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Seattle Parks and Recreation Staffing and Program Impacts

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Updated Tuesday, January 25, 2022

As Covid-19 rises again in our region this winter, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) continues to monitor its impact and follow safety directives from local public health authorities.

Prior to the arrival of the Omicron variant, the pandemic had a considerable effect on SPR staffing levels – due initially to strict safety protocols, but then to attrition from illness, job changes, and challenging local hiring conditions. We have been actively recruiting to fill these vacancies. The current Omicron surge in our area has further impacted our ability to staff programs.

To that end, the following SPR facilities and/or programs have been affected due to COVID-19 contraction or exposure:

  • Community centers continue to be open only to those signed up for classes, child care, and registered drop-in activities
  • For childcare updates, please call your community center or the childcare hotline at 206-684-4203

As a reminder, please note that for entry into any open Seattle Parks and Recreation indoor facility, we require proof of vaccination, or proof of a negative test, as directed by Seattle King County Public Health.

We share your disappointment at the impact the pandemic continues to have on our community and our staff. Know that we are working diligently to fill gaps by equitably placing existing employees in areas of critical need and hiring as quickly as conditions and the local job market allow. We have high hopes for 2022 and, fingers crossed, look forward to getting back to regular programming as soon as possible.

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Climate Resilient Parks: Tomorrow (3 of 3)

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By Todd Burley

The impact of climate change is being felt here in Seattle today, and Seattle Parks and Recreation is already taking many actions to adapt to hotter and drier summers, wildfire smoke, intense winter rain events, and sea level rise. Yet we realize that this new reality will be one we must mitigate for in the coming decades and longer. This means that across all our future operations and planning, we must think about our projected climate to create a resilient parks and recreation system for tomorrow.

People

People sit on bleachers outdoors at one a Seattle Parks and Recreation athletic field, watching a soccer game. The sky is clear and blue, and trees are fall colored.

The health of visitors to Seattle’s parks and of the employees who maintain and work in them is central to our department’s values. The primary concern for people regarding climate change is extreme heat events and associated increased prevalence of wildfire smoke. To further support their resiliency, SPR will plant more evergreen trees to provide year-round shade, as well as planning to convert more wading pools to spray parks and increasing swimming beach staffing and hours to allow for more cooling options. We will also continue conversions of all artificial turf fields to using cork infill to reduce field heat. In our buildings, we will make improvements to allow for the addition of cooling and air filtration systems in more buildings in the long-term and add other cooling features such as misting stations and shading in the near-term.

Plants and Animals

An ecological informational sign is shown at a trail head for a trail at a Seattle Park on an overcast day.

The plants and animals that live in Seattle’s parks are increasingly impacted by more intense winter storms, hotter drier summers, and more pests. To support a more resilient system, SPR plans to expand and standardize our mulching throughout our parks to improve healthy soil that can withstand extremes of weather. We will also select climate resilient species and varieties for planting and give them a solid start by extending their establishment period. This includes increasing our turf diversity to allow for more meadow-like areas that retain water and increase biodiversity. We will also look to reusing water for irrigation purposes to save money and resources. Finally, we will be restoring shoreline habitats along lakes, creeks, and ocean to support these important ecosystems.

Saltwater Shorelines

A picture shows the beach at Discovery Park on a clear sunny day. The beach is seen next to a walking path with grass and shrubbery in between.

The 11 miles of saltwater shorelines managed by SPR will continue to be impacted from rising seas and king tide events. SPR could further support our resiliency through working with other City agencies and regional partners to map and track sea level rise impacts and conducting a coastal infrastructure and habitat assessment to identify our greatest vulnerabilities and potential actions to address them. This information will also lead into the development of updated planning and development standards – from construction to restoration – and the creation of resilient designs such as soft shoreline techniques.

Infrastructure

Six Parks staff are working to install a walking path in a park forested area. They are using tools such as a gravel rake, shovels, and boards to set gravel flush.

