Washington State becomes latest partner in long-anticipated project

A new community boathouse that will make Green Lake more accessible to people of any background or ability level will open in 2021. Community volunteers, in partnership with Green Lake Rowing Advisory Council, Associated Recreation Council, and Seattle Canoe and Kayak Club, have raised a total of $5.4 million from public and private sources towards the $6.5 million goal. This includes $951,000 awarded by Washington State Recreation and Conservation office on June 27 and $3 million from the Seattle Park District Major Projects Challenge Fund.

“Our city is surrounded by water, but not everyone can safely or affordably enjoy it, including Green Lake, the most widely used park in our state” said Mike Stanley, president of Green Lake Rowing Advisory Council. “The new community boathouse will be a permanent public gateway to access Green Lake for generations to come.”

The current Green Lake Small Craft Center (GLSCC) houses the 70-year-old Green Lake Crew. Started by storied UW rowing coach Al Ulbrickson in 1948, it is believed to be oldest public junior rowing program in the nation. In 1963, long before Title IX, the crew added a girl’s program, another first for the region. In its seven decades, the crew has introduced thousands of Seattle youth to rowing, opening doors to a diverse community, and even launching some to success on the national and international stage.

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The 10,600 square-foot facility will increase capacity for programs through a combination of expanded and more efficient boat storage and additional instructional space. It will be fully accessible, which makes possible the launch of Seattle’s first public adaptive rowing program and expansion of a parapaddling program. Specialized programs of Seattle Parks and Recreation will also be able to expand their work with individuals of differing physical and cognitive abilities.

User safety will be improved through restrooms, locker facilities, and areas for off-water instruction and community meeting space. In addition, the new boathouse will better engage with Green Lake Park and the heavily used adjacent walking trail. 

“Engagement with the park is a core goal of the project.  We want the public to see all that we do and the building, by its design, will feel much more inclusive,” said Mike Stanley.

“This project will transform lives, from youth to seniors,” said Bob Ratliffe, chair of the Green Lake Community Boathouse Campaign. “Through my children’s rowing, I have witnessed how time in a boat on Green Lake builds confidence and lifelong friendships. This will be a real community treasure.”

The Seattle Park District Major Project Challenge Fund(MPCF) provided seed funding for a pre-design/feasibility study in 2016/2017 and in the 2018 MPCF awarded $2.92 million. The project also has support from both the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and King County Parks in the form of early grants. “Now with the strong support from the State and the City, we are excited to launch the final phase of the private fundraising campaign,” said Mike Stanley. “We clearly have momentum on our side.”

To stay up to date on the progress of the Green Lake Small Craft Center visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/green-lake-small-craft-center-redevelopment

In partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, the public watersport programs at Green Lake are driven and sustained by three nonprofit organizations:

About Associated Recreation Council (ARC)
Seattle Parks and Recreation created this nonprofit partner in 1975 to support and enhance their work. ARC makes equitable, dynamic, culturally relevant, and responsive recreation and lifelong learning programs possible for every Seattle resident. ARC fulfills this mission with the help and support of 36 volunteer-led Advisory Councils around Seattle.

About Green Lake Rowing Advisory Council (RAC)
RAC is one of the 36 volunteer ARC Advisory Councils and guides the activities of Green Lake Crew, the first public youth rowing program in the nation at its founding in 1948. RAC supports opportunities for lifetime enjoyment of watersports on Green Lake. Contact Jill MacCorkle at 206-902-6463 or development@greenlakecrew.org

About Seattle Canoe and Kayak Club (SCKC) Founded in 1969, SCKC is the only public club in Seattle promoting competitive and recreational paddling opportunities for all ages and ability levels. 

The Outdoors for All Foundation transforms lives through outdoor recreation. Founded in 1979 in the Pacific Northwest, Outdoors for All is a national leader in delivering adaptive and therapeutic recreation for children and adults with disabilities. Each year, more than 2,900 individuals exercise their abilities thanks to the training and support of more than 800 volunteers. Outdoors for All enriches the lives of individuals with disabilities and families and helps them to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Outdoors for All’s programs includes snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross country and downhill skiing, cycling, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, youth and adult day camps, yoga, military programs, weekend excursions and custom events.

