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South Park Action Agenda engages community,
bringing new neighborhood vision to life
In the past few years, the residents of South Park have seen tremendous changes. The main thoroughfare has been completely rebuilt. South Park welcomed the opening of its first library branch. And residents are noticing more open space and better drainage systems. These projects are all signs of revitalization in a community that has faced its share of challenges.
In 2005, the shooting of a 16-year-old boy left residents concerned about growing violence in the neighborhood. That summer, Mayor Greg Nickels stepped up efforts to build trust and partnerships in the South Park community. Beginning in 2006, community leaders, businesses, youth, non-profit organizations and the City of Seattle came together to develop the South Park Action Agenda.
The Agenda was an intensive community-driven effort with volunteers putting in more than a thousand hours of their time to develop short-term and long-term plans for their neighborhood. They envisioned South Park as a safe, diverse, pedestrian-friendly, clean, well-maintained community. They also started working toward a thriving retail core and neighborhoods with a sense of pride and stewardship.
With 3,000 residents, South Park is a geographically small and historically underserved community in South Seattle nestled between Burien and unincorporated King County. A large number of immigrants and people who speak English as a second language call South Park home. More than a third of residents are of Hispanic origin, making South Park one of Seattle's most diverse and historically interesting neighborhoods.
 Today, the goals of the South Park Action Agenda are becoming reality, one step at a time. Working together, the work of the neighborhood has become a model for other communities, inspiring residents to participate in city and grassroots efforts to improve neighborhoods.
Improving streets and sidewalks
 Investing in roads and infrastructure is major part of the South Park Action Agenda--an important step to revitalize and beautify the business district while improving mobility for freight, drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists.
In 2008, Mayor Greg Nickels kicked off a major street improvement project on 14th Avenue South in the South Park neighborhood. The $4.5 million project will upgrade all roadway features on 14th Avenue South for five blocks, from South Cloverdale Street to South Director Street—a heavily used thoroughfare in South Park.
"The 14th Avenue South project is a great example of the city working with a neighborhood to make transportation improvements that matter to the residents," said Mayor Nickels. "This work benefits all forms of transportation, but more importantly, it addresses the needs identified by the South Park community."
 The improvement work is the first major Bridging the Gap project to be constructed in the South Park neighborhood. The Seattle Department of Transportation is also installing new sidewalks and curb ramps, upgrading traffic signals, and enhancing street lighting.
The work improves drainage, completes the multi-use South Park Connector trail and includes 36 new street trees. The project also includes public art from local artist Gregory Fields. Ceramic tiles will be striped across sidewalks at 12 locations along the corridor.
Other Resources
14th Avenues S Improvements
Large Neighborhood Street Fund Projects
Fill in South Park Potholes
A new library
 For years, South Park lobbied for its own library. Students asked for a place to do their homework. Parents wanted a safe place for their kids to go after school and on the weekends.
Today, South Park has a new award-winning branch library, completed under the "Libraries for All" program. The 5,000 square-foot branch carries nearly 19,000 books and materials, with about a third of the collection in Spanish including bi-lingual children's materials and Spanish-language fiction and non-fiction.
Bi-lingual staff members are available to answer questions and help patrons. The branch has a large children's area, an alcove for teens, computers for the public and a study room.
"This is a day that has been far too long in coming," Nickels said on opening day. "This branch is a wonderful place for the South Park community to come together."
Other Resources
South Park Library
South Park Library Lights
Improving the South Park environment
 To build a healthy community, the South Park Action Agenda takes steps to improve the environment and reduce pollutants.
Marra Farms P-Patch: A joint venture between the community and City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods P-Patch program, this project gives neighbors access to planting and an opportunity to cultivate their own organic produce. Seattle Public Utilities and the Department of Neighborhoods completed an extensive drainage improvement project.
Cesar Chavez Park: This urban park has been revitalized and cleaned up, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy green space and public art.
Removing invasive plants: The Department of Parks and Recreation has replaced invasive plants with native shrubs and plants.
Urban Forest Management Plan: Trees planted along 14th Avenue are part of the city's overall goal to establish a 30% tree canopy within 30 years.
Other Resources
South Park Soil Rededication Project
Look Up Your New Garbage Collection Day
Bicycle Master Plan - Acrobat PDF
Plant a Tree
South Park Parks
- South Park Marra Farm
- Cesar Chavez Park
- South Park Playground
- Duwamish Waterway Park
- South Park Meadow
Youth development
 The Action Agenda engages South Park's young people with a wide range of activities including job training, the arts, volunteerism and recreation. Among the programs:
South Park Community Center's Late Night Program: Since 2007, the Center's Late Night Program has attracted youth looking for safe and fun activities, serving an average 77 teens each week. Workshops on super-8 filmmaking, animation filmmaking, game design, comic-book design, video game nights, sport leagues, cultural celebrations, digital photography and field trips are among the exciting and interactive social activities the Late Night Program has sponsored.
South Park Library: The library offers numerous educational and artistic programs, including open microphone forums, tutoring, college entrance exam preparation and employment opportunities.
Photo Voice: The one-year photography program partnered 14 high-risk youth with mentors. In addition to learning about the artistic qualities of photography, participants displayed their art at local venues, including community centers, museums and the South Park Library.
Other Resources
South Park Community Center
Mayor's Youth Council
South Park Information Center
 The South Park Information Center is a valuable resource and an example of the effectiveness of public-private partnerships. Funded in part by the city, the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle and the South Park Action Agenda Board run the center, reaching out to people who might otherwise feel cut off from the community.
A multi-lingual resource for many of South Park's immigrant population, the information center serves as a place where people who live and work in the neighborhood can connect with another other and obtain vital information. More than 400 people visit the information center each month.
Services include environmental education for homes and businesses, employment assistance, English as a second language classes, translation services, childcare and connections with programs and services with Seattle and King County.
Public safety
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) has partnered with residents, schools and reached out to at-risk youth, raising its profile and encouraging a meaningful dialogue within South Park.
Police expanded their block-watch programs in South Park, encouraging residents to actively participate in safeguarding their neighborhood. In addition, the department meets regularly with the Latino Advisory Council to identify concerns.
SPD established a South Park Truancy Program and hosts a series of gang-prevention workshops for the neighborhood's high-risk youth. The department also plans to increase emphasis patrols (bicycle, foot and cruiser) during the summer months, when children are out of school.
Other Resources
Southwest Precinct
Contact information
For more information about the South Park Action Agenda, please contact Andres Mantilla, Community Outreach Liaison at:
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