Parkways Seattle Parks and Recreation

Child Care Assistance Program and Seattle Parks & Recreation school-age programs accepting new enrollments with 50% off family copays in Rainier Beach, West Seattle, Magnolia, and citywide.

Seattle Parks and Recreation is excited to announce in partnership with DEEL the extension of childcare copay relief for income-eligible families through June 20201. See the blog below from DEEL for more information!

SEATTLE (March 11, 2021) – The City of Seattle is extending childcare copay relief for income-eligible families through June 2021 in the Department of Education and Early Learning’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and Seattle Parks and Recreation’s child care programs. Both programs are accepting new enrollments at providers and locations across the city, as more businesses prepare to open and more parents return to work.

“It has been a year since school buildings first closed and parents began navigating how to provide safe and affordable care for their children during the pandemic. Extending our childcare copay relief recognizes the long impact COVID-19 has had—and continues to have—on our families and communities, and we hope it will help relieve some of the strain parents are feeling as they continue dealing with the effects of COVID-19 on their families,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan.

“Accessible and safe childcare is integral to our economic recovery. Vaccination and childcare access, together, will help speed our efforts to safely re-open and work to recover from the COVID-19 recession and impacts. I am delighted to see the city’s childcare investments making an immediate impact for families to continue to receive this vital service, providing stability and safety for both children and their parents,” said Seattle City Council President M. Lorena González (Position 9, Citywide).

The City first announced copay relief in November, with family copays (the amount families owe after their subsidy or scholarship is applied) being waived 100 percent for the final two months of 2020. In late December, Mayor Durkan announced families would receive 50 percent off childcare copays for CCAP and SPR childcare programs from January to March, and this latest announcement extends the 50 percent copay benefit through the end of June. Income-eligible families who sign up for CCAP or who qualify for a scholarship for SPR programs will immediately receive the added assistance.

Monica, a parent whose son is enrolled in the full-day SPR school-age childcare program in Queen Anne, said, “This has been an extraordinarily stressful year financially for me, not to mention the stress of online school. The financial assistance the City has provided allows us to afford other necessities and, more importantly, to keep my son enrolled at the community center for support with his remote schooling.” 

“We’ve long known how vital high-quality, affordable childcare is for families, and this has been especially true during a challenging year when many families are facing loss of income while also needing full-day care for their school-age children,” said DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle. “We’re glad to continue making quality, affordable care more accessible as we move closer to recovery, and we want more families know about these opportunities as many begin going go back to work.”

DEEL’s Child Care Assistance Program helps low- and moderate-income working families or families with a parent attending school or a qualified job-training program to pay for child care for children ages one month through 12 years. CCAP subsidies can be used at any one of the City’s 205 participating CCAP providers.

Seattle Parks and Recreation currently offers full-day care at 17 sites for children ages 5 to 12 and provides children with remote learning supports, enrichment activities, and nutritious meals and snacks. Income-eligible families can receive a scholarship for the program, as well as the additional 50% copay assistance through June 2021. All locations currently have openings for full or partial-week care, with the highest capacity at sites in Queen Anne, Magnolia, Rainier Beach, and West Seattle.

For more information or to enroll at one of Seattle Parks & Recreation’s school-age childcare programs, call 206-615-1276 or visit the SPR website. To apply for the Child Care Assistance Program, which includes care for infants and toddlers, call 206-386-1050 or visit seattle.gov/ccap.

Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning’s mission is to transform the lives of Seattle children, youth, and families through strategic investments in education. www.seattle.gov/education

Update 6/14/21: please see this post instead since pool offerings and procedures have changed.

As a pilot project, Medgar Evers Pool in Central Seattle will reopen to the public for lap swimming and independent water fitness beginning Feb. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Swimmers must be age 13 and up. Pool admission must be reserved in advance online or via phone 206-684-4766. The first reservations can be made on Feb. 10 at noon. (Video demo of registration here.)

The Governor’s guidance for counties in Phase 2 does allow for pools to operate if they are at a reduced capacity and follow public health guidelines. For pool visitors that will look like limited access to common areas and lockers, mask wearing when not in the pool, and temperature checks upon entry. Additional safety measures for staff and the facility will include increased cleaning, temperature checks for staff and pool users, masks required when not in the pool, and two or fewer users per lane. For more information about the WA State Department’s guidance on pool operations under Phase 2, please see here.

Compliance with safety guidance is critical to keeping this facility open and safe for all.

At this time, only lap swim and independent water fitness (independent water jogging or exercise) will be offered at the pool. We are not currently offering swim lessons, recreational swim, or family swim. We are hopeful that we may be able to add other swim sessions soon.

For info about the pool schedule and offerings, see here.  A must-read FAQ can be found here. A video demonstration about what to expect as you arrive for your reserved swim session can be viewed here.

For a video illustrating how to use the pool during this time, see this link.

