After years of pandemic-related delays, the A.B. Ernst Park Addition project is finally moving forward and the community is invited to learn more about the updated plans at an open house next Tuesday, Sept. 30.
The Seattle Parks and Recreation project, which will expand the A.B. Ernst Park next to the library, has faced significant challenges since its original timeline was disrupted in 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the City of Seattle had to redirect resources to essential services, putting many capital projects – including this park expansion – on indefinite hold.
The project received funding when money was secured through the Seattle Park District’s 2023-2028 cycle, with $1.9 million allocated for planning, design, permitting, and construction.
Unfortunately, the years-long pause created unexpected complications that the project team is working to address.Expired permits, updated city codes, and contaminated soil discovered on the expansion site all require the design to be reworked and re-permitted.
“Due to the nature of these new constraints, the site design is being revised to fit within the available funding,” according to the project website.
While waiting for the official expansion to move forward, Fremont volunteers have taken matters into their own hands, sprucing up the existing park space. The volunteer efforts underscore just how much neighbors want this small green space to get the attention it deserves, making the upcoming expansion all the more meaningful for the community.
Despite the challenges, the community-driven vision for the park addition remains largely intact. The updated design includes a small slide, new pathways, a gathering area, landscaping, and irrigation systems. The addition will expand the existing park westward onto the vacant lot that Seattle Parks purchased back in 2010.
The design reflects extensive community input gathered during the original planning process, when neighbors worked with SPR and the design team to create both the addition and accessibility upgrades to the existing park.
Join the Conversation
Community members are encouraged to attend the open house on Tuesday, September 30, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the park itself (723 N 35th Street). This will be an opportunity to see the updated plans, ask questions about the timeline, and provide input on the revised design.
The project team is currently working on re-permitting and completing construction documents, with hopes to break ground sometime between early 2026 and early 2027.