Public Benefits:

Outdoors for All provides adaptive outdoor recreation programs for children and adults with disabilities. Their Adaptive Cycling Center (located in Magnuson Park) is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. from May 1- September 30 and offers FREE adaptive cycle rentals for people with disabilities and a family member or friend. Outdoors for All offers seasonal programs year-round. These programs include kayaking, rock climbing, cycling, mountain biking, youth and adult summer camps, weekend camping excursions, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. Outdoors for All also offers financial aid for programs on a first come, first-served basis. Outdoors for All serves people with disabilities and their families, recovering veterans, and injured active duty military

For more information, visit https://outdoorsforall.org/

Accessing public benefits: Please call 206-838-6030 ext. 200 for information on how to access these public benefits.

Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Army Corps of Engineers invite the community to an Open House on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Alki Community Center, 5817 SW Stevens St. This Open House is an opportunity for the community to learn about the Emma Schmitz Seawall Replacement project located at 4503 Beach Dr. SW in West Seattle.

The project will replace the existing 500-foot-long seawall constructed in the 1920s that has experienced significant erosion and damage from storm events. Please join us for a short presentation followed by an Open House.

The new seawall will be a “soldier pile” (system of vertical piles spaced at a regular interval with material in between to create a wall) design, built a few feet seaward and a few feet higher than the existing seawall, and equipped with safety handrails that the current seawall lacks.  This design will minimize the impact on the beach, address rising seawater concerns and create better contours for the restoration landscaping on the landward portion of the overlook area.  We anticipate construction in mid-2020.

For more information or please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/emma-schmitz-memorial-overlook. For questions about the project or if you need an interpreter or accommodations please contact Garrett Farrell at garrett.farrell@seattle.gov or 206-233-7921.

The following list contains major events taking place in parks across the city that will impact park use. Be safe, have fun, and plan your park visits accordingly.

Date	Event	Location	Start/End Time
Wed., July 17	32nd Annual Seafair Indian Days	Discovery Park	10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wed., July 17	Happy Hour in Westlake Park	Westlake Park	2:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Sat., July 20	Christmas in July 5K	Gas Works Park	4:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Sat., July 20	Christmas in July 5K	Gas Works Park	4:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Sat., July 20	Float Dodger 5K	Hiawatha Playfield	6:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sat., July 20	Seafair Triathlon Setup	Seward Park	7:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Sat., July 20	Christmas in July 5K	Burke-Gilman Trail	8:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Sun., July 21	Seafair Triathlon	Seward, Colman, Madison parks, Ferdinand & Adams Street boat launches	5:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Sun., July 21	March to the Match	Occidental Square	1:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is partnering with the Little Saigon community to host a BBQ and design review for the new park in the Little Saigon neighborhood. Please join us on Sunday, July 14, 2019 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Pho Bac Súp Shop, 1240 S Jackson St.

This is an opportunity to review the park design, provide final input on the project and learn about the construction timeline. The new park will be located across from Lam’s Seafood Market at 1224 S King St. in the Little Saigon neighborhood. The proposed design by Murase Associates includes an informal open lawn event/ performance space, play area, a ramp with seating opportunities, and a plaza on the Jackson St. side. The meeting will feature play area options for public input. 

 After working closely with the community to identify possible new park locations, SPR purchased the .27-acre site in 2013 to provide the neighborhood access to more open space in this urban area. The design will provide a connection between King and Jackson streets and will incorporate accessibility features in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. SPR will work with the community on the design and encourages community participation.

Funding for this park project is provided by the Seattle Park District. Approved by voters in 2014, the Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding to tackle the $267-million major maintenance backlog for Seattle Parks and Recreation as well as other facilities including the Aquarium and Zoo. In addition, it provides funding to improve and rehabilitate community centers, preserve the urban forest, perform day-to-day maintenance of parks and facilities, provide more recreation opportunities for people from underserved communities, provide programs for people of all ages and abilities, and acquire and develop new park land.

