Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is happy to announce the Hiawatha Community Center is welcoming back the community on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Please join us for the official ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. in West Seattle’s Admiral District, 2700 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116.
The community celebration will feature music, refreshments, and open tot gym time. Mayor Katie Wilson emphasized the essential role that community centers play in keeping neighborhoods vibrant and resilient.
“Community centers are where Seattle’s social fabric gets reinforced–through trust, culture and everyday connection,” says Mayor Wilson. “Hiawatha Community Center has long been a place for West Seattle to gather, for families to enjoy themselves, and for people to connect across generations and cultures.”
“The reopening of our beloved Hiawatha Community Center has long been top priority for my office, and I’m incredibly pleased to finally see its doors open again,” says Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1). “West Seattle has waited a long time for this moment, and this project is deeply important to the neighbors who rely on Hiawatha as a place to gather and connect. I want to thank Seattle Parks and Recreation for their commitment to this project and for making this the first fully decarbonized community center in Seattle. I’m also grateful to the community members who have been emailing and calling my office to advocate for this space. Their persistence, partnership, and engagement made this reopening possible.”
“We are so excited to open this community center. The renovation of the building creates an anchor for the neighborhood. It furthers Seattle Parks and Recreation’s values of Vibrant Communities, Healthy People, and Thriving Environment. We look forward to offering a welcoming space with programs for all,” says Michele Finnagen, Interim Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation.
SPR renovated the building to increase the life of the facility and increase programming potential. The result is a greatly enhanced public space, improving functionality of the building, addressing long-term maintenance concerns, while respecting the historic aspects of the building. The renovations included seismic retrofit of the gym and building’s brick veneer, new energy efficient windows, a roof replacement, renovation of the restrooms and kitchen and installation of a new electrified HVAC system. Additionally, the renovation of the lobby creates a more welcoming entrance for all.
Hiawatha Community Center is the oldest community center in the SPR system and now is the first fully electrified community center. Electrification reduces reliance on fossil fuels in favor of more sustainable energy systems. This process is crucial, as buildings account for approximately 40% of Seattle’s climate pollution. These upgrades to mechanical systems demonstrate SPR’s environmental values.
The community center will be offering drop-in activities, facility tours, and community engagement opportunities at Hiawatha Community Center through the end of March as we work on finishing touches on the building. Please take this short survey (https://forms.office.com/g/AidwzDbuSb) and help inform the future programming at the center.
To stay up to date on the project please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/projects/community-center-stabilization-overview/hiawatha-community-center-stabilization.
