Today is the Day

Renovations on Pathways Park are starting today!

So many of us have come together to build an inclusive community, a common vision and a plan for a park for us all. And today, over six years and $6 million dollars later, the actual building begins!

We are super lucky to add Bayshore Construction to our team to lead the renovations. Their experience is matched by their enthusiasm and we're grateful that the future of Pathways Park is in such capable, committed hands.

It will be challenging to have the park closed during construction. When you see those chain link fences, close your eyes and picture the rainbow snags, sensory garden, treehouse, custom art pieces, parallel pathways and so much more. Remember that soon, the entire park will be accessible to us all. Wave to our contractors, smile at each other and hop on the Burke-Gilman Trail to explore new parks and play areas. It's going to be worth the wait!

Check out the blog by our partners at Seattle Parks and Recreation for more information and for nearby park recommendations.

Cheers!

Come raise a glass with us!

Drop into The Conservatory, Ravenna Brewing’s beautiful new event space, on March 19th anytime between 3-7 to celebrate the upcoming groundbreaking on Pathways Park.

A huge thanks to Ravenna Brewing for generously donating their space and for donating $1 from every pint sold of Pathways Park IPA. All money raised will kick off our Friends of Pathways Park fund which will support the care and community of the renovated park.

More Details:

• There will be sodas and light snacks for our underage and sober supporters.

• Bring warm layers as we’ll keep the large garage door open for the duration of the event for the safety and wellness of our community. (There is an outdoor covered area and heated indoor space.)

• All are most welcome and wanted!

An Update, a Save the Date and a Love Letter to Ravenna Brewing

By Paige Reischl (Eli’s Mom)

In February of 2017, Eli’s physical therapist, Shawn and I sat at a tiny table in Ravenna Brewing, sipped some delicious IPA and wondered out loud why people with disabilities are so excluded from so many parts of our community.

We talked, pondered (tipped our amazing bartenders, of course) and then took that question out of our favorite neighborhood brewery into our community and asked it again. And again. And again. And every time we asked it, it grew a little. And very, very quickly, the question became far too big for just one mom and one physical therapist. Parents and caregivers of kids with disabilities and people living in low-income housing and BIPOC teenagers and LGBTQ+ community members and disabled adults and so many others began asking and answering their versions of the question: What would it take to create a place where everybody belongs?

And you became we, and we grew from two, to many, to an entire community. And a rare and beautiful thing happened. Everyone agreed. We just need a place that we can all access, where we all feel safe, welcome and loved. And Eli’s Park Project became our dream.

Then tragically, in August of 2017, Eli transitioned. We lost our inspiration, our love, our light. But we had each other, we had our dream and we had Ravenna Brewing. The amazing owners and staff opened their hearts and space to the project. They donated, hosted fundraisers for the park, brewed an Inclusion IPA and loved, supported and encouraged us.

So, we all kept going, and for the next six years we built together. We built a team. We built support. We built community and connection. We built partnerships and pathways. And, now, so, so soon, we are actually building the park!

We’ll be hanging at Ravenna Brewing on March 19 to celebrate this amazing milestone. More details coming but save the date to join us at our favorite neighborhood brewery where hazy IPAs inspire clear dreams.

Who knows what we’ll build together next? Cheers!