Parkways Seattle Parks and Recreation

Join us at noon on Sunday, March 1 as the Seattle Japanese Garden celebrates First Viewing, a re-opening event welcoming the general public inside the gates for the first time in 2020.

Prior to the gates opening to the public at noon, the Seattle Japanese Garden will hold a special Shinto Blessing ceremony starting at 10:30 a.m. (tickets to this ceremony are currently sold out).

Trained guides will be available to give complimentary tours of the Seattle Japanese Garden, deepening the experience of strolling the garden by sharing insights on the garden’s history, design, and spiritual principles. The 45-minute tours begin at the ticket booth starting at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The Tateuchi Community Room will also have its doors open to the public, where visitors can enjoy a complimentary cup of tea.  

Admission is $8 adults; $6 members; $4 youth (ages 6-17), students with ID, and seniors 65+. Children 5 and under are free.  

Seattle Japanese Garden is located at 1075 Lake Washington Blvd., Seattle. More event details and photographs from past events are available at www.seattlejapanesegarden.org.  

Community invited to join the discussion and provide feedback

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is currently working on developing the Seattle Park District Financial Plan, which will lay out the funding for the next six years of the Seattle Park District.

In 2014, Seattle voters approved the Seattle Park District, which provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding for SPR, including maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites.

The current Seattle Park District funding cycle runs from 2015-2020. The next Seattle Park District Financial Plan will run from 2021-2026 and will be informed by a variety of sources, including our 2019 strategic planning process (in which we talked to over 10,000 community members), public input, and other known parks and recreation system needs.

Community members are encouraged to learn more and join the discussion in building the next six-year budget via the following avenues:

• Attend a public meeting:

-Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW) on Monday, March 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.

-Lake City Community Center (12531 28th Ave. NE) on Thursday, March 5 from 6 to 8 p.m.

-Van Asselt Community Center (2820 S Myrtle St.) on Saturday, March 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Take our survey: https://seattle.surveymonkey.com/r/SEAParkDistrict
• Email us at PDplanning@seattle.gov
• Visit our website: https://www.seattle.gov/seattle-park-district/park-district-planning
• Attend and give public testimony at a Park District Oversight/Park Board Committee Meeting, February 2020 through May 2020. See dates here.

Thanks to the Seattle Park District, SPR is able to maintain more parks more frequently, with enhanced maintenance where needed; provide low-cost recreation programs, free drop-in programs, and add to our scholarship fund; develop 14 new parks, and renovate play areas and fields; restore over a thousand acres of urban forest; make critical repairs to community centers and pools; make dozens of accessibility improvements to our restrooms, pathways, and facilities;  put on hundreds of community events across our city, and much more.

Read about Park District Planning in these languages:

• Korean
• Somali
• Simplified Chinese
• Traditional Chinese
• Spanish
• Tagalog
• Amharic

As our city has grown over the last six years, inequities have been exacerbated and there are still unmet community needs. Discussions about our next six-year budget will focus on addressing community needs in a way that first serves those impacted by racism and inequity, and second, seeks innovative and collaborative ways to make our parks, recreation facilities, and events serve the people who visit, live, and work in Seattle.  

For more information, please visit: https://www.seattle.gov/seattle-park-district/park-district-planning

Seattle Parks and Recreation is busy developing a financial plan to further our vision of supporting Healthy People, a Healthy Environment, and Strong Communities, which includes building up community, sustaining parks, and bringing affordable and supportive recreation opportunities across our city.

In 2014, Seattle voters approved the Seattle Park District. With these funds, Seattle Parks and Recreation is able to:

• maintain more parks more frequently, with enhanced maintenance where needed
• provide low-cost recreation programs, free drop-in programs, and add to our scholarship fund
• develop 14 new parks, and renovate play areas and fields
• restore over a thousand acres of urban forest
• make critical repairs to community centers and pools
• make dozens of accessibility improvements to our restrooms, pathways, and facilities
• and put on hundreds of community events across our city.

We have been investing these dollars back into parks and communities for the last six years, and it’s time to propose a plan for the next six years of investment. As we look to the next Park District funding cycle, it is evident that much of the funding and programming supported by the initial six-year cycle is now embedded in the way we serve the public and our proposed budget for the next Park District cycle will reflect this.

This past summer, we began a strategic planning process where we talked to over 10,000 community members about the future of Seattle’s parks and recreation facilities. We used that input to develop a plan that further commits our department to using our resources to create equity in our city through our investments in creating a healthy environment, supporting healthy lifestyles, and uplifting and strengthening our communities. The Park District budget will support these commitments.

As our city has grown over the last six years, inequities have been exacerbated and there are still unmet community needs. But we also have many opportunities to build partnerships and change the way we do things. Discussions about our next six-year budget will focus on addressing community needs in a way that first serves those impacted by racism and inequity, and second seeks innovative and collaborative ways to make our parks, recreation facilities, and events serve the people who visit, live, and work in Seattle.  

Read about Park District Planning in these languages:

• Korean
• Somali
• Vietnamese
• Simplified Chinese
• Traditional Chinese
• Spanish
• Tagalog

There are lots of ways to join the discussion in building the next six-year budget:

• Attend one of our public meetings. Click here to learn more. 
• Email us at PDplanning@seattle.gov
• Visit our website here.
• Attend and give public testimony at an upcoming Park District Oversight/Park Board Committee Meeting, February 2020 through May 2020. Dates here.

Thank you and please expect to hear more from us soon,

Jesús Aguirre

Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation 

Seattle Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce that we are expanding our Hygiene Services program for Seattle Public School Students and Community Members. As part of this program, we make showers and restrooms available free of charge to Seattle Public School students and community members in need at certain community centers and pools.

