Thanks to funding from the Seattle Park District as part of the Community Center Strategic Plan, starting on January 1, 2017, most drop-in activities at our community centers will now be free!
During a public outreach process, we heard from many communities that even small drop-in fees can be a barrier for people with low incomes, preventing many from taking part in some of our basic activities and services. As part of our work to ensure that community centers are accessible to all, we proposed in the Community Center Strategic Plan to eliminate drop-in fees. The Mayor and City Council agreed, and eliminated drop-in fees as part of the 2017/2018 budget process.
Most drop-in activities will now be free at all Community Centers.
In general, a true drop-in activity is one that does not regularly hire staff or have regular materials and supply costs. For most community centers, this means the following activities are now free:
- Tot Gyms and Tot Rooms
- Fitness Rooms
- Basketball, Pickleball, Dodgeball, Volleyball
- Pool Tables
- Table games like Bridge or Mahjong
- and most other activities that previously had $1, $2, or $3 drop-in fees.
The following kinds of activities will continue to charge a fee:
- Program drop-in (paying for a class one session at a time)
- Special events
- Drop-in activities held outside normal operating hours
For more information, or if you have questions about a previously purchased punch card for drop-in activities, please contact your local community center.