Thank you to Friends of Little Saigon, SCIDpda, the Friends of Little Saigon Advisory Committee, Pho Bac Súp Shop and Lam’s Seafood!

For more information or for meeting notification translations please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/little-saigon-park-development

For questions about the project or if you need an interpreter or accommodations please contact Katie Bang at 206-684-9286 or katie.bang@seattle.gov.

Live music concerts, food trucks, weekly chess tournaments, art activities, games and more!

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and partners are proud to present a variety of free activities happening at City Hall Park (450 3rd Ave.) throughout the summer, including live music concerts, weekly chess tournaments, art activities, and games. Multiple food trucks will also be available in the park on weekdays starting Tuesday, July 9. 

Dilling Way, which borders the southeast area of the park, will be closed through the end of October to provide more space for these activation activities.

City Hall Park summer activities schedule:

• Park concierges and games are available weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Buskers perform from 12 to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
• Food trucks will be available beginning Tuesday, July 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays.
• Live music concerts, presented by SPR and the Downtown Seattle Association,will take place on Tuesdays beginning July 9 through the end of August from 12 to 1 p.m. Buskers will perform after these concerts until 6 p.m.
• Painting in the Park will take place on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. beginning July 11 through the end of August. Community members are invited to stop by and paint a small canvas for FREE and take it home with them.
• Weekly chess tournaments will take place on Fridays at 12 p.m. through September 6.

To see more events happening at downtown Seattle parks, download the Center City Parks Summer Schedule here, or see the event calendar online at www.seattle.gov/parks/downtown.

Fall registration opens August 6. Plan your program enrollment now!

Fall is not far away, and we are excited to announce that the Seattle Parks and Recreation fall program brochures have arrived! From preschool programs and licensed school-age care to citywide athletics, pool programs, and community center classes, we offer something for everyone.

Click on the links below to browse through the brochures:

Southeast Community Centers

Northeast Community Centers

Southwest Community Centers

Northwest Community Centers

In the words of tidying up expert Marie Kondo, does it spark joy? If it doesn’t for you, it might for someone else! Clear your clutter and join your neighbors for a community swap meet. Buy, sell or donate your unwanted goods. Light refreshments provided. FREE admission. Rent a table for $10, proceeds benefit Rainbow Recreation.

For more information or to reserve a table, call 206-615-0619 or email cheryl.brown@seattle.gov.

Presented by Rainbow Recreation, programs for LGBTQ+ adults 50+ and allies.

The following list contains major events taking place in parks across the city that will impact park use. Be safe, have fun, and plan your park visits accordingly.

Date	Event	Location	Start/End
Wed., Jul 10	Happy Hour Westlake Park	Westlake Park	2:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Thurs., Jul 11	Northwest Wake Surf Open	Seward Park	6:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Fri., Jul 12	Ballard Seafood Fest	Bergen Place, Ballard Commons	6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Fri., Jul 12	West Seattle Summer Fest	Junction Plaza Park	8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Fri., Jul 12	Seafair Milk Carton Derby	Green Lake Park	9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Fri., Jul 12	Queen Anne Days Festival	Queen Anne Playfield	12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sat., Jul 13	Seattle to Portland Bike Ride	Seward Park	4:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Sat., Jul 13	Fat Salmon Open Water Swim	Day Street Park, Madison Park	5:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Sat., Jul 13	Dragonfest	Hing Hay Park	6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sat., Jul 13	Run Like a Viking 5	Burke-Gilman Trail, Ballard to Golden Gardens	7:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Sat., Jul 13	Spina Bifida 5K	Magnuson Park	8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sat., Jul 13	Wallingford Parade	Meridian Playground	8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sat., Jul 13 & 14	Ballard Seafood Fest	Marvin’s Garden	11 AM- 11 PM
Sun., Jul 14	March to the Match	Occidental Square	90-minutes prior to kickoff
Sun., Jul 14	Bicycle Sunday	Adams Street Boat Ramp, Colman Park, Lake WA Blvd N. & S., Ferdinand Boat Launch, Seward Park, Mt. Baker Park	10 am –  6 pm