SPR maintains many different types of infrastructure, from built elements such as seawalls and roads to natural elements like green stormwater infrastructure and trees. Climate change impacts these infrastructure elements in different ways, so mitigation and adaptation strategies will vary as well. To understand the climate impacts to infrastructure SPR should conduct a comprehensive assessment looking at vulnerabilities as outlined in the Climate Resiliency in Seattle’s Parks and Recreation System strategy. Known impact, however, should be acted on immediately, including continuing trail improvements and maintenance of green stormwater infrastructure to manage winter storm events. SPR will also continue and expand tree inspections, particularly near play areas, and invest in additional irrigation upgrades to support tree health.

Facilities

A picture shows the entrance to Northgate Community Center on a sunny day.

In addition to the improvements made to support healthy people in our buildings such as cooling systems that filter the air, SPR facilities will require significant investments over the coming decade to adapt to the impacts of climate change. This could include energy resilience projects such as solar microgrids or other alternative energy investments to create independent and sustainable electricity, especially for emergency response. We should also look to improve the building envelope (i.e. sealing air gaps) in our community centers to allow for additional cooling and air filtration systems. To support these efforts, SPR can conduct a facility assessment to understand the full extent of our needs and to prioritize projects with equity. As we look to the long-term, SPR will also need to update building standards to adapt to our new climate reality.

Adapting to the challenges of climate change in Seattle will be an ongoing priority for Seattle Parks and Recreation. The strategies listed above, in addition to the full vulnerabilities assessment, is now available in the recently released Climate Resiliency in Seattle’s Parks and Recreation System strategy. As the science improves and the impacts become more immediate, SPR will continue to adapt our strategies, investments, and actions in response to climate change.

Read the full strategy: Climate Resiliency in Seattle’s Parks and Recreation System

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Kubota Garden Restroom Construction Begins

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Seattle Parks and Recreation is happy to announce that construction will begin for a new restroom and pathway improvements at Kubota Garden through a contract with Optimus Construction and Development Inc. The contractor will mobilize on site on Monday, January 31, 2022. 

The project is a result of the Kubota Garden 2019 Master Plan Update process, which was created in partnership with the Kubota Garden Foundation. This current phase of the project will expand ADA access in the garden and enhance the visitor experience by creating two all-gender restrooms, ADA-accessible pathways, and a picnic area will be developed in the 5-acre Terrace Overlook area. The project will include removal of 14 trees from the south side of the parking lot area to make room for an accessible ramp and future parking lot improvements. The trees will be replaced with two trees for every one removed. Construction is anticipated to be completed by summer 2022.

Funding for this project is through a Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant for $500,000 and a Land and Water Conservation fund grant for $500,000. Additionally, the Seattle Park District Major Projects Challenge Fund is contributing $100,000 with the Kubota Garden Foundation providing additional volunteer labor.

The construction will impact the south entrance to the garden, the pathways leading from the south entrance to the Terrace Overlook, and access to the picnic area. When pathways are closed, directional signage leading to alternate routes will be provided. Seattle Parks and Recreation and the contractor are working closely with garden staff and with the Kubota Garden Foundation to minimize impacts to public access to the garden.

Located in South Seattle, Kubota Garden is a stunning 20-acre landscape that blends Japanese garden concepts with native Northwest plants. The city acquired the property, which is a historic landmark, in 1987 from the estate of master landscaper Fujitaro Kubota.

For more information please visit: https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/kubota-garden-improvements. For more information about Kubota Garden and the Kubota Garden Foundation please visit: http://www.kubotagarden.org/.

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Seattle Parks and Recreation needs input on the future of pickleball in Seattle’s parks

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Everyone is encouraged to participate in this short survey!

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is seeking input from tennis and pickleball players on how we can best support the growth of pickleball. Everyone is encouraged to participate in a short survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SeattlePickleball), whether you play pickleball or not, your thoughts are invaluable as we plan for the future of this sport in Seattle.

