How does a $2 million park project turn into an 11-year waiting game — with nothing but a fenced hole to show for it? That’s the question burning through West Seattle right now as frustrated neighbors demand answers about the stalled Morgan Junction Park expansion.
After more than a decade of delays, disappearing funds, and broken promises, the community is no longer just asking questions — they’re demanding accountability.
The Lot That Time Forgot: 11 Years, Zero Progress
In 2014, the City of Seattle purchased a small lot next to Morgan Junction Park. The plan? A vibrant public expansion that included walking paths, seating, and a unique 1,500-square-foot “all-wheels area” — a skateable zone championed by the group MJAWA (Morgan Junction All-Wheels Area).
Today, in mid-2025, the site remains a fenced, contaminated pit. No benches. No lawn. No skate dot. Just confusion, delay, and bureaucratic backpedaling.
“We’re 11 years and $2 million in, and all we have is a hole in the ground,” one resident said at a recent community meeting. “Where did the money go?”
The Numbers Don’t Add Up — Literally
Here’s what’s enraging local homeowners and activists alike: no one can give a straight answer about the budget.
Seattle Parks initially said the project’s total cost was $2.2 million. But now officials say $1.2 million was “added” this year, implying a fresh budget infusion — not the full budget. Yet at the same meeting, they claimed $1.2 million is the total budget.
So which is it? $2.2M total, or $1.2M newly added? And if the new money was added — where did the old money go?
Community leaders, like the Morgan Community Association (MoCA), have asked for a full, transparent accounting spreadsheet. So far, all they’ve received is radio silence.
What’s the Hold-Up?
Seattle Parks blames a jurisdictional dispute with SDOT (Seattle Department of Transportation) over the SW Eddy Street right-of-way. This has delayed soil remediation, which is required due to the site’s history as a dry cleaner — a common source of toxic contaminants.
But critics say the city had more than a decade to resolve this, and are baffled that cleanup — originally scheduled years ago — still isn’t finished.
“If this was a private development, it would’ve been bulldozed, built, and occupied five times by now,” commented a local contractor.
The Skate Dot Saga: From Community Win to Financial Limbo
The skate dot, once a symbol of collaboration between city and community, is now on life support. MJAWA spent years rallying public input, collecting design ideas, and even securing a grant. But this week, they learned that a $250,000 King County grant they were relying on was denied.
Without it, Seattle Parks is reportedly telling MJAWA that they’ll need to raise $700,000 themselves — just for a modest 1,500 sq ft skateable area.
“It’s a slap in the face,” said an MJAWA volunteer. “We brought designs, volunteer hours, community energy, and even grant money. Now we’re being told to foot the whole bill?”
Residents Are Losing Patience — Fast
Scroll through local forums or attend any MoCA meeting and you’ll hear it loud and clear: this delay has gone on long enough.
Here are just a few direct quotes from angry locals:
- “By the time they figure it out, my kids will be out of high school.”
- “Let’s start a GoFundMe. At least someone would be making progress.”
- “Why does a concrete pad the size of a driveway cost $1.2 million?”
- “This is land-banking at its absolute worst. The city bought a gem and turned it into an eyesore.”
Here’s What the Community Wants — ASAP
MoCA and MJAWA aren’t just criticizing — they’re offering solutions. Their demands include:
🔹 Full Budget Transparency:
- A line-item breakdown of where money has been spent, lost, or added.
🔹 Public Input BEFORE Final Design Reviews:
- MoCA is frustrated that the city is going to the Design Commission before showing updated plans to the community.
🔹 A Visual Plan of Phase 1 and Phase 2:
- Phase 1: Soil remediation + hydroseeding
- Phase 2: Actual park construction, with a clear visual of what’s included and when
🔹 Clear Commitment to the Skate Dot:
- Reuse MJAWA’s submitted plans — don’t restart from scratch
- Confirm final cost to community
- Name a direct Parks point person for coordination
The Bigger Issue? Bureaucratic Dysfunction
Many residents see the Morgan Junction Park delay as symptomatic of deeper dysfunction in Seattle’s capital project process.
One commenter put it bluntly:
“Seattle Parks leadership seems more focused on appearances than outcomes. The incompetence here isn’t just wasteful — it’s insulting.”
Another added:
“This land could’ve been housing, a café, or green space. Instead, it’s a warning sign of what happens when the city promises everything but delivers nothing.”
So What Happens Next?
Seattle Parks claims that soil cleanup will finish by fall 2025, followed by basic seeding and fence removal. But even that timeline has shifted before. And without clarity on budget, design, or phasing, the community is bracing for more delays.
🟨 MoCA’s Bottom Line:
“We’re not giving up. But the city needs to step up, answer our questions, and deliver the park it promised — not a token lawn and another decade of delays.”
Final Thought: A Park Shouldn’t Take a Generation
The Morgan Junction Park saga is no longer just a construction delay — it’s become a case study in how good intentions can rot under bad management.
If Seattle wants to restore public trust, it needs to do more than hydroseed a hole. It needs to deliver on 11 years of promises — and show that community voices matter more than bureaucratic inertia.
📢 Stay with newscoper.com as this story develops — and as West Seattle residents keep fighting to turn a wasted lot into a neighborhood asset.