SUMMARY
Attend a Feb. 23 open house at the Discovery Park Environmental Learning Center in Seattle to learn about summertime construction work on water supply systems planned in the park by the King County Wastewater Treatment Division. If there is inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for Saturday, March 2.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Work this summer by the King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) to modify an underground water reservoir in Seattle’s Discovery Park will require partial closures to portions of two hiking trails.

An open house on Feb. 23 at the Discovery Park Environmental Learning Center in Seattle will provide details of the work, which will take three to five months to complete and require partial closures along the Loop and Capehart trails.

The open house runs from 10 a.m. to noon at the learning center, 3801 Discovery Park Blvd.

King County is protecting public health with upgrades to the underground water-storage facility by providing safe and efficient access for annual inspections, and by meeting current standards for protecting water sources.

Construction will involve demolishing concrete access hatches to the existing reservoirs, installing new interior pipes, and building a new roof and access hatch to protect the entryway from rain and debris. An outfall pipe will be installed in an excavated trench, which is then backfilled and replanted.

The water system carries both potable (drinkable) and non-potable water. Potable water is used at West Point Treatment Plant, in water fountains throughout Discovery Park, and at the West Point Lighthouse. Non-potable water is used at the treatment plant for industrial processes.

Contractors will install air gaps above each water tank to prevent mixing of the potable and non-potable water, and to protect equipment. Crews will also install a 460-foot-long pipe to carry excess water to a discharge site in the unlikely event of an overflow.

The County recognizes that Discovery Park is a popular location for trail users, and nature and bird enthusiasts. The WTD and Seattle Parks have developed tree protection and vegetation restoration plans as a part of this project, which will require some vegetation removal.

The vegetation will be replaced with a variety of plants and trees that blend with the natural environment and supports the park’s wildlife. Work on the pipe will begin after the bird nesting season ends in August to mitigate impacts on birds.

For more information on this project, visit WTD’s West Point project web page. For more information on the open house or to request accommodations, contact Eunice Lee: elee@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-1614.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RELEVANT LINKS

• King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks newsroom
• West Point Treatment Plant – current projects
• FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
  Norm Mah, 206-263-0195
• About the King County Wastewater Treatment Division
• King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and enhances the environment by collecting and treating wastewater while recycling valuable resources for the Puget Sound region. The division provides wastewater treatment services to 17 cities, 17 local sewer districts and more than 1.7 million residents across a 420-square-mile area in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties.

We are committed to catching up on park maintenance as soon as possible.

Over the past two weeks, Seattle Parks and Recreation staff have been working around the clock to support the city-wide response to the record-setting snow storm. Grounds and maintenance crews have been working across Seattle to remove downed trees and branches; clear pathways at community centers, pools and libraries; and support SDOT in clearing critical pedestrian walkways, especially around schools, as well as plowing major bike paths and smaller streets.

Throughout the storm response, maintenance staff have continued to service parks, but at a lower capacity than normal.

As we head into the weekend and experience improved weather conditions, we will be ramping up our efforts to clean and maintain parks. Over the weekend, we will be deploying extra staff to work in every district on priority maintenance, including removing garbage and litter, clearing critical pathways and sidewalks in and around parks, and removing fallen branches.

We expect to have all garbage cans emptied at parks by the end of the weekend. Clearing park pathways of snow and ice will be an ongoing effort. We will be dedicating extra staff time this weekend to clear pathways at parks, prioritizing sites with higher use or special events.

Seattle Parks and Recreation is also assessing synthetic turf fields to determine if snow and ice removal can be done without damage to the field. Our goal is to resume athletic games at these sites as soon as possible.

Our Recreation facilities, including community centers and pools, resumed normal operations on Thursday, Feb. 14. We are working hard to restore our full park maintenance services as soon as possible and thank you for your patience!

Most Seattle Parks and Recreation programs and facilities will be operating on their normal schedule starting Thursday, Feb. 14 and through the weekend. Some programs continue to be impacted by the recent snow storm. See below for details.

