated at $100 million to $120 million. This would make it the most expensive community center to be built in the city's history. The city has already spent $1 million from real estate excise taxes to undertake the site analysis and begin design work. The remaining dollars to complete the design and construct the new center and pool have not yet been identified. The stabilization project will cost $750,000.

According to SPR's website the rest of the project schedule is to be determined. Miller Hull's website records an estimated completion date of 2026.