Your answers to the survey questions will inform how we:

  • Approach immediate improvements such as dual striping existing tennis courts for pickleball (for which some funding is available now);
  • Add pickleball lines to tennis courts during programmatic resurfacing and renovation projects; and
  • Develop options for future dedicated pickleball courts (yet to be funded).

This survey is part of the 2021-2022 Pickleball Study funded by the Seattle Park District.  An advisory committee is meeting throughout the study and additional community engagement will include two public meetings. Dates and venues for the meetings will be posted on the project page.

To find out more about the study and to subscribe to updates please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/projects/2021-2022-outdoor-pickleball-study or contact Oliver Bazinet at oliver.bazinet@seattle.gov.

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Marra-Desimone Park opens after major renovation!

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Seattle Parks and Recreation is happy to announce the Marra-Desimone Park renovation is substantially complete and the park is open. Marra-Desimone Park (including Marra-farm) is located at 501 South Director Street in the South Park neighborhood.

SPR developed the park renovation plan through extensive community engagement and used the 2008 Marra-Desimone Park Long Range Development Plan as a launching point for the park design. The park provides a start to an accessible, multi-use, and attractive park that will improve park/farm safety and visibility through Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles. The renovated park, shaped by budget and community priorities, is a phased park development that includes accessible pathways and walking loops, a central open green area, benches, picnic tables, drainage improvements, paved parking lot with ADA parking, new irrigation system with solar powered control system, and 80+ trees and grass plantings.

Subsequent phases of park development will address other community/park needs, including addition of a play area, added park benches, more picnic tables, gathering facilities (shelters, meeting space, Harvest Center), farm improvements, and other active play facilities. As part of the Marra-Desimone Park improvement project, SPR is collaborated with SDOT on street accessibility improvements on South 7th St. and Director Avenue South and included these improvements into the construction project.

This project is funded by the Parks and Green Spaces Levy.

For more information about this project and to download translated flyer please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/marra-desimone/.  For questions contact Jay Rood, Seattle Parks and Recreation, 206-733-9194 or jay.rood@seattle.gov.

A picture of Marra-Desimone park shows recently planted trees and a park bench, with 2 people walking along a path.
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Duwamish Waterway Park Play Area Open

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Remainder of Duwamish Waterway Park and beach area to reopen after additional environmental remediation work

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR), Seattle Parks Foundation and the Friends of Duwamish Waterway Park, opened the play area at Duwamish Waterway Park, 7900 10th Ave. S in South Park in late August.  SPR purchased the 1.3-acre, main lawn portion of the park from King County after a community-led process to make the entire property a permanent neighborhood riverfront park. A small portion of the park area is owned by the Port of Seattle, but has been operated as part of the park for many years.

SPR is working with the contractor, the Port of Seattle, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), and the Duwamish River Community Coalition regarding additional environmental remediation needs before opening the remainder of the park. Seattle Parks and Recreation activities to date include renovation of the park and partial removal of soil contamination discovered between 2014 and 2019. After the soil removal, the addressed areas were covered with clean soil, grass, and/or concrete and the actions were reported to the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) through the Voluntary Cleanup Program. After consulting with Ecology and the Duwamish River Community Coalition, Seattle Parks and Recreation identified further actions are needed before opening the remainder of the park. Completion of the cleanup of the park will be advised by Ecology under the Voluntary Cleanup Program and the Duwamish River Community Coalition to ensure we are in agreement with the community goals.  Though the schedule for cleanup is yet to be determined, SPR is working to open the remainder of the park as soon as possible.

Working with SPR and the Seattle Parks Foundation, the Friends of Duwamish Waterway Park raised over $1 million for park improvements and launched the renovation effort as this park is a high priority for the community. The community led and funded park project is carefully designed to maximize open space for recreation and festivals, and to preserve river access for launching hand-carried boats. SPR renovated the park which now offers a new play area, an accessible perimeter pathway with a series of interpretive artwork boulders, new park furnishings with accessible picnic tables, barbecues, as well as a drinking fountain and foot wash area. Voluntary Cleanup Program activities to address the contamination at the park to date have been funded separately.