Seattle Parks and Recreation operations Thursday, Feb. 14 through Sunday, Feb. 17

OPEN:

• Community Centers: All community centers are open their normal hours. All programs are operating normally, unless noted otherwise below.
• Pools: Ballard, Southwest, Evans, Rainier and Madison pools are open. Early Morning Lap Swims (EMLS) will return to the normal schedule on Feb. 15.
• Small Craft Centers are open but will do dry land training if unable to get into the water due to cold temperatures.
• Late Night programs are open and operate normal hours 7 p.m. to midnight. (Late Night canceled at Bitter Lake on Friday, Feb. 15 and Saturday, Feb. 16).
• Basketball: Friday Night Cub Basketball games will be played; Saturday and Sunday Youth Basketball games will be played. Check here or your local center for schedules.
• Severe weather shelters: Garfield Community Center and Bitter Lake Community Center will continue to operate as severe weather shelters through the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 19. Garfield and Bitter Lake community centers are scheduled to return to normal operations beginning the afternoon of  Wednesday, Feb. 20.
• Scheduled Rentals will commence starting Feb. 14; please contact your community center to confirm your rental.
• Teen Centers: Open as scheduled on Thursday, Feb. 14 and Friday, Feb. 15.
• Interbay Golf Course: open.
• Driving ranges: The Interbay and Jefferson pro shops and driving ranges are open during normal operating hours.

CLOSED:

• Athletic Fields: Athletic field rentals/games are canceled on Saturday, Feb. 16 (check the field Rainout Hotline daily for updates, 206-233-0055). Some fields are open for drop-in use.
• Golf Courses: Jackson, West Seattle, and Jefferson golf courses will remain closed today (Saturday, Feb. 16) but open to non-motorized recreation. The snow cover is thin so sledding is discouraged.
• Special Population programs: Canceled through Feb. 18. Programs are scheduled to resume on Feb. 19.
• Bitter Lake preschool program: Closed through Wednesday, Feb. 20
• Lifelong Recreation programs at Garfield and Bitter Lake: Canceled through Wednesday, Feb. 20

Spring and summer are some of the best times for parks and recreation. Discover all the ways to enjoy theses seasons, from Spring Egg Hunts, flower blooms, summer beach openings, Bicycle Sundays, rowing events, the Big Day of Play, and so much more.

Southeast Community Centers

Southwest Community Centers

Northeast Community Centers

Northwest Community Centers

Many Seattle Parks and Recreation programs and facilities will be impacted by inclement weather on Wednesday, Feb. 13. Please check back here and on our Twitter page for regular updates.

Seattle Parks and Recreation program and facility impacts on Wednesday, Feb. 13:

OPEN:

• Community centers: All community centers, except Queen Anne, are open for drop-in activities, including drop-in basketball, fitness rooms (where available), and tot activities in tot rooms and gyms. Please call your local community center before visiting to confirm hours.
  • NW community centers: Green Lake open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Loyal Heights open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Magnolia open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Ballard open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Bitter Lake open 24 hours as severe weather shelter.
  • NE community centers: Meadowbrook open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Montlake, Magnuson, and Northagate open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Lake City open 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Miller open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Ravenna-Eckstein open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Laurelhurst open 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • SW community centers: Hiawatha, South Park, High Point, Delridge, Yesler, and Alki are all open 11 a.m. to 6 p.mm.
  • SE community centers: Jefferson, Van Asselt, International Chinatown, and Rainier are all open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rainier Beach is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Garfield is open 24 hours as a severe weather shelter.
• Pools: Most pools are open and are offering a variety of lap swims and open swims. Call your local pool for the schedule. Southwest open 11 a.m. (update: Southwest Pool closed early at 4:30 p.m.).; Madison open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Rainier Beach open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Evans open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m..; Ballard open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Amy Yee Tennis Center: The Amy Yee Tennis Center is operating on normal hours today.
• Garfield severe weather shelter: Garfield Community Center(2323 E. Cherry Street) has been opened as a warming and overnight emergency shelter for families with children, and people living in vehicles. Adults are welcome at this facility as well. This shelter will operate 24 hours a day through the morning of Monday, February 18.
• Bitter Lake severe weather shelter: Bitter Lake Community Center (13035 Linden Ave. N) is open as a severe weather shelter. Referral forms are not required and all are welcome. This shelter will operate 24 hours a day through the morning of Monday, Feb. 18. Info: 206-684-7524.
• Parks: Parks are open; however, we encourage visitors to use caution. Snow and ice can cause tree branches to snap. Please stay out from under trees and avoid forested park areas during the current weather conditions.
• Snow Play: Golf courses are closed for golf but are open for sledding and snow play. Most athletic fields are also open for non-motorized winter recreation.
• Interbay and Jefferson driving ranges: The Interbay and Jefferson pro shops and driving ranges will be open during normal operating hours (courses remain closed). 
  
