Annual Garden Concert at Bradner Garden

Tiana found our flyer and asked for help in creating Bradner Garden's first outdoor concert. We brainstormed with her over the phone and told her about Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods' Small Sparks grant program. Tiana got the grant, found musicians, gathered neighbors, had posters and postcards made, then held a fantastic summer evening concert. She did a wonderful job of jumping into a first project. It was a thrill for us to take a tiny part in this first concert at Bradner Garden. Bradner Garden is a wonderfully mature P-Patch and neighborhood park that was overdue for such an honor. project website »

Pinehurst Pocket Park

On New Years Eve 2000, Jack's Friend Lorena talked about this project. That's how Jack knew where to begin when he found the property for Fremont Peak Park. Sharing knowledge and inspiration is invaluable. Jack wouldn't have known it was possible for mortals (no offense Lorena) to create a city park. That's why we started Urban Sparks and why we'll be forever grateful for Lorena's inspiration.

Pinehurst Pocket Park is a classic pocket park conceived of and brought to fruition by a small band of passionate neighbors, with the support of businesses, community organizations with public and private grants.

Mt. Baker Ridge Viewpoint

We have affection for this bold vision and excellent design. Back when our founder Jack Tomkinson started Fremont Peak Park, he met David Berger, who started the Mt. Baker Ridge Viewpoint Park, at a Pro Parks Levy open house. Jack offered to take a panoramic photo for David like the "million dollar photo" that Jack carried around for 4 years raising the money and awareness required to buy and build Fremont Peak Park. David did the same with his panoramic photo. Mt. Baker Ridge Viewpoint was one of the first projects that Jack helped with before Urban Sparks was created. project website »

Marra Farm

From their webpage: Marra Farm is 4-acres of historic preserved farmland tucked into the South Park neighborhood of Seattle. The Marra Family, Italian truck farmers, worked the land from the early 1900's until the 1970's, when they sold the land to King County. It is one of the last two remaining pieces of original agricultural land in the City.

Urban Sparks is the fiscal agent for 3 projects at Marra Farm. project website »

Bradner Garden

Bradner Garden is a gorgeous, mature P-Patch and Park that is the result of many years of amazing work led by a team of artists and gardeners. It has several unique buildings and structures that make it a must-see park if you're involved in creating a park or P-Patch. Bradner's point person, Joyce Moty, is an inspiration to many park activists and she shares her wisdom freely. She works tirelessly for parks, P-patches and the people who create them. She's even on the city's Skatepark Advisory Task Force. project website »

Belltown P-Patch and Cottage Park

This P-Patch and the adjacent Belltown Cottage Park are rich stories of reusing urban space. project website »

Danny Woo International Garden

This is a fascinating community garden for senior Asian gardeners. It has been the recipient of many University of Washington design/build projects including the ADA garden spaces and "One Heart-Mind One Spirit" wall build by Jack's nephew Jay. The garden is the center of a very strong community. project website »

Neighbors of the Troll, Traffic Calming

The Neighbors of the Troll are making pedestrian-friendly improvements around the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge, including a traffic circle, curb bulbs and wheel chair curb cuts in the spring of 2006. They are using a Seattle Department of neighborhoods' Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) large project grant, with Urban Sparks as their fiscal agent. To get involved contact Julia DeBroux.

Woodland Park Zoo Children's Play Area, 59th & Phinney

This play area was another inspiration that prepared Jack to act when he found the property for Fremont Peak Park. Bob and Cathy had raised a large sum of money to help refurbish this play area, so they were amongst the first people he called to find out how to make a park. Later Jack found out that Greg Zuhl led this park project along with several others in Phinney Ridge. Greg was great source of information in the early days of Fremont Peak Park.

The Woodland Park Children's Play Area is a compact play area with very high quality play equipment and surfaces. It is well worth a look if you have play areas on the brain.

Annie's Playground

Annie's Playground is an exceptionally well done project in the honor of Annie, a little girl who died suddenly at 3 year's old after letting the world now how she loved playgrounds. In her honor, her mother led this project. We feature this project because it was very well done and it's full of high quality features. project website »

Wallingford Playfield

We know little about this project except that it has a high quality modern playground and wading pool on the northern edge, a huge grassy field in the middle, and an old grove of trees creating a peaceful respite on the southern edge. project website »

Ballard Commons and Ballard Skate Bowl

The Ballard Commons Park has finally been built after 10 years of planning and a huge controversy over the temporary-turned-permanent skate bowl. Now it's a beautiful park with a top notch skate bowl and a fountain that you can play in. Be sure you visit this contemporary park that has plenty of timeless amenities.

Dahl Playfield Skate Spot

Boarders 4 Parks is a group that is designing and building a skate spot at Dahl Playfield. They are one of a growing number of groups who want to put opportunities for wholesome challenging physical activity for kids in neighborhood parks. We've enjoyed comparing notes with them. project website »

Joe King Park Fitness Centre, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada

Hornby Island's community and aging population benefit from this new indoor fitness facility, especially during the winter months combating "cabin fever. The leaders Judith and Peter said "It was a great pleasure for both of us to see the doors open in November 2007 and watch people's faces light up with joy as they piled in to see what was accomplished by a community effort".

See Judith and Peter's volunteer profile for the bigger story. volunteer profile »