For additional information please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/projects/duwamish-waterway-park  or contact Karen O’Connor at karen.oconnor@seattle.gov.

For more information on the status of the site cleanup under the Voluntary Cleanup Program, see Ecology’s webpage (Site Information (wa.gov)).

Translations: Spanish Vietnamese Somali Hmong

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Climate Resiliency: Acting Today for Tomorrow (2 of 3)

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By Todd Burley

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is not immune from the impacts of climate change, as we described in the last blog post in our Climate Resiliency series, Climate Resiliency: Impacts to Seattle’s Parks and Recreation System. Extreme heat, sea level rise, intense rain events, and more are the new reality in our region, and SPR must adapt to this reality in order to maintain a resilient parks and recreation system.

While climate change is a long-term concern, we are taking actions today to mitigate the impacts from our new reality. Our upcoming strategy Climate Resiliency in Seattle’s Parks and Recreation System breaks down these impacts and actions into several categories: Plants & Animals, Saltwater Shorelines, People, Infrastructure, and Facilities.

People

Three children play at a Seattle spray park in the summer.

Over 750,000 people rely on Seattle’s parks and recreational programs for exercise, respite, and health. Our parks are free and accessible spaces to cool down on hot days, which are becoming more common with climate change. SPR’s 489 parks provide trees for shade and clean air. We have also installed heat pumps and other systems in some of our community centers to provide clean and cool air during extreme heat days.

SPR also has 11 spray parks, 22 wading pools, and many swimming beaches that offer opportunities on hot days to cool off safely. Ensuring these water features are adequately staffed during the summer is a priority for SPR as we endure the impacts of climate change. We are also converting all our artificial turf fields to cork infill instead of rubber, which reduces heat exposure for players.

Access to healthy local food is an important climate justice issue, and SPR’s Urban Food Systems Program manages about 700 fruit trees that are available for harvest, hosts dozens of P-Patch community gardens, and supports healthy food programming in our community centers.

Plants & Animals

Two parks grounds maintenance staff inspect a sprinkler at a Seattle park.

SPR manages over 6,400 acres of parks and open space, most of which is covered by forest and fields, including an estimated 500,000 trees. The changing climate means we must adapt to longer and hotter summers, intense winter rainstorms, and more pests. The Green Seattle Partnership forest restoration program is already planning ahead by planting climate resilient strains of native evergreen trees and shrubs and watering new plants for four or five years to help with establishment. Our arborists inspect trees regularly to identify and manage health concerns. And new plants are now chosen from a climate-resilient plant list to ensure long-term survival of these species.

On the ground, SPR uses a “smart” irrigation system that ensures plants get the water they need without wasting any. Our crews also spread mulch under trees and in garden beds to retain moisture in the summer and release it slowly during winter rainstorms. And in our turf areas, we have raised all mowing heights to a minimum of three-inches and expanded our meadow areas, which strengthens plants for extreme weather (while also supporting more wildlife habitat).

Saltwater Shorelines

A paddleboarder is seen in the Puget Sound with a yellow cloudy sunset in the background.

SPR manages about 11 miles of saltwater coastline, most notably at regional parks like Discovery, Alki, and Lincoln Parks. The Beach Restoration Program, while originally meant to support salmon habitat, has also helped strengthen beaches against storm surges. The Green Seattle Partnership continues to remove invasive plants and place native species in many of our forested shorelines. By stabilizing steep slopes and increasing nearshore habitat, these shorelines can better withstand rising seas and increased rain intensity.

Infrastructure

A coastal area shows a beach during low tide with houses and a slope in the background.