Seattle Parks and Recreation continues to keep most pools closed. With public health restrictions, limited staffing, and a reduced budget reopening all pools is not currently feasible. As Medgar Evers operates more regularly and safely, we are hopeful that we can open additional pools and aquatics program as staffing and health guidance allows.

For the most current list of what’s open and what’s closed please visit this web page.

Delay will allow for additional community outreach and understanding of changing community needs due to the pandemic and recovery efforts 

In March of 2020, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) decided to delay the Park District planning process by at least one year. Considering the ongoing uncertainty associated with the trajectory of the pandemic and related economic impacts, SPR has determined that another one-year delay is necessary. SPR also seeks to better understand changing community needs through a recovery lens.   

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, SPR operations rapidly shifted to focus on providing critical services, including community showers, childcare for those furthest from educational justice, enhanced cleaning of facilities and restrooms, a focus on keeping parks open while supporting public health and safety, free meals programs, and virtual programming aimed at those most isolated. A delay in launching a long-term planning effort will support this continued focus on essential emergency services.

This change in service provision, as well as new public health restrictions on gathering size, interrupted the planning process and community outreach efforts that SPR launched in early 2020 for the next six-year cycle of the Seattle Park District, initially intended to span 2021-2026. As these conditions are still true today, SPR must further delay a large-scale community planning effort toward new Park District priorities.  

“The Seattle Park District Governing Board took the prudent step to respond to the unprecedented demands of 2020 by creating a bridge year in our strategic planning. Delivering emergency services in response to the pandemic – both health and economic impacts – must continue to be the top priority for Seattle Parks and Recreation. Long-range planning is vital but cannot be done effectively until we have more certainty about our health, safety, and economic outlook and can incorporate the public’s valuable input.” - Councilmember Debora Juarez, Chair of the Public Assets and Native Communities committee

“Seattle Parks and Recreation continues to provide essential and life-saving services to the community as part of our pandemic and recovery response, including offering free meals programs, childcare, and hygiene services. Pausing Park District planning efforts will allow us to continue to focus on these critical services, in addition to prioritizing near-term actions, including expanding outreach to better understand our role in supporting citywide equitable recovery efforts, with an emphasis on serving BIPOC communities and others most impacted by the health crisis.”– Jesús Aguirre, SPR Superintendent 

Consistent with the department’s approach for the 2021 Park District budget, SPR will plan to develop an annual budget for Seattle Park District funding in 2022 in parallel with the City’s biennial budget process. SPR will plan to introduce a resolution enabling this delay at the Park District Board meeting on June 21, 2021.   

In the meantime, SPR plans to revisit our 2020-2032 Strategic Plan to identify near-term actions SPR can take to support pandemic and economic recovery and deepen our commitment to equitable service delivery. This will involve conducting additional focused outreach, particularly in those communities that have been the most impacted by the health emergency. This near-term action plan will likely inform future funding needs for the department and will prioritize actions that serve BIPOC communities and mitigate historical injustice. Planning for a 2023-2028 six-year cycle is anticipated to commence in early 2022. 

As we move forward, SPR will provide additional information on next steps. Please visit https://www.seattle.gov/seattle-park-district/park-district-planning to stay up to date.  

On November 23, 2020, the City Council approved the Mayor’s 2021-2022 Budget. Some fees for Seattle Parks and Recreation athletic fields, pools and event facilities have changed.

Please click here for details on Seattle Parks and Recreation’s 2021 Fees and Charges.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) announced that Cal Anderson Park reopened on Wednesday, December 23 with more activities, maintenance, and services planned for 2021. SPR and other City departments have worked with community members to identify next steps and to develop a plan for key changes within the Capitol Hill neighborhood to create a safe and welcoming environment for all including ongoing outreach for individuals experiencing homelessness on Capitol Hill. Beginning this week, SPR will also begin to bring new activation activities to the park.  

Several City departments have been engaging with community, business owners, and neighbors to re-envision this park and the surrounding blocks to be safer, more welcoming and inclusive, and to honor the protests that took place here. SPR will be announcing additional engagement in early January to provide additional feedback and suggestions on what community members would like to see at Cal Anderson. Please check SPR’s website (http://www.seattle.gov/parks/) for updates on the meeting and how to join.    

“Cal Anderson Park has been an epicenter for activism and social justice movements for decades and is the heart of the Capitol Hill community. As we move into 2021, Cal Anderson will continue to be a hub for the entire community —neighbors and park visitors alike,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. “As we reopen the park, the community and the City will continue its ongoing conversation to provide services to those who are unhoused, create new ongoing activities to support diverse community needs, increase safety, and restore the vibrancy and inclusivity of the Capitol Hill neighborhood.”  

