Parkways Seattle Parks and Recreation

Traffic impacts expected on portion of Lake Washington Blvd. Feb. 4 to 7

Seattle Parks and Recreation will be installing a new curb ramp along Lake Washington Boulevard just east of the Boyer Ave. East intersection.

Work is scheduled to start on Tuesday, February 4, weather permitting, and take approximately three days to complete. There will be intermittent closures of one lane of traffic along Lake Washington Boulevard to allow access for the concrete truck to place the concrete for the ramp.

This project is a long-awaited improvement that connects path users directly to the crosswalk and the Arboretum Loop Trail beyond.

Questions? Please contact Garrett Farrell, Seattle Parks and Recreation, at 206-233-7921 or Garrett.Farrell@seattle.gov.

March 27 deadline for submitting names

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the public to submit potential names for parks in the Lake City and Chinatown-International District neighborhoods. Suggestions for names are due to the Park Naming Committee by Friday, March 27, 2020. 

We are seeking names for the following parks, characterized here by their working names: 

Lake City Neighborhood

• Lake City Landbank Site: SPR purchased property located at 12510 33rd Ave. NE in 2010 with funding from the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy to provide additional open space for the Lake City community. SPR demolished the building on the property and worked with the community on the design for the park. The new park will offer a multi-generational appeal with a wide range of activities and green space in this urban neighborhood. The park will include a half-basketball court, climbing structures, ADA pathway, picnic areas, open lawn, and bike racks. The park will include public art sculptural work by artist Elizabeth Gahan funded by the 1% For The Arts program. Construction is anticipated to start in March 2020 and we anticipate the park will be open by late summer.
• NE 130^th Street End: This tiny beach is accessible by foot or by bike and is most easily reached by the Burke-Gilman Trail. The site had been a public small street-end beach property used by the community as a public park and an access point to Lake Washington since the early 1900’s. In 2013, it became clear that the land was not, in fact, publicly owned. Neighboring community members rallied the City to help restore public access to this waterfront property. In 2015, the City Council authorized the acquisition. The City initiated a condemnation process in 2016, and a settlement was reached. SPR finalized the purchase of this property in May 2019. The little park totals 13,736 sq. ft, mostly water, with a small shoreline area of 3,653 sq. ft.   

Chinatown-International District Neighborhood

• Little Saigon: SPR purchased this .27-acre site in 2013 to provide the community access to open space within this high density urban area. This park site is located between Jackson and King streets adjacent to the Little Saigon street car stop. SPR has been working diligently throughout the park design process with the community and with the Little Saigon Park Committee comprised of local business owners and community members, SCIDPA, and Friends of Little Saigon. Through this work, the community has identified key elements within the park which include a plaza overlook, a multi-functional accessible ramp at the Jackson entrance, a play area, a program and event lawn at the King St. side, and amphitheater seating stairs with an event plaza. Plantings will have bold textures and bright color to reflect pan-Asian design. 

About the Parks Naming Committee and how to submit suggestions

The Parks Naming Committee is comprised of one representative designated by the Board of Park Commissioners; one by the Chair of the City Council Civic Development, Public Assets and Native Communities Committee; and one by the Parks Superintendent. Criteria the committee considers in naming parks include: geographical location, historical or cultural significance, and natural or geological features. The Park Naming Policy, clarifying the criteria applied when naming a park, can be found at: https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/policies-and-plans/planning-and-policy-document-library

The Parks Naming Committee will consider all suggestions and make a recommendation to Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jesús Aguirre, who will make the final decision.

Please submit suggestions for park names in writing by Friday, March 27, 2020 and include an explanation of how your suggestion matches the naming criteria. Send to Seattle Parks and Recreation, Parks Naming Committee, 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, or by e-mail to paula.hoff@seattle.gov.

Seattle Parks and Recreation will be removing the Laurelhurst Fire Pit (located at Laurelhurst Park next to the community center) in the coming weeks. Over the past 5 years, we have seen an increase in more aggressive fires and unattended fires. Staff have also reported fires being ignited by youth under the age of 18 without adult supervision as well as users burning trash or unclean wood. In addition, neighbors have complained each summer about the smoke and the use of the pit, including issues around trash and alcohol bottles being left in the area.

We are sad to see the fire pit go, but we want to be responsive to the community’s concerns as well as the health and safety concerns noticed by our staff.

Looking for a new spot to enjoy a fire outdoors?

