J.P. Patches and Gertrude Statue (US=FS)*

Kids growing up in the Northwest counted on J.P. Patches to put them in the mood for fun each morning before school from 1958 to 1981. Gertrude and all of her/his alter egos filled the show with guest characters. Today, J.P.'s carpenter Carl Lovgren and author Bryan Johnston are leading a team to honor these characters with a bronze statue which will include a coin bank collecting donations for Children's Hospital, J.P.'s favorite charity. read more »

Undriving and Undriver Licensing (US=FS)*

Undriving is an innovative program designed to reduce carbon emissions and oil dependency, ease congestion and parking, and encourage community connections. By increasing awareness of personal transportation options and eliciting individualized car-trip-reduction pledges, Undriver Licensing playfully engages people to make more informed and empowered transportation choices. Undriving is changing how people think about getting around. read more »

Seattle Statue of Liberty Plaza Project (US=FS)*

Alki's 1/18th scale Statue of Liberty is one of 200 replicas installed around the country celebrating the Boy Scout's 40th anniversary. The SSLPP Committee is dedicated to building a permanent classy setting for Seattle's recast bronze Lady Liberty. CAST Architecture and E Workshop donated the design of this project, while Mayor Nickels and the Seattle city council granted $50,000 in city funds. For more information, to buy a brick, or to volunteer, see www.sealady.org

Beacon Mountain Playground Project (US=FS)*

The Beacon Mountain Playground Team (BMPT), a subcommittee of the Jefferson Park Alliance (JPA) is working together to create a world class playground in South Seattle. "With the reconstruction of Jefferson Park, we'll soon have access to some of the best views and recreational space in the area. Our playground is a featured piece."

Hazel Heights Perpetuity P-Patch

The name is not official yet, but there is a covenant on the land that protects it in perpetuity, so that it can only be an open space or community garden — forever. So this temporary name communicates the concept of a permanent, history-changing, gift. read more »

Marra Farm (US=FS)*

We've acted as fiscal sponsor for three Marra Farm projects:

• NMF Race and Social Justice Outreach Grant
• Neighborhood Matching Fund Small and Simple Grant
• Starbucks Neighborhood Parks Program Grant

read more »

I-5 Colonnade Mountain Bike Trails

We assembled and are leading the I-5 Trails Coalition, a who's who of Seattle cycling, to create mountain bike trails in the Pro-Parks Levy I-5 Open Space park. These trails will serve children and adults in the surrounding neighborhoods of Seattle. Urban Sparks and BBTC, the Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club are working to artfully squeeze 2 miles of interesting trails and bike toys into the nooks and crannies of this park. read more »

Magnuson Park Native Species Restoration and Bicycle Skills Course

Urban Sparks volunteers designed and with help from Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club, the Cascade Bicycle Club, Bike Works, the BMX community, Fremont Rotary, Red Bull and Trips for Kids, built an extensive Bicycle Skills Park at Magnuson Park. It had singletrack trail, log piles, obstacles, skinnies and BMX jumps for all ages to play and build skills on. The Skills Park was built as an outdoor test area for the Cascade Bicycle Club's 2005 Bicycle Expo with expectations that we could keep it for a year of two after Expo. read more »

BMX Jumps

BMX Jumps are one type of Bicycle Skills Park. Right now, BMX Jumps need attention to build awareness around this exceptional sport. Like skateboarding was a few years ago, BMX is still not understood. It has many of same healthy characteristics; it's active, it doesn't require scheduling, it's practiced by kids and adults in a supportive environment, and it doesn't require much space. read more »

Bicycle Skills Parks

We've been working to familiarizing the city of Seattle with the concept of bicycle skills parks. Bicycle Skills Parks come in all shapes and sizes. Where there is just a little space and maybe a desire to draw some activity to an underutilized spot, a skills park can be a small collection of obstacles that provide hours of practice and distraction for bicyclists who enjoy honing their skills. Much like skiing, skill cycling can provide a lifetime of incremental improvements. read more »

Urban Sparks Work Parties

Urban Sparks' work parties are fun opportunities to spend some time with generous people doing good work. Get some fresh air and tidy up the neighborhood with great people. read more »