A bit of background:

After several years of planning and fundraising by a former organization, the Seattle Statue of Liberty Plaza Project was formed in mid-2007 to finish this project.  Our efforts were jump-started by a $50,000 donation from the City of Seattle, announced by Mayor Greg Nickels and City Councilman Tom Rasmussen on Sept. 11, 2007, and supported unanimously by the City Council, when the newly-cast statue was put temporarily on the old base.

The new goal, as determined by the cost estimates of the plan for the plaza developed over three years by a pro bono Design Team of architects and Designers with input from the West Seattle Community, The Seattle Parks Department, and concerned citizens, was $157,000.  At that time, a representative of the City estimated if the citizens wished the project to be finished by July, 2008, the goal would have to be met by January 15, 2008.

The goal to be met included the $50,000 from the City of Seattle in the 2008 budget, and $10,550 left from the prior fundraising organization.  By the January 15, 2008 date, however, we received, including the above amounts, $174,940 by January 15, 2008.  For more details, see the Finance page.

Better yet, by the time fundraising "officially" ended on March 31, 2008, we had raised almost $100,000 more than the original goal.  However, not only have construction costs risen substantially, but there have been some modifications to the design.  Primarily, several people and organizations, including the Design Commission of the City of Seattle, were very concerned about the benches not having backs.  The concrete itself was also an issue, since concrete does not hold heat well and sitting on a cold concrete bench is not relaxing over any period of time.

Ultimately, it was determined that switching to wooden backs, at this time, would not be possible, even with the extra money that had been raised.  The costs for redesign, as well as a suitable wood product, were deemed excessive be a committee composed of SSLPP, the SSLPP Design Team, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and the architects hired by Parks to finalize the plaza design.

It was possible to include wood planking on just the seating portion of the benches, however.  This has more of the feeling of wood, and is far more pleasant to sit upon.  Since that did not involve major design changes, that improvement will be made.

It appears funds are adequate to make these changes.  The funds are under the control of Urban Sparks, our Fiscal Sponsor.  Since SSLPP was formed only to see the project completed that the people of West Seattle and the surrounding areas worked on for so long, the organization will disband when this project is fully concluded.  Any remaining funds will simply remain with Urban Sparks, whose main purpose is to support organizations like ours seeking to build and/or improve parks and open spaces in the Seattle area.

We will be updating the Finance Page shortly with more information.