Seattle Parks and Recreation has rescheduled a public meeting at Dr. Jose Rizal Park to talk about the newly redesigned off-leash area and other partnership efforts in the park. The original meeting was canceled because of last week’s weather.

The meeting will now take place from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1. The first half of the meeting will take place at the park, 1008 12th Ave. S on Beacon Hill, and the second half at the Quarters 1 Conference Room across the street at Pacific Medical Center, 1200 12th Ave. S.

The 9.6-acre Dr. Jose Rizal Park has included an off-leash area since 2001.

Over the last few years, volunteer efforts by the Green Seattle Partnership: http://greenseattle.org/, urban food systems supporters, and local business groups have restored the park’s ecology. Parks maintenance crews and volunteers have thinned the tree canopy and removed invasive plants. All of these efforts increase safety and accessibility. With a newly fenced off-leash area and the recent completion of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/mountains_to_sound.htm, Parks hopes to see an increase in activity in the park.

At the meeting, Parks staff will address these issues:
• Why the off-leash area was redesigned and why it is 4.1 acres in size
• Program and partnership opportunities to re-activate the park so it is safe and accessible
• Identification of maintenance priorities and fund raising opportunities
• Roles and responsibilities of Parks staff and volunteers in park maintenance and attention to ongoing issues

Meeting attendees should wear shoes that can get muddy.