“During the pandemic, access to outdoor space and recreation activities has been more important than ever for the physical and mental wellbeing of so many in our community. The reopening of Cal Anderson Park restores essential open space in this dense and vibrant neighborhood,” said Superintendent Jesús Aguirre. “Starting this week, we will begin offering new recreation activities at the park. These activities are just the beginning and we look forward to continuing to work with the community to build on these efforts to support a more inclusive park that reflects community needs and desires for this important gathering space.”   

Prior to the park reopening, SPR crews had conducted a surge in maintenance since last Friday to address backlogs in grounds maintenance, building repair, graffiti removal, and litter pick-up including the removal of 100 tons of debris such as large pallets and furniture. Maintenance and repair work will continue and some areas of the park, including two of the comfort stations and the shelter house, still need substantial repair work. SPR decided to open the park while we continue to do significant repair and restoration work in order to provide the community with access to the park as soon as possible.   

Since Friday, City-funded outreach providers, like REACH, Urban League, and LEAD, have been engaging existing or potential clients in and around the park, resulting in 12 referrals to hotels and shelter. Outreach workers engaged people around the park on Monday and this work will be ongoing in the Capitol Hill area. In recent weeks, providers reported 51 individuals were connected to safe places from the Cal Anderson Park area – including hotels, tiny homes, and shelter beds.   

SPR looks forward to collaborating with community and the Cal Anderson Park Alliance to determine next steps on bringing about programs and activities around community needs and values. As this work continues, SPR is set to begin initial activation activities in the park starting this week, such as setting up ping pong tables and outdoor dining areas, as well as creating a scavenger hunt for kids and a map for walking loops around the park and the surrounding neighborhood in order to encourage folks to explore our parks while following social distancing and masking guidelines. Please visit SPR’s blog (https://parkways.seattle.gov/) for updates on park activities. During the pandemic, all activation activities will follow COVID-19 public health guidelines, and we ask that anyone visiting parks or play areas use a face covering, practice social distancing, and wash hands frequently.    

In service of longer-range community values and desires for the park, community engagement and planning efforts will continue around restoring current art, bringing in new art, restoring the fountain and other historic features of the park, partnering to pilot a garden, and more.  

For information on how community and neighbors can participate and contribute to these efforts at Cal Anderson please visit the Cal Anderson webpage. 

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) staff have been busy preparing for the potential for severe winter weather. During snow events, SPR maintenance staff focus on removing snow from critical park paths, sidewalks, and curb ramps, as well as around community centers. Our Tree Crew is prepared to work around the clock to respond to fallen trees and branches blocking paths, and our heavy equipment crews are prepared to respond to landslides at park sites and trails. SPR crews also activate when needed to support citywide snow response efforts, including hauling salt and supporting SDOT in snow and ice control. SPR is coordinating with HSD to plan for the activation of temporary emergency shelters at specific community center locations within current public health guidelines. More information on temporary emergency shelters is available from HSD here.

During inclement weather, some of the limited in-person programs we are currently offering, including childcare, may be impacted. Please visit our website for up-to-date information on closures; for information on impacts to Child Care Programs, please refer to the Child Care Hotline: 206-684-4203.

During snow events, our nearly 500 parks remain open, unless otherwise indicated. If there is enough snow cover, we also open our four golf courses for snow play and sledding, and most athletic fields will also be opened for non-motorized winter recreation for households and small groups. Please follow COVID-19 safety precautions when visiting parks or play areas, including using a face covering, maintaining social distancing, and washing hands frequently. We encourage all visitors to use caution in our outdoor spaces. Snow and ice can cause tree branches to snap; please stay out from under trees and avoid forested parks during a snow event. 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SPR is offering a variety of virtual recreation programming, such as restorative yoga and drop-in bridge. Through virtual recreation you and your family can explore new opportunities to learn and engage from the safety of your own home! There are many options for all ages, some of them free. Please see our January Brochure for more information. In addition, SPR staff have created a comprehensive offering of free videos on a variety of topics, including exercise, arts and crafts, cooking, environmental education, and more. Please visit our SPR YouTube channel to learn more. During severe weather, as well as during COVID restrictions, we encourage everyone to explore ways to remain active and connect with community safely through these virtual recreation offerings.

Original April 7 registration date is delayed due to COVID-19

Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is delaying registration for Summer Camps and certain other activities that were set to open for registration on April 7.  

Please see below for our current registration dates for summer programming.

Registration opens May 5 for the following programs/activities:

Community Center programs, Lifelong Recreation programs, Specialized Programs, Amy Yee Tennis Center, Indoor Pools, Outdoor Pools, Summer Small Craft Center programs, Summer Swim League, Adult Athletics, and School Year Licensed Care.

Registration opens May 12 for the following programs/activities:

Day Camps, Activity Camps, Preschool Camps, City Wide Youth Athletics Camps, Nature Preschool Camps.

As we continue to evaluate the impacts of COVID-19 on the community, our facilities and programs, we will provide updates and more information about spring and summer programs on our blog: https://parkways.seattle.gov/