At Seattle Parks and Recreation, we’re here to help you start the New Year off right! From spending more time in nature, to being more active, to connecting with others, we have countless ways to support your 2018 health and wellness goals.
Are you looking for ways to be more active in 2018? With 120 miles of trails, 485 parks, 27 community centers, dozens of sports leagues, eight indoor pools, 165 tennis courts, 204 athletic fields, and much more, Seattle Parks and Recreation has no shortage of opportunities to help you to get moving.
- Explore stair climbing workouts: You can find several grueling sets of stairs in many of our parks. Race to the top for a heart pounding workout that often features an amazing view. See our favorite parks featuring great stair climbing workouts here.
- Sign up for a new sport: Step out of your comfort zone and try a new sport or activity this year! We have softball leagues, roller derby programs, pickleball tournaments and more. See our latest offerings for adults here and see our spring youth sports here.
- Take Fido for a walk: Crowded urban landscapes can be a challenge for dog owners, but Seattle’s 6,400 acres of parklands make it easy for pooches and their pals to hang out and exercise together. Click here to see our favorite parks that have that special “something” to set tails wagging.
Intuitively we all know that a hike in the woods is relaxing and restorative, but did you know that there is a wealth of science that proves spending time in nature can have serious benefits for your health? From reducing depression and high blood pressure, to accelerating recovery from surgery or illness, spending more time in nature is a simple and effective way to improve your mental and physical wellbeing.
- Restore our forests: Volunteering with the Green Seattle Partnership is a great way to give back to your community while getting outside and improving the health of a local park. Find a community event near you and dig in next to your neighbors.
- Celebrate the Year of the Bird: Did you know 2018 is the Year of the Bird? Discovery Park is excited to invite you to celebrate with us! We will have multiple opportunities for community members to engage with the avian world. Upcoming programs include Hawkwatching (for adults 50 years and older) and our first Bird Tour of the spring on March 24. Pre-register for events here or by calling 206-386-4237.
- Hop into spring with your little ones: Bring your children to Discovery Park on March 24 for our “Hop into Spring” event. We’ll explore the wonders of nature by running and jumping through the park as we watch spring unfurl in the meadow and the forest. Fee: $5 per child; adults free. Registration details here.
Strong relationships and social support networks are important elements to a healthy lifestyle. At Seattle Parks and Recreation, we help foster community connections: our programs bring diverse groups of people together for recreation and healthy living activities, our community centers serve as the living room of our neighborhoods, and our parks and open spaces provide gathering places for families and social groups.
- Sign up for Summer Camps: We have all kinds of camps available this summer to help keep youth active and engaged. From Junior Naturalist Programs, to Soccer Camps, to Kid’s Carpentry Camp and beyond, we have something for everyone! Registration open February 7; see our 2018 camp brochure here.
- Volunteer with our Park Inspection program: Meet new people, give back to your community, and learn more about your local parks by volunteering with our new Volunteer Park Inspection program. As part of the program, volunteers work with staff to evaluate our parks and identify problems so that we can repair assets when needed and attend to any deficiencies exposed by the inspections. Learn more here.
- Start training for Bicycle Sundays: As part of Bicycle Sundays, we invite the community to bicycle or walk along Lake Washington Boulevard south of Mount Baker Beach to Seward Park’s entrance on select Sundays this summer. New to biking? Start training for Bicycle Sundays by checking out these recommendations for great places to bike in Seattle.