Maintaining aging infrastructure is not new to SPR, however the added impacts from climate change are a new challenge. Along Seattle’s coastline where sea-level rise and king tides are already present, we are removing seawalls and restoring natural beaches, such as at Lowman Beach Park. In our natural areas, the Seattle Trails Program works to ensure heavy winter rains are diverted under or around trails and bridges are rebuilt to account for winter storms.

Facilities

A picture shows Golden Gardens Park on a summer evening. People are playing frisbee on the beach.

SPR is lucky that most of our buildings are not within the impact zones for sea-level rise or near steep slopes. However, with miles of saltwater coastline to manage, we now incorporate sea-level rise projections into our planning. We also partnered with Seattle City Light to install a solar-powered microgrid at Miller Community Center that can act as an independent clean energy emergency shelter during disasters and have added emergency generators to all our community centers that are designated Tier 1 priority shelters. In addition, SPR has installed water reuse cisterns, including our largest, a 300 cubic foot tank at Northgate Community Center.

Climate change has both short-term and long-term impacts. SPR takes its role as a steward of public space in Seattle seriously and is both taking action today and preparing for tomorrow to continue to provide the parks and programs Seattle’s residents rely on. Our next blog post in this series will focus on additional actions we can take to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

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Participate in upcoming forums for the design of a new Rainier Beach Skateboard Park

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Seattle Parks and Recreation, CHAMPS Resource and Service Center and Parents for Skateparks encourage the Rainier Beach community to participate in upcoming design forums for a new Rainier Beach Skate Park.  Please join us online on January 19, April 20, and July 20 from 6 – 8 p.m. on Zoom.  To register for the online meeting please visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRjiwHO2qUNYAkmwH5qpwZ1xrpV5jwei3gJ0QYS0HC2iDtBA/viewform.

For the last four years, CHAMPS has been hosting events to discuss a new skateboard park in southeast Seattle that would attract youth and provide a safe gathering place. They are partnering with Parents for Skateparks and are excited to work with the community on the design. 

This project includes a feasibility study, conceptual design, and cost estimate for a new skateboard park at Rainier Beach Playfield.  It is funded by the Department of Neighborhoods, Neighborhood Match Fund. This is a community-led project and construction is not currently funded. The design will naturally integrate skateboarding into the surrounding landscape and feature a mix of street and transition-style terrain, with elements for all age groups and ability levels. It will draw local users to the skatepark, and challenge both beginners and experienced users.

The new skatepark at Rainier Beach Playfield will be a great addition to the Rainier Beach Community Center, local sporting activities schools, “Where’s the Beach” Link2Lake Project, the new Rainier Beach High School and the many multi-family units coming to the neighborhood.

For additional information please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/projects/rainier-beach-playfield-skatepark or contact Pam Kliment at Pamela.kliment@seattle.gov.

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Climate Resilience: Impacts to Seattle’s Parks and Recreation System (1 of 3)

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By Todd Burley

The climate is changing, this is clear. According to the 2021 Climate Change: The Physical Science Basis report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.” These impacts – including sea level rise, extreme heat, intense rainstorms, and more – are already being seen in Seattle.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is adapting to our changing climate by managing a resilient system today and planning for one in the future. In the coming weeks we will be releasing a new report, Climate Resiliency in Seattle’s Parks and Recreation System, which details impacts to Seattle’s parks and programs. This report lays out the impacts of climate change, what we are doing currently to adapt to these changes, and some recommendations on what we can do in the future. In preparation for this, we are sharing some information about climate resiliency in a series of three blog posts. Today we explore the impacts of climate change to Seattle’s parks and recreation system.

SPR reviewed the most recent science on climate change impact for our region and identified six areas of most concern: sea level rise, weather shifts, heavy rain, extreme weather, reduced snowpack, and air pollution. Each of these impacts affect multiple areas of operation for SPR.

People

A child smiles and plays at a Seattle Parks spray park feature.

