More than two dozen neighbors donned gloves and shovels and braved near freezing temperatures and a light dusting of snow to help plant hundreds of small plants at Ballard Corners Park March 8.

"We never thought we'd have this many people out here," said David Folweiler, co-chair of Friends of Ballard Corners Park.

Getting those plants into the ground on the east side of the park, located at Northwest 62nd Street and 17th Avenue Northwest, is one of the final steps before the park can be officially opened to the public.

The contractors must be finished with the park by April and then the new grass has to be mowed twice before the fence surrounding Ballard Corners can come down, Folweiler said. He said the grand opening of the park will be later in the spring, but no date has been set yet.

Gabriella Moller, the major organizer of the planting party, said she was concerned by the snow but the turnout was great.

"There is a ton of enthusiasm for this park," she said. "If you ask anyone in the neighborhood, they are so excited for the park."

Ballard Corners Park will be an important gathering space and an important green space for the neighborhood, Moller said.

"I think people are naturally drawn to open, natural spaces," she said. "And, here we are creating one."