I recently wrote a quick post about the 46th Street Mural Project survey. A commenter to that article, “walkinroun,” indicated s/he isn’t really that fond of the type of public art the mural produced, nor some of the other public art projects in Seattle. I have to agree. I mean, I like the Lady Bug and the Sea Turtle traffic circles, but think we could’ve done even more with them. So here’s our chance to create something different:
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods has announced the 2011 program for the Neighborhood Matching Fund. This year there have been a lot of changes, including updated application forms, program guidelines, and application deadlines. And to provide more opportunities for smaller projects, the Small and Simple Fund now has three application rounds in 2011. The first deadline is January 18, 2011. For more detailed information on each department’s project criteria & deadlines, visit www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/.
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods provides programs and service that engage residents in civic participation, foster stronger communities, make government more accessible, and preserve and enhance the character of Seattle’s neighborhoods.
I’d love to have some more trees put in around the Wallingford Playfield wading pool. It’s brutal in the summer. Maybe some mire seating, too. But, that may not be eligible because it’s on the Parks Department property.
Hi, Kristin. I’m not familiar with the term, “mire seating”…?
Ah, the perils of typing on my iPhone. I meant “more seating”.
Oh, well that explain it! Agreed!
Ever get the feeling we’re just a bunch of kindergarten kids? To keep us from looking into actual issues of importance in our community and city politicians hand us a box of crayons and say “shh, here – color something”
@Batman, maybe someone could ask for the $$ to address one of those important issues. I’m curious as to what some of those issues are that you mention — graffiti? crime?
I’d love to use some city grant money to keep our roads safe and clear during snowstorms. We live off 50th, and every snowstorm we have a line of cars stranded outside our house. The City does nothing — not even sanding and grading — because there are worse places to direct limited city resources, and the police can’t do anything unless there’s an accident. Seems like the most the City does each snowstorm is to close the road from the freeway to Stone Way. Don’t even get me started on the side streets.
I guess the Neighborhood Matching Fund program wouldn’t be the best source of funding to do something, but it sure would be nice to have the city provide a grant for salt or sand, shovels, and a place to store it. We could take it from there.
Actually, Wallingford seems one of the artiest/craftiest neighborhoods around these parts. But most of the art is environmentally “embedded” in the subtle, clever, elegant, grassrooty, and sometimes just plain awesome homes and gardens and persons of the folks who live here. Although I have supported and even commissioned public art in the past, I have grown a bit leery/weary of all the public art (especially mural art!) abounding in Seattle. Every time I have to go through the 45th St. underpass, I feel a little woozy. Sorry, kids, but all those “bubbles” and wacky colors just upset my tummy. I am rather in favor of tiny public art: teeny tiny surprises rather than big gusty (EMP like) projects.