«
»

Why is the city fencing off the shoreline in Madison Park?

This block-long stretch on Lake Washington has been behind a fence for decades.
Those of you familiar with the Madison Park neighborhood may have noticed the odd, block-long swath of Lake Washington shoreline, one block north of the Madison Beach park, that consists simply of a grassy field cut off from the water by a high, aging and rusting cyclone fence and overgrown blackberry vines.  Have you ever wondered: “What’s up with that?”

Well, it’s something I’ve been contacting the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department over the years about, with the hope that the situation could be rectified and true public access to that valuable piece of shoreline could be restored — at least for passive uses.

In my most recent inquiry, I was informed that the aforementioned fencing was put in place as early as the 1940′s in response to neighborhood safety concerns (in a previous response years ago I was told a child may have drowned at that location).  While I am saddened by any possible human tragedy that may have happened at that location in the distant past, the City’s action of fencing off the shoreline for generations to come is surely an example of excessive response.

I was also told recently that in 2003 the neighborhood was polled about whether they would prefer to see the fence removed, and apparently there was some objection.  Well, excuse me, but Lake Washington shoreline is a precious, very finite commodity and public ownership and use of any part of that commodity is not the sole province of the nearby neighbors.  All of us 600,000+ Seattleites who do not have the privilege of living on or near the water should have the right to enjoy what little public shoreline the City owns.

What I imagine has happened is that certain nearby neighbors are fearful that removing the fence would invite more intensive use of what is now practically a “ghost park,” leading to potentially greater noise, etc.  But frankly that is not a valid enough excuse for the City to leave this park in chains.

And if anyone tries to play the safety card again, all one needs to do is to point to the mile upon mile of unimpeded and unfenced (!) Lake Washington public shoreline in the southern half of the City (much of it in a very similar condition with a riprap bulkhead).  No fences or other impediments exist along any of that stretch of shoreline, and none should exist in Madison Park.

I’m not going to let this issue lie without continuing to push for the City to do the right thing.  If you agree, please contact Acting Parks and Recreation Superintendent Christopher Williams or Mayor Mike McGinn.

This entry was posted by Patrick Doherty on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011 at 11:29 am and is filed under Government, Neighborhoods, Parks and open space, Seattle lifestyle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

  • Anonymous

    That should absolutely be usable area!!

  • Parkman

    I visit this park almost everyday and have always been perplexed at the lack of water access. What a valuable piece of public waterfront that is so sorely underutilized. The Parks and Rec Department needs to rethink this one!

  • Penny Rich

    Let the park free

  • Joe Jacoby

    I wouldn’t make to many waves. Mayor McSchwyn will probably open it up for bicycle parking only.!!!!!

  • Benjamin Lukoff

    The shoreline should definitely be opened up here. Same goes for all other shoreline street ends in the city.

  • Matt the Engineer

    Last I heard the Parks Dept. was having trouble finding space in the city for new parks, which was one reason Bell St. is being turned into half-street half-park. Not only should this be a park, I think we should rebuild it and turn it into a recreational amenity.

  • ShowMeTheMoney

    Go Patrick! Having lived in Madison Park for many years [int the past] I asked the same question many times and never got a decent answer. It makes no sense – this should be publicly accessible waterfront. Get ‘em!

  • John Kearns

    What a shame that the tax payers of this city cannot access public areas.

  • Phil Brown

    I used to go to this park 40 years ago and even as a child I was perplexed as to why a fence was blocking the lake. Truly a waste of valuable public shoreline.

  • Former Madison Park Resident

    My husband and I used to live in the area and we’d climb over the fence to pick blackberries every year. This is arguably far more dangerous than just having a bulkhead. The park also used to be used by those of us with dogs, and it was a great place for dogs to run. This ended several years ago, so now the park is essentially never used. I hope your persistence results in a new direction for this under-utilized gem.

  • http://na Joe

    Great idea! – If you could tone down your rhetoric regarding bourgeois privilege and the rights of the proletariat then the regular folks just might listen.

  • http://www.madisonparkblogger.com Bryan Tagas

    The City is looking into this issue, which has been covered on the Madison Park Website (www.madisonparkblogger.com) and will be the subject of a posting on SeattlePI.com as well.

  • http://greenroomdecor.com David

    Open it up!!! It’s about time. Having another beachhead in Madison Park will make the area a more desirable place to live and play. Guess what that does for business and home owners?

  • Isaac Molitch

    This would be a great spot for a combined canoe/kayak launch- and swim entry/exit.
    Secondly, many of the elderly in the direct vicinity may enjoy a bocce ball court!

  • Carmel Pope

    Well done Patrick. Let’s work to open up this Park for the Public’s use. A beautiful spot to share with all.

  • Auggie

    My understanding is that “North Park” has a giant storm sewer outlet pipe that dumps storm sewer water at this location. The pipe is considered an “attractive nuisance” and this is why it is a fenced park.
    The concern is twofold: 1) someone can swim into the pipe and make it into the City’s storm sewer system which is dangerous if we have rain and 2) sewage is occasionally diverted into the storm sewer system when capacity is too great in the sanitary sewer pipes causing health concerns for swimmers if this beach was open for water access.

  • Patrick Doherty

    Ok, folks. If you agree that this park should be unchained, you might want to consider joining me on Nov 3 at 7:00pm in addressing the Parks Board about this issue. I’m heartened to see that this second attempt is finding some resonance among Parks Dept staff, Boardmembers and City Councilmembers, but there is definitely a very vocal and increasingly large phalanx of opposition to the proposal. I was just asked by the Madison Park Times reporter, in my opinion, why there was such opposition, and all I can could say was: 1) folks oppose change in general, and 2) in particular, the folks who live adjacent to this park are probably afraid that opening it up will somehow transform it into another boisterous, rowdy Madison Beach. But I believe those fears are mislaid. This will never be an active “beach” due to the nature of the riprapped shoreline here, but passive enjoyment of the park, proximity to and unimpeded visual acess to the water, with potential kayak/canoe access, would likely be the most that would occur there. I believe it would become a beautiful, passive waterfront asset that would not disrupt the nearby residences in the least. Please consider joining me on Nov 3 at 7:00 pm at the Parks Dept Headquarters at Denny Park otherwise I think I’ll be very much drowned out by the opposition!

  • http://sonja.richter@gmail.com Sonja Richter

    I was at the hearing 11/3 and support removing the fence. Too bad there were only 7 of us supporting removal and 60 + of Madison Park folks, who, by the way, chartered a bus (Chinook Charter Services at $450 for 4 hours) to make sure the meeting was packed! People should e-mail the Parks Board of Commissioners ASAP and well before the next meeting of the Board Dec. 8th to support removal of the fence and thus more lake access for every one- send e-mail to
    sandy.brooks@seattle.gov to it NOW!!!

  • Pingback: SeattleScape » Blog Archive » City to remove Madison Park fence