Seattle Press on Line - Hundreds of Good Turns Bring a New Park to Eastlake

Hundreds of Good Turns Bring a New Park to Eastlake

Joining in to cut the ribbon opening Good Turn Park are Chris Leman, Mayor Paul Schell, Owen Rees, President of the Eastlake Community Council and Cory Preston.

Oct 04, 2000 -- An engraved granite boulder in Good Turn park memorializes Homer Bergren and Jim Nordstrom, two Eastlake business owners, both now deceased, who put up the first $50,000 to build a park on an out-of-the-way, unused piece of land on the Lake Union shore.

The two men owned a boatyard adjacent to the property.

Last week Mayor Paul Schell and other city officials and dozens of cheering Eastlake residents gathered for the opening and dedication of the new neighborhood park.

Eastlake Community Council member Chris Leman said, "In other neighborhoods, the shoreline property owners and the neighborhood residents are at each others throats, but here, the business owners were the impetus to get the park started."

The community contributed over $65,000 in cash and volunteer work to make the park a reality, Leman said.

The City's share of the cost was less than $15,000, while the park was built mainly with more than $100,000 in donations from 73 individuals, 24 businesses, nine non-profit groups, and four city and federal agencies. Donating businesses included six nurseries, six construction or engineering firms, four landscape architecture firms, and four construction materials supply companies.

"The city only had to put in $1 for every $8 in contributions, one of the best ratios you'll find anywhere," said Leman.

The park expansion was a joint project of the Eastlake Community Council and the Olmsted-Fairview Park Commission. Both are voluntary non-profit organizations located in the Eastlake neighborhood.

Bergren chose the name, which refers to the Boy Scout slogan, "Do a good turn daily." The park is entirely on right-of-way owned by the Seattle Transportation Department (SEATRAN). The park is located at 3149 Fairview Avenue E. (Martin street-end at Lake Union).

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