Seattle Parks and Recreation allows for beach bonfires at Alki Beach and Golden Gardens Beach. Keep in mind, beach fires are only allowed at designated fire rings at these two sites. The fire rings are available first come, first served. Please only burn clean (natural, bare, dry cord-wood) wood and douse your fire completely before leaving. Learn more here.

Do you have fond memories of the Laurelhurst Fire Pit?

We’d love to see pics of how you’ve enjoyed the fire pit over the years! Please share pictures or your favorite memories by tagging “SeattleParks” on Twitter or “Seattle Parks and Recreation” on Facebook.

To better serve the community and to create a more equitable process, we are moving the summer camp registration date to open on April 7, 2020 (in previous years, summer camp registration typically opened in February).

This change will allow for more scholarship families (families with limited financial resources) to have their tax statements completed for the prior year in order to apply for a scholarship for camp, and it will allow Seattle Parks and Recreation to more efficiently process scholarship applications. In previous years, we saw that many families with limited resources were not able to register during the February registration period because they did not have enough time to prepare their tax documents. Some families had to wait several months in order to register, by which point many camps had filled up.

The new later registration date (April 7, 2020) supports Seattle Parks and Recreation’s efforts to strengthen equity and access to our programs, and will provide a greater opportunity for all families to register for camp.

Summer Day Camp Brochures will be available at community centers and pools, as well as viewable in our online registration system, on March 24, 2020.

Click here for more information about Seattle Parks and Recreation camps.

Due to the inclement weather, many Seattle Parks and Recreation programs are impacted today (Wednesday, Jan. 15). 

SPR FACILITIES

• We will attempt to open all community centers (except for Bitter Lake Community Center, which is operating as an emergency shelter), teen life centers, and environmental centers from 11am-3pm as warming centers and for drop-in recreation activity only. Please call facilities before heading down and check back here for updates.
• We will attempt to open all pools from 12-3pm for drop-in swim only.
• Small Craft Centers will be closed.
• Amy Yee Tennis Center is open.
• Golf:
  • Interbay: Course open, no snow, full Operation
  • Jackson: Course closed, winter recreation allowed, range and clubhouse normal hours.
  • Jefferson: Course closed, no winter recreation, range and clubhouse normal hours.
  • West Seattle: Course closed, no winter recreation, clubhouse open until noon

SPR PROGRAMS

• ALL programs are CANCELLED at our community centers, pools, small craft centers, teen life centers, environmental centers. This includes School Age Care, preschool, Late Night Recreation Programs, Lifelong Recreation, Specialized Programs, athletics, and all recreation programs.
• ALL rentals are CANCELLED.

General Seatttle Parks and Recreation Snow Procedures Information: Please click here for general information on Seattle Parks and Recreation’s snow procedures.

Citywide winter weather response: Please click here for information from the City of Seattle and the Seattle Department of Transportation about the City’s Winter Weather Response.

Seattle Parks and Recreation will be operating Bitter Lake Community Center (13035 Linden Ave. N) as a warming and emergency overnight shelter for families with children, and people living in vehicles. Single adults and couples are welcome at this facility as well. This shelter will operate 24 hours a day beginning tonight. The shelter has an occupancy of 70 beds. Referral forms are not required, and limited services will be provided.

All regular Bitter Lake Community Center programs and activities, including preschool programs, are cancelled while the shelter operates.

For more information on severe weather shelters operating in Seattle, please visit: https://www.seattle.gov/humanservices.

Freezing temperatures put our neighbors living unsheltered at even greater risk, so please help the City get them into safer, warmer places. The City and its regional partners are working 24/7 to help bring people into warmer, safer places. If you are concerned about an individual living unsheltered, or in need, call 2-1-1, a resource line that can help connect an individual to resources. When the 2-1-1 line isn’t open, the 24-hour Crisis Line 866-427-4747 can provide information that the City provides on warming shelters, similar to how they do for sheltering information for people experiencing homelessness. If it is an emergency, contact Seattle Police by calling 9-1-1. SPD has transport vans to take people to warming centers and shelters.

Due to the inclement weather, some Seattle Parks and Recreation programs are impacted today (Tuesday, Jan. 14).