• Camp Long visitor center: Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

CLOSED:

• Recreation programs: All recreation programs, including basketball, Lifelong Recreation, and Special Pops programs are cancelled. All aquatics programs canceled.
• Queen Anne Community Center: Closed.
• Rentals: All Recreation facility rentals canceled.
• Teen Life Centers: Closed.
• Youth basketball: All youth basketball games and practices are canceled.
• Small Craft Centers: The Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center and the Green Lake Small Craft Center closed.
• Athletic Fields: Athletic field rentals/games are canceled. Some fields are open for winter play.
• Golf Courses: All golf courses will remain closed today but open to non-motorized recreation (please keep off putting greens and away from environmentally sensitive areas near the creeks at Jackson and West Seattle). The Interbay and Jefferson pro shops and driving ranges will be open during normal operating hours.

 

Seattle Parks and Recreation’s annual Hope for Youth Fund increases access to recreational, athletic, and positive youth development activities by providing administrative and scholarship support to youth-focused organizations in the Seattle area that serve marginalized and economically distressed communities in the city of Seattle. Youth sports and youth development programs serving within the City of Seattle are eligible to apply for the fund.

Hope for Youth applications can be completed and submitted at:
seattlepark.gosmart.org

Applications are available on Friday, March 1, 2019 at 7:00 a.m, and due on Sunday, March 31, 2019 by 11:59 p.m.

Funds can be used to support certain administrative costs or provide scholarships. Acceptable expenses include league fees, officials fees, insurance, field fees, membership costs, etc. Funding will not cover uniforms, or sports equipment that will be used year-to-year. For a list of acceptable funding uses, please see the application instructions or contact Kathleen Gantz. Organizations or community groups have to be serving marginalized and economically distressed communities. Questions? Contact kathleen.gantz@seattle.gov or 206-386-4671.

Many Seattle Parks and Recreation programs and facilities will be impacted by inclement weather on Tuesday, Feb. 12. Please check back here and on our Twitter page for regular updates.

Seattle Parks and Recreation program and facility impacts on Tuesday, Feb. 12:

OPEN:

• Community centers: The following community centers are open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for drop-in use; please call the center before visiting to confirm hours: Northgate; Ravenna-Eckstein; Montlake; Miller; Magnuson; Lake City; Ballard; Laurelhurst; Loyal Heights; Green Lake; High Point; Delridge; Hiawatha; Rainier Beach; Rainier; Jefferson; Alki; Yesler; Van Asselt; International District Chinatown; as well as Garfield and Bitter Lake (both open as 24 hour severe weather shelters). 
  
• Pools: Most pools will be open today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for drop-in use. Please call the pool before visiting to confirm hours.
• Garfield severe weather shelter: Garfield Community Center(2323 E. Cherry Street) has been opened as a warming and overnight emergency shelter for families with children, and people living in vehicles. Adults are welcome at this facility as well. This shelter will operate 24 hours a day through the morning of Wednesday, February 13.
• Bitter Lake severe weather shelter: Bitter Lake Community Center (13035 Linden Ave. N) is open as a severe weather shelter. Referral forms are not required and all are welcome. This shelter will operate 24 hours a day through the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 13. Info: 206-684-7524.
• Amy Yee Tennis Center: The Amy Yee Tennis Center will be open regular hours until 10:30 p.m. today.
• Parks: Parks are open; however, we encourage visitors to use caution. Snow and ice can cause tree branches to snap. Please stay out from under trees and avoid forested park areas during the current weather conditions.
• Snow Play: Golf courses are closed for golf but are open for sledding and snow play. Most athletic fields are also open for non-motorized winter recreation.
• Jefferson Park driving range: The Jefferson Park driving range, pro shop and grill are open until 3 p.m. (all golf courses are closed).
• Camp Long visitor center: Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

CLOSED:

• Recreation programs: All recreation programs, including basketball, Lifelong Recreation, and Special Pops programs, are cancelled. All aquatics programs canceled.
• Magnolia, Queen Anne, and South Park community centers: closed. Meadowbrook is currently without power but may open later; check back here for updates.
• Rentals: All Recreation facility rentals canceled.
• Teen Life Centers: Closed.
• Youth basketball: All youth basketball games and practices are canceled.
• Small Craft Centers: The Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center and the Green Lake Small Craft Center closed.
• Athletic Fields: Athletic field rentals/games are canceled. Some fields are open for winter play.
• Golf Courses: All golf courses are closed; however, the Jefferson Park driving range, pro shop and grill will be open until 3 p.m. Courses are open to non-motorized winter recreation (please keep off putting greens and away from environmentally sensitive areas near the creeks at Jackson and West Seattle).