An Idea Worth Sharing -- Kirkland Residents Pitching In To Pay For Civic Improvements

KIRKLAND

George Harris and his wife, JoAnn, had admired the views of Lake Washington near their Kirkland home since moving there in 1955.

Then about two years ago, Harris, a retired teacher, decided something should be done to make what he enjoyed available to others.

He began gathering signatures to have the city install benches overlooking the lake.

More than 200 people signed his petition, the City Council agreed with the suggestion, and just before Christmas two benches - a neighbor volunteered to pay for another - were installed along Waverly Way at the foot of Fifth Street West.

"It wasn't hard to do," said Harris' son Patrick, who paid for the bench in his father's honor. "You send them a check."

The process is simple because Kirkland has gone to considerable effort to make it easy. Its Sharing program has raised more than $63,000 since 1993 for amenities all over the city, from benches such as the ones Harris suggested to picnic tables, drinking fountains and basketball nets.

"The biggest gift is easily the benches," said Kevin Teague, parks project coordinator. "There is definitely a sense of ownership."

Other benches have been installed at Mark Twain, Everest and Marina parks, and another soon will be put in at Juanita Bay Park in honor of Erika Meuter, 19, a 1997 Lake Washington High School graduate who died in a Colorado auto accident in December.

While the benches - at $800 - have been the most popular item, they're just one of dozens of possible contributions described in a profusely illustrated 10-page brochure developed by Teague.

The choices range from $25 basketball nets to a litter container at $650, a picnic table at $1,000, tennis net at $125, drinking fountain for $1,500 to $2,500, interpretive park signs at $980 and trees at $125 to $175.

Donors can also fund a recreation scholarship to send a child to camp or sponsor special events such as Easter-egg hunts or Halloween parties.

One of the more ambitious plans is to install a fountain at the Kirkland Cemetery. A memorial fountain was envisioned when the cemetery at Northeast 80th Street and 122th Avenue Northeast on Rose Hill was designed in 1890, but it was never built.

An artist's sketch of the fountain in the Sharing brochure caught the attention of longtime Kirkland resident Corrine Hieb. Hieb is working with the Kirkland Woman's Club, the Kirkland Heritage Society and the city to develop the fountain, and has received several donations.

Hieb said she first was daunted by the fountain's $42,000 price tag but was reminded of how similar ideas had led to such civic benefits as the Kirkland Performance Center.

"I love this town so much," said Hieb. "We're working on approaches to community organizations. We hope to have it done in a year."

Peyton Whitely's phone message number is 206-464-2259. His e-mail address is: pwhitely@seattletimes.com ------------------------------- For more information

Sharing-program brochures are available at the Kirkland Department of Parks and Community Services at City Hall, 123 Fifth Ave. Parks project coordinator Kevin Teague can be reached at 425-828-2237. Corrine Hieb, who is working on plans for a Kirkland Cemetery fountain, can be contacted at 425-822-5710 or through the city.