FACILITIES:

All recreation evening programs cancelled and recreation facilities closed after 6 p.m. today: Due to freezing temperatures, icy road conditions, and the forecast for additional snow this evening, Seattle Parks and Recreation is cancelling all recreation evening programs after 6 p.m. today (Jan. 14) at all recreation facilities (including community centers, pools, environmental learning centers, and teen centers). All recreation facilities will be closed after 6 p.m. today for the safety of community members and staff. We will assess the weather in the morning and make a determination on tomorrow’s conditions based on our Snow Procedures. Please check our blog for regular updates: https://parkways.seattle.gov/

• Amy Yee Tennis Center will close early at 8 p.m.
• All parks are open today.
• Meadowbrook Teen Life Center will be closed today.
• West Seattle Golf Course will be closing the clubhouse at noon, but the other three golf courses will remain open for driving range activities only.
• Jackson and Interbay golf courses are open for winter recreation activities (sledding and snow play). West Seattle and Jefferson courses do not have enough snow to allow it.
• All athletic fields are closed today for organized games/activities. Please call the Field Rainout/Snow hotline for updates:
  (206) 233-0055

PROGRAMS:

All Seattle Parks and Recreation evening programs cancelled and recreation facilities closed after 6 p.m. today: Due to freezing temperatures, icy road conditions, and the forecast for additional snow this evening, Seattle Parks and Recreation is cancelling all evening programs after 6 p.m. today (Jan. 14) at all recreation facilities, including at community centers and pools. All recreation facilities will be closed after 6 p.m. today for the safety of community members and staff. We will assess the weather in the morning and make a determination on tomorrow’s conditions based on our Snow Procedures. Please check our blog for regular updates: https://parkways.seattle.gov/

• All Specialized Programs are CANCELLED.
• All Lifelong Recreation Programs are CANCELLED.
• All Before School Programs are CANCELLED.
• All Morning Preschool Programs are CANCELLED.
• PM Preschool and School Age Care programs are scheduled to operate as normal.
• All-Day Preschool has a late start (start time TBD).
• All Early Morning Lap Swims are CANCELLED.
• All morning swim lessons are CANCELLED.
• All other programs will take place as scheduled, unless individual facilities decide to cancel and notify participants.
• No women’s Zumba tonight at Van Asselt Community Center.

General Seatttle Parks and Recreation Snow Procedures Information: Please click here for general information on Seattle Parks and Recreation’s snow procedures.

Citywide winter weather response: Please click here for information from the City of Seattle and the Seattle Department of Transportation about the City’s Winter Weather Response.

Due to the inclement weather, some Seattle Parks and Recreation programs are impacted today (Monday, Jan. 13).

FACILITIES:

• All facilities will operate normal operating hours today (some programs and fields will be impacted, see below).

PROGRAMS:

• All Lifelong Recreation Programs are CANCELLED
• All Before School Programs are CANCELLED
• All Morning Preschool Programs are CANCELLED
• All Early Morning Lap Swims are CANCELLED
• All morning swimming lessons CANCELLED
• All Early Morning High School Swim Team practices CANCELLED
• Queen Anne Pool Morning Swim Lesson CANCELLED
• All Early Morning Rowing & Sailing programs CANCELLED
• Community Learning Centers afterschool program (CLC’s) CANCELLED
• Special Populations Day Programs CANCELLED
• PM Preschool and School Age Care programs operate as normal.
• All-Day Preschool has a late start (start time two hours late).
• All other programs will take place as scheduled, unless individual programs cannot be staffed and we will notify participants.

FIELDS:

Some fields are closed today for organized games/activities due to snow and/or ice on the fields. Call the Field Rainout/Snow Hotline at 206-233-0055 for updates. Currently, the following fields are closed: Bobby Morris Playfield (Cal Anderson Park) 1, 2; Interbay Stadium; Lower Woodland Playfield 2,7; Loyal Heights Playfield 1,2; Magnuson 5,6,7; Miller Playfield 1,2; Queen Anne Bowl Playfield; Washington Park Playfield 1, 2

*On Monday’s our SW Teen Life Center, Meadowbrook Teen Life Center, Camp Long Outdoor Education Center, and Discovery Park Environmental Learning Center are closed. 

General Seatttle Parks and Recreation Snow Procedures Information: Please click here for general information on Seattle Parks and Recreation’s snow procedures.

Citywide winter weather response: Please click here for information from the City of Seattle and the Seattle Department of Transportation about the City’s Winter Weather Response.

Beginning this year, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is making all recreational and fitness swims (lap swim, family swim, public swim, etc.) free for anyone who qualifies for an SPR scholarship. Previously, scholarships only provided a fee reduction for swimming instead of the current full fee waiver. 

