SEATTLE—July 4, 2008—On the evening of July 4th about 350 people - owners and renters, old people and young people, and families large and small - gathered to celebrate the opening of The Commons, High Point's newest park.
The new park covers just over three acres, on the block where the Neighborhood Center will be built.
Located at the geographic middle of the High Point community, the park is meant to serve as an informal natural gathering place for neighbors from all over High Point. Much of the park is a large playfield, which contributes significantly to High Point’s drainage and helps balance the impervious streets and home sites with open grassland.
An amphitheater and mounded viewpoint provide a focal point at the southwest corner of the park. The mound represents the actual high point of High Point. It overlooks the amphitheater itself, and has been sown with wildflower seeds. The mound has an accessible trail to the top, from which there are sweeping views of the Seattle skyline and as far north as Mt. Baker.
The park was designed by SvR Design. Construction was completed by Precision Earthworks, a local landscape and construction firm. Pomegranate Center was responsible for the amphitheater, which High Point residents helped to create.
"The amphitheater has turned out to be a magical place," notes Tom Phillips, High Point's development manager. "It’s hard to make an outdoor stage and seating area really work, but that's exactly what the folks at the Pomegranate Center and the residents did. The large boulders give the place a 'Stonehenge' feel, which was very intentional."
In addition to the amphi-theater, the Commons has a community garden, a playground with a climbing structure for smaller children and a large open field that accommodates soccer, volleyball and other active sports. Seven mature trees were preserved on the site.
For Phillips, the opening day was about as successful as it could be. “It was a great party that brought all the wonderful diversity at High Point together to celebrate in one place,” he said later. “We waited a long time to get the park finished, but the wait was worth it – it’s a very successful place.”
Comments from one High Point homeowner supported this view when she wrote, "The park dedication on July Fourth was an excellent example of what can be done when we work together to further solidify us as a community."
Even though it has been open only a few weeks, the park has been very well received. High Point residents are already using it a great deal. For amphitheater scheduling information e-mail Jeannette Fournier, of the High Point Open Space and Homeowners Association, at jeanette@cdcmanagement.com. She can also be reached by phone at 206-913-0080.