2017 has been a busy year for all of us at Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR)! We’ve been working in every corner of the city to maintain our 485 parks and 27 community centers, restore our urban forest, build new parks and play areas, meet with community members to hear public input and plan for the future, and provide hundreds of programs, summer camps, swim lessons, and much more. Read on to learn about some of our 2017 accomplishments supporting a healthy environment. Click the following links to see how we are also supporting healthy people and strong communities.
Healthy Environment
As stewards of 6,400 acres of parkland, we integrate an environmental ethic into our everyday activities. From constructing energy-efficient facilities, to increasing our tree canopy, to prioritizing the use of non-toxic products in our parks, we strive to prioritize a sustainable and environmentally-friendly philosophy in everything we do. This year, we renewed our commitment to the environment with the development of our Healthy Environment Action Agenda, which guides us in reducing our impact on the environment, eliminating disparities in underserved communities by focusing on environmental justice, and creating sustainable public spaces that are welcoming and accessible to all.
This year, through the Green Seattle Partnership, volunteers donated more than 10,200 hours of work to preserve our urban forests. In 2017, we cleared 100+ acres of invasive species and planted 10,034 plants on Green Seattle Day!
We installed eight electric vehicle charging stations at three facility locations. These eight stations will support new fully electric cars in our fleet that are replacing gas/hybrid vehicles. In addition, we’re participating in Seattle City Light’s pilot program to install fast-charging stations throughout the City for public use. We’re investigating specific locations; look for one near you in 2018!
In 2017, we joined with other partners to sign a treaty designating the City of Seattle as an Urban Bird Treaty City. The Urban Bird Treaty program works to create bird-friendly environments through habitat conservation and invasive species control, and provides community members, especially youth, with opportunities to connect with nature through birding and conservation. Learn more here.