Recent events in Counterbalance Park

Huge, ugly red graffiti on the walls of Counterbalance Park

On Tuesday, February 9, 2010, Uptowners walking past our park were shocked to see the worst ever graffiti tags on both the north and east walls.  Red paint was used to scrawl three huge letters that reached from the ground level to the top of the walls.  Fortunately, by Wednesday noon, some of the graffiti had been removed by thoughtful, prompt property manager using a power wash system.  Unfortunately, only a lower section had been given a anti-graffiti paint coating.  The upper parts of this illegal tagging remains on the untreated wall surfaces.

If anyone has any clues or information about this incident, please immediately report it to the Seattle Police Department.

Clean Green Cleanup in Uptown

Counterbalance Park was the starting point on Saturday, February 6, 2010, for a well-planned and well attended neighborhood clean up morning.  More than 60 Uptowners showed up to use the tools and equipment provided by the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation to sweep, rake, shovel the central streets and sidewalks of Uptown.  A tree was planted on the west side of First Ave North between Mercer Street and Roy Street.  Some older, established trees in the same area were pruned up, the tree pits weeded and then covered with bark.  Department of Corrections supplied additional helpers on this task.

Teams from the Enviromental Task Force of the local Church of Scientology, the Uptown Alliance and many individuals spread out to spruce up other places in Uptown.

Roasty Toasty Winter Holiday Festival

Just two weeks ago, on Saturday, January 23, 2010 more than 150 Uptowners gathered in Counterbalance Park for the annual Roasty Toasty Winter Holiday Festival. To the sounds of  an accordianist and with the LED lights playing on the walls, people of all ages roasted marshmallows to create S'mores.  They joined in guessing games (how many jelly beans in a jar?).  Neighbor greeted neighbor, and also made new friends while sipping hot apple cider. 

This event was originated by Margaret Irvine, long-time Queen Anne/Uptown resident, when she was the Executive Director of the Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce. The 2009 date was set for Saturday, December 12, but the unusually extreme cold (for Seattle) weather forced a postponement to the January date. 

This year's event was organized by John Gessner and Jean Sundborg of the Uptown Alliance with the help of the City's Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Neighborhoods, and the following list of Uptown businesses:

Uptown Metropolitan Market

Uptown Safeway

Uptown QFC

Mercer Street Books

Quiznos

UPS Store

Kid Valley

Trader Joe's