February 11th, 2007
David Della,
Chair - Parks, Education, Libraries and Labor Committee
Seattle City Council
re: Chapel in Discovery Park
Dear Mr. Della:
We are writing today to express our concern and register our disagreement with recent decisions regarding the Building 632, known as the Chapel of Discovery Park.
Briefly, we oppose any action on the part of the City to significantly restore or renovate the existing structure and continue to support the eventual removal of the Chapel building from Discovery Park. This is a reaffirmation of a previous Discovery Park Advisory Council (DPAC) resolution in June of 2003 to support the removal of the Chapel.
Why do we believe this?
First, both the 1972 Discovery Park Master Plan and the 1986 Discovery Park Development Plan stipulate that the primary role and central purpose of the Park is “to provide an open space of quiet and tranquility” and that “future pressures to carve out sites for various civic or special activities …. must be resisted with resolution”.
Second, the Chapel has been essentially non-used and inaccessible to the public for many years. The recently proposed improvements “to allow the Chapel to become a functional Seattle Parks gathering place” represents a new and dramatically different use of the building and one that is inconsistent with Park purposes.
Third, we do not feel it’s appropriate that the City of Seattle be in the position of appearing to support a place of worship.
Lastly, we believe that any significant renovation of this building should be deferred until the role of the Chapel in the Park is publicly debated and clarified. It should not be granted special status within Discovery Park and should receive only routine maintenance, consistent with the other structures owned by the City.
Sincerely,
Pete Galloway – DPAC member
Philip Vogelzang – DPAC member
Tom Palm – DPAC member
Julia Allen – DPAC member applicant
cc Ken Bounds
Greg Nickels
Seattle City Council