SPR’s parks and programs are vitally important for our residents, and climate change will create many challenges for them. Increased wildfire smoke, extreme heat events, and snowstorms will impact vulnerable populations most dramatically. In addition, such weather shifts will impact programming both indoors and outdoors. The same impacts will be felt by SPR’s employees as well. Yet these impacts are  not born equally; low-income and residents of color are disproportionately impacted by climate change.

Infrastructure

A picture shows a West Seattle pier overlooking Elliot Bay at dusk.

SPR cares for many infrastructure elements in our parks that may be impacted by sea level rise, heavy rain events, and extreme weather due to climate change. Sea walls, docks, piers, and shoreline trails are all at risk from a rising sea level and the associated king tide events that amplify this impact. In addition, trails in our natural areas and developed parks are likely to be damaged due to winter heavy rain events, landslides, and flooding. The same extreme weather events will also stress green stormwater infrastructure in our parks system, making them less effective for managing run-off. Finally, extreme heat events can damage roadways, and potentially impact the integrity and durability of materials in our buildings, play structures, and other elements of the built environment.

Saltwater Shorelines

An evening picture looks out onto the Puget Sound with a cloudy yellow sunset. A paddle boarder can be seen in on the saltwater.

Parks located along shorelines are vulnerable to sea level rise, as many contain large tidelands, sensitive ecosystems, or beaches. Saltwater incursion from rising ocean water can impact nearshore plants, causing decline and altering the habitat of this transitional ecosystem. Beaches in our parks are vulnerable to erosion from rising sea levels, and landslides along shoreline slopes are more likely due to severe winter storm events.

Plants & Animals

A picture shows environmental education detail sign at a Seattle Parks trailhead.

SPR stewards the vast majority of habitat for the urban wildlife and plants in our community, most of which will be impacted by a changing climate. Climatic shifts, including hotter and drier summers as well as wetter winters, stress plants and animals that have adapted to particular conditions. This can lead to an increase in unhealthy algal blooms in lakes and ponds. Increased saturation from winter rains combined with an increase in pests and summer droughts can combine to increase tree failures for many species. New plants will need longer establishment periods at a time when water may increase in cost. As the seasons shift in duration or timing, insects and birds reliant on blooms and berries arriving at certain times may have difficulty finding the food needed to prosper. Salmon, adapted to spring melt bringing cold water at certain times for spawning are impacted by shifts in snow accumulation, in addition to riparian habitat loss due to climatic shifts.

Facilities

A picture shows Golden Gardens beach on a summer evening with a yellow sunset and people playing frisbee on the beach.

The buildings and other facilities in SPR’s system are also vulnerable to the impacts from climate change. Some impacts are secondary, such as loss of power due to downed trees, or increased use in extreme weather events. Along Seattle’s saltwater shorelines, however, buildings, picnic shelters, outdoor pools, and other structures are also directly at risk from rising sea levels. Erosion and intense storm events can damage foundations, utilities, and other infrastructure elements of the building. Also, it is possible the life of materials will be shortened due to extreme heat and other impacts.

SPR analyzed each of these projected impacts and conducted a vulnerability assessment to help us prioritize our investments and plans over the coming decades depending on the severity of the impact and the expected time of impact. This information will act as a guide as we implement our Strategic Plan and determine where funding is best directed.

Knowing of these climate impacts, SPR is making changes today to adapt. In the next blog post we will share some of the current actions we are taking to build a resilient parks and recreation system. Climate change is here today, and we must act now to continue to steward our system for future generations.

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Seattle Parks and Recreation closures for Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday

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Many Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed Monday, Jan. 17 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

These facilities and services are CLOSED:

  • Community centers and all programs
  • Teen life centers
  • Environmental learning centers
  • Indoor swimming pools
  • Small craft centers
  • Volunteer Park Conservatory

These facilities are OPEN on regular schedules:

  • Boat ramps
  • Interbay, Jackson Park, Jefferson Park and West Seattle golf courses and ranges
  • Amy Yee Tennis Center
  • Parks
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