On November 22, 1993, the Seattle City Council approves Community Preferred Reuse Plan for Sand Point. The ambitious and somewhat controversial plan covers 151 acres of the former naval base and includes incorporation of some areas to the existing Warren G. Magnuson Park, while other areas would be used as education and community activity areas, arts and cultural centers, and housing for the homeless and for people with low incomes.
The plan to house the homeless was particularly controversial, drawing resistance from some neighbors of the park.
The plan was far from the last word on the use of the land, which was to be transferred from the Navy to the City. The debate over uses for the naval property and Magnuson Park continued for many years and is at this writing (2000), not fully resolved, although the City Council passed a revised "final" plan on November 1, 1999. The struggle has involved the Muckleshoot Indians, who staked and then dropped their claim to the land; dog owners wanting off-leash areas; sport field advocates; neighbors; and many other interest groups.
