On Friday (6/5), the State approved King County’s Safe Start plan for a Modified Phase 1. Under this plan, outdoor recreation and gatherings of up to five people outside the household are permitted but some activities, facilities, and events remain restricted. Additionally, social distancing is still required. This guidance remains in place through Phase 2.
In place of “Keep It Moving” messaging, Seattle Parks and Recreation will be asking park goers to “Keep It Small and Simple.” The public is encouraged to visit parks and enjoy trails, walking paths, and lawns, but must refrain from large gatherings, large sport games, or parties.
Popular parks will close early, at 9:30pm, and parking restrictions will continue to limit crowding. Additionally, the Seward Park and Green Lake loops will continue to be pedestrian only, and Green Lake will continue to be one-way.
Seattle Parks and Recreation will begin taking reservations for athletic field practices starting on June 17 for select fields, with permitted practices starting July 1 for organizations committed to operating consistent with the Governor’s guidance, a prerequisite for reserving fields. Several fields throughout the city will be reserved for informal drop-in use by the public throughout the summer.
All boat ramps will be open to the public by June 20. Social distancing at boat ramps and when out on the water is still critical. Additional details on boat ramps here.
Select swimming areas will reopen with lifeguards present daily, starting on July 1, at: Pritchard Beach, West Green Lake, Matthews Beach, Madison Beach, and Mt. Baker Beach. We strongly encourage the public to only swim at lifeguarded beaches. Indoor and outdoor pools, wading pools and spray parks will remain closed for the summer. While the Governor has permitted pool use in phase 1.5 with very limited capacity, Seattle Parks and Recreation previously decided to focus staff resources to provide outdoor lifeguarded swimming areas for summer 2020. Fall aquatic programming will be announced in August.
Outdoor tennis and basketball courts, disc golf, community gardens and skate parks are now open for public use. Maintenance crews will be reinstalling nets and hoops over the next few weeks. No more than five people should be on the court at a time, players should refrain from sharing sports equipment, and give each other six-feet of social distance while recreating.
Outdoor amenities that are OPEN to groups of five or less with social distancing:
- Tennis/pickleball courts
- Basketball courts
- Golf courses
- Boat ramps (by June 20)
- Trails and walking paths
- Outdoor BBQ grills
- Picnic tables (picnic shelters being reserved for 7/1 and beyond)
- Public restrooms
- Skateparks
- Off Leash Areas
- Volleyball courts
- Athletic fields (for non-organized use and team practices starting 7/1)
- Swimming Areas (possibly by mid July at 5 locations)
- For a full list visit this post on the blog
Amenities that remain CLOSED:
- Play areas and playgrounds
- Picnic shelters
- Fire pits
- Wading pools and indoor/ outdoor pools
- Spray parks (currently prohibited)
- Community centers programs
- For a full list visit this post on the blog
Social Distancing Ambassadors will still have a presence in parks to give daily reports on park usage, and to remind the public of the need to refrain from larger gatherings or pick-up games.
While many of the closed amenities cannot be fully secured or locked, Seattle Parks and Recreation is asking the public to honor the closures as part of the community’s collective response and individual responsibility to keep everyone safe. We are all responsible for making our parks a safe place for people to enjoy with adequate social distance to keep our communities healthy: Stay home if sick, visit parks closer to home, visit parks when they are less busy, keep gatherings very small, and wash your hands frequently.