Starting on Feb. 3, we have added 12 additional shower hours at Miller Community Center (330 19^th Ave. E). New this year, we will also begin offering free showers at Meadowbrook Community Center (10517 35^th Ave. NE).

“Seattle Parks and Recreation is committed to ensuring access and opportunities for all community members. The shower program has been a great success in connecting people, including Seattle Public School students and their families, with basic and necessary hygiene services, and these additional program hours at Miller and Meadowbrook community centers will help us provide greater access to those in need,” said Jesús Aguirre, Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent.

“Making showers accessible to more people at Miller and Meadowbrook community centers is an important and welcome step, especially for the many students and their families experiencing homelessness in our city.  Creating greater access to restrooms and hygiene services was a top recommendation from the Navigation Team Auditor report to manage the public health impact of the homelessness crisis,” said Councilmember Lisa Herbold.

“I am pleased that we can expand the shower program so that more students and community members in need can access this important service. Providing necessary and basic hygiene services, such as access to showers, hygiene products, and bathrooms, is critical to helping support and lessen the burden of people who are experiencing homelessness,” said Councilmember Debora Juarez.

 Thank you to Mayor Durkan and Seattle City Council for expanding Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Hygiene Services program as part of the 2020 Budget process. More information about the program, as well as the complete schedule of all participating community centers and pools, can be found here: bit.ly/SPRshowerprogram

New Hygiene Services hours at Miller Community Center:

School Year:

• Mon & Fri: 9.a.m to 7:30 p.m.
• Tue, Wed, Thu: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Summer:

• Mon: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Tue & Thu: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Wed & Fri: 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

In addition to the expanded shower program hours, Miller Community Center will also be operating with expanded opening hours. Click herefor information on the facility’s new winter and spring operating hours.

New Hygiene Services hours at Meadowbrook Community Center:

• Monday – Friday: 2:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the school year, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the summer

Seattle Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce that beginning on Monday, Feb. 3, Miller Community Center (330 19th Ave. E) will operate with expanded hours. The community center will also be offering 12 additional hours of shower operation during the school year and summer as part of our Hygiene Services for Seattle Public School Students & Community Members.

Thank you to Mayor Durkan and Seattle City Council for awarding Miller Community Center more hours as part of the 2020 Budget process.

Miller Community Center’s new winter and spring operating hours:

• Mondays and Fridays: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Miller Community Center’s new shower program hours for Seattle Public School Students & Community Members

School Year:

• Mon & Fri: 9.a.m to 7:30 p.m.
• Tue, Wed, Thu: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

  Summer:    

• Mon: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Tue & Thu: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Wed & Fri: 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Thanks to the expanded hours, Miller Community center will be offering new spring programs, including Wheelchair Basketball on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. and Volleyball on Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Pickleball will also be moving to 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays, the groups preferred time. Please call the community center for more information: 206-684-4753.

Beginning this year, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is offering to waive fees for community members or groups to host performance-based art in select Seattle parks. Performances can consist of an array of styles, including theatrical, comedic, spoken word, toast masters, acoustical concert and more.

This opportunity is open to new permittees that host their event in one of nine Seattle parks near or around the park’s amphitheater. Parks include: 6^th Ave. NW Pocket Park, A.B. Ernst Park, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Civil Rights Memorial Park, Dr. Jose Rizal Park, Dragonfly Pavilion in Longfellow Creek Greenspace, Greenwood Park, Jimi Hendrix Park, Magnuson Park and Othello Park.

Applications are based on a first come, first served basis on a rolling calendar. To qualify, applicants must be willing to meet the requirements for the fees to be waived. Requirements include the following: events must be open to the public, no amplified sound and no money collection is allowed, and selected applicants must provide event insurance and commit to do outreach to the neighborhood where the event will take place.   

Interested in applying? You can apply by visiting http://www.seattle.gov/parks/reserve/park-use-permits and downloading a Park Use Application. Application forms must be turned in to Seattle Parks and Recreation staff at the Event Scheduling Office or e-mailed to parkusepermits@seattle.gov. Approval can take 5-10 business days.  

The plaza area at Ballard Commons Park (5701 22^nd Ave. NW) is temporarily closed to allow a contractor (W.S. Contractors) to finish an improvement project as part of the Ballard Commons Park Portland Loo Project. Fencing has gone up around the plaza, however access to the Loo will remain open during the project. During the temporary closure, the contractor will be working to relocate the existing shell-themed artwork to an area outside of the spraypark’s splash pad zone and will also be relocating the drinking fountain as well as making it ADA compliant. For updates on the expected timeline, please check back here.

Questions? Please contact Katie Bang, Seattle Parks and Recreation, at Katie.Bang@seattle.gov or 206-684-9286.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is seeking proposals for seasonal partners to operate food service, recreational activities, and group fitness concessions in various park locations throughout Seattle. Locations vary with sites appropriate for carts, food trucks and other self-contained service businesses. 

Request for Proposal (RFP) packets can be downloaded, picked up in person at the address below, or mailed to you. Small businesses, women and/or minority businesses are encouraged to submit proposals.

Proposals are due by 3 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2020

For more information or to download a copy of the RFP packet, please visit: www.seattle.gov/parks/seasonalconcessions

Mailing Address and Contact Information:

Contracts Administration and Support Office; Attn: Amy Hamaker; 300 Elliott Ave S, Suite 100 ; Seattle, WA 98119

Office: 206 684-0902; Email: amy.hamaker@seattle.gov

Many Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed Monday, Feb. 17, 2020 in observance of Presidents’ Day.

These facilities and services are CLOSED:

• Community Centers
• Teen Life Centers (Please note: Southwest and Meadowbrook Teen Life Centers are normