First we’ve got you pulling invasive weeds out of the Ravenna Ravine from 10 am until 12:30 pm.

Now we’re telling you that after all that you should go hop in your car, pull off the work gloves, and get to the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center by 1 pm for the Ravenna-Eckstein Wildlife Habitat Celebration & Plant Sale.

It looks to be quite the to-do.  There’s a native plant sale, children’s activities, honey for sale, and lots of good info on making your yard friendly to critters.

For more information, call 200-0189 or email NESeattleHabitat at gmail.com.

There’s a Ravenna Ravine work party coming up on September 13, thanks to Friends of Ravenna Park and the Green Seattle Partnership.

You, your work gloves, and your invasive weed rage can head to the kiosk at Ravenna Park at 10 am this Saturday.  Bring some water, too.  If you get dehydrated, the invasives will win!

For more information, contact Ann at 547-1255 or email frr at 98115.net.

Some moments from the Ravenna-Eckstein Playground Dedication on September 5th:

The place was PACKED with kids and parents.  The weather was perfect, and the picnic dinner fare had a dog for every diet (beef, chicken or tofu).

This is Deputy Superintendent Christopher Williams of the Seattle Parks Department, I believe (please let me know if I’m wrong).  He did a little speechifying before the ribbon cutting.  But not many people were sitting down to listen.  Some were playing on the equipment, of course, but where was everyone else?

Standing in line for balloon animals, of course!  Where else?

Here’s Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen cutting the ribbon on the newly renovated park, along with some of the community members who were a big part of making it happen.

And here’s the surprise hit of the party.  I don’t know where it came from, and I don’t know what it’s called, but this was the fewest amount of kids on it all evening.  They’d jump up on it and bounce other kids off.  They’d roll on it and run over other kids.  I’m pretty sure that I desperately need one of these for my own home.

Now, I realize that not everyone out there has kids, and may think that a new playground or any playground is no big deal.  To those people, I ask, when’s the last time you pumped your legs in a swing?  Because the joy that comes from flying through the air on a plastic seat under your own power never goes away.  Go try it!  Tell me if I’m wrong!

A news advisory has issued today by Mayor Nickels himself (uh huh) about the various Seattle Parks and Recreation meetings schedule for the month, including the Ravenna-Eckstein Playground Dedication this Friday.

Nothing new to report here, but we are advised that “…for people who do not attend, written comments are welcome…” and, thankfully, “…[w]ritten comments bear equal weight with those submitted in person.”  Good to know.

The playground behind the Ravenna Eckstein Community Center has a lovely lush coating of sod:

It looks lovely.  Can’t wait to wiggle my bare toes in it, or perhaps take a roll down the hill pictured in the background.  If no one’s looking, that is.

Yet, turn your head 90 degrees to the right, and you see the following:

Are you SURE the sprinklers can’t reach any farther?  Really?

The playground is still closed, at least according to the big chain link fences everywhere.  That hasn’t stopped a lot of kids — and their parents, great example setting there — from sneaking in and trying out the equipment.

We imagine that a kick-off celebration is in the works, and soon.  We’ll post what we know when we know it (and not a moment later).

UPDATE: A little exploration of the Seattle Parks & Recreation Fall 2008 Play! Book for the northeast reveals that the playground will be dedicated on September 5 during the annual Summer’s Final Fling.  Be there from 6-8 PM for “carnival games, music, magic, picnic fare, and more”.