Scholarships are based on income and family size, and are available to anyone who qualifies, including seniors and people with disabilities. For example,a family of 4 that makes less than $71,199  per year is eligible.

Interested in applying for a scholarship? You can apply for a scholarship by filling out an application form, available at any of our community centers or pool locations, or by visiting https://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/scholarships-and-financial-aid. Application forms must be turned in to Seattle Parks and Recreation staff at a local community center or pool location. Income and dependency documentation are required; please bring your 2019 tax forms or other documentation, as listed on the application, with you. Approval can take up to several weeks. Click here to locate the nearest community center, or here to locate the nearest pool facility.

Spanish

Novedad del 2020: la natación es gratuita para los becarios.

Todos los tipos de natación relacionados con la recreación o la actividad física (natación libre, natación en familia, natación pública, etc.) son gratuitos para cualquier persona que cumpla los requisitos a fin de obtener una beca de Parques y Recreación de Seattle (Seattle Parks and Recreation). Las becas se otorgan en función de los ingresos y la cantidad de integrantes de la familia. Por ejemplo, una familia de 4 personas que gana menos de $71,199 por año cumple los requisitos. ¿Le interesa solicitar una beca? Pregunte al personal de la recepción de la piscina local o el centro comunitario para obtener información o visite:
– http://bit.ly/ScholarshipSPR
– http://bit.ly/ApplicationInstSpanish
– http://bit.ly/AppSpanish

Traditional Chinese

2020 年的新事項：獲得獎學金資格的人可以免費游泳。

所有獲得西雅圖公園和休閒 (Seattle Parks and Recreation) 獎學金資格的人均可免費參加所有娛樂和健身游泳活動（泳道游泳、家庭游泳、公共游泳等）。獎學金資格取決於收入和家庭規模。例如，一個四口之家如果年收入低於 71,199 美元，則符合資格。有興趣申請獎學金嗎？請詢問您當地泳池或社區中心的前檯工作人員以獲取資訊，或造訪：
– http://bit.ly/ScholarshipSPR
– http://bit.ly/ApplicationInstChinese
– http://bit.ly/AppChinese

Vietnamese

Tin mới năm 2020: Miễn phí bơi cho người đủ tiêu chuẩn nhận hỗ trợ học phí.

Chúng tôi sẽ miễn phí tất cả các hoạt động bơi giải trí và thể dục (bơi thể thao, bơi gia đình, bơi công cộng, v.v.) cho bất kỳ người nào đủ tiêu chuẩn nhận hỗ trợ học phí của Cơ Quan Quản Lý Công Viên và Giải Trí Seattle (Seattle Parks and Recreation). Khoản hỗ trợ học phí tính căn cứ theo thu nhập và quy mô gia đình. Ví dụ: một gia đình 4 người có thu nhập dưới $71.199 mỗi năm là đủ điều kiện. Quý vị muốn đăng ký xin hỗ trợ học phí? Vui lòng hỏi nhân viên lễ tân tại bể bơi địa phương hoặc trung tâm cộng đồng của quý vị để biết thông tin hoặc truy cập:
– http://bit.ly/ScholarshipSPR
– http://bit.ly/AppIlicationInstVietnamese
– http://bit.ly/AppVietnamese

Somali

Cusub 2020: Dabaashu waa u bilaash dadka heley deeqda waxbarashada.

Dhamaan hawlaha madadaalada iyo dabaasha jimicsiga (wareegyada dabaasha, dabaasha qoyska, dabaashada shacabka, iwm) waa u bilaash qof kasta oo u qalma Beeraha Nashada Seattle iyo Madaadada (Seattle Parks and Recreation) deeqdooda waxbarashada. Deeqaha waxbarashadu waxay ku salaysan yihiin dakhliga iyo cabirka qoyska. Tusaale ahaan, qoyska 4 ah ee hela wax ka yar $71,199 sanadkii ayaa u qalma. Ma doonaysaa inaad dalbato deeq waxbarasho? Fadlan waxaad waydiisaa shaqaalaha miiska hore ee barkada dabaashaada deegaanka ama xarunta bulshada wixii macluumaadka ah, ama booqo:
– http://bit.ly/ScholarshipSPR
– http://bit.ly/ApplicationInstSomali
– http://bit.ly/AppSomali

On November 25, 2019, the City Council approved the Mayor’s 2020-2021 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 2020 Fees and Charges.