The Morgan Community Association (MoCA) kicked off its first quarterly meeting of 2026 on January 21 at the Alki Arts gallery, welcoming neighbors both in person and via Zoom to discuss vital community developments, including the Morgan Junction Park expansion and local crime statistics. Deb Barker, President of MoCA, opened the meeting by thanking gallery owner Diane Venti for the use of the space, noting the gallery's "strong tradition of giving back to the community".

Morgan Junction Park Expansion and the "Skate Dot" A major highlight of the evening was an update from Olivia Reed, a planner with Seattle Parks and Recreation, regarding the Morgan Junction Park addition. Reed announced that $700,000 in funding had been added to the project budget specifically for the development of a "Skate Dot" through a council budget action. A Skate Dot is a small, designated, and often integrated skateable area within a public park or urban space, designed to provide skateboarding features without the cost and scale of a full skatepark, blending into the environment to offer accessible, local spots for quick sessions or learning. 

"All of the time and energy and engagement that you've all put into this project and work over the years has made a real and lasting impact," Reed told the group, thanking community members for their advocacy. However, she noted that the project schedule has shifted, with schematic design expected to wrap up in late winter 2026 and construction now slated for spring 2027. Additionally, the temporary fencing at the park will remain until mid-spring due to slow-growing hydroseeded grass. In response to questions about the delay, Reed explained, "this has just been a really tough year for hydroseeding... we really are just trying to avoid a situation where we have to close the park down again because the grass gets walked on [and] it's not fully established".

News from MJAWA Matt and Josh from the Morgan Junction All-Wheels Association (MJAWA) shared concerns regarding the "value engineering" and scope reductions of the park design. Matt expressed apprehension about upcoming community engagement meetings, stating, "I’m concerned about this idea of bringing the project back to community engagement... they’re saying they don’t have enough money to build the project as it was previously imagined and designed". Despite these challenges, MJAWA remains committed to advocating for a holistic park that serves the entire community.

Public Safety Updates Community Service Officer (CSO) Phil Bowen from the Southwest Precinct provided a summary of crime statistics for 2025. He reported an overall decrease in violent crime across West Seattle compared to 2024, specifically noting that homicides dropped from five to zero. Property crimes, including burglary and motor vehicle theft, also saw significant decreases. For Morgan Junction specifically, Bowen noted there were two incidents of shots fired in 2025, neither of which resulted in injuries.

Infrastructure and Community Business The meeting also addressed the upcoming installation of an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station at 4118 SW Morgan Street. Deb Barker warned residents of significant traffic impacts on Fauntleroy Way SW, where City Light will be trenching the roadway to install conduit. The work is expected to last approximately 40 days, though Barker noted that lane closures are prohibited during peak commute hours (7–9 AM and 4–6 PM).

Other community updates included:

• Morgan Junction Emergency Hub: Cindy Barker announced a series of training events and an urban survival skills fair scheduled for May 30 during the Gatewood "Gator Fest".

• Treasurer’s Report: Michael Brunner reported a current MoCA account balance of $11,673.44.

• New Business: A new dog grooming business, Happy Doggy, has opened at 6529 California Ave SW.

MoCA Board Elections The slate of candidates for the 2026 MoCA Board was formally announced, with the final vote scheduled for the April meeting. The candidates include:

• President: Deb Barker

• Vice President: Conrad Cipoletti

• Secretary: Christopher Miller

• Treasurer: Michael Brunner

• Business Liaison: Sierra Shea

Though MoCA will not host a festival this year, the board plans to focus on a 2026 work plan to update its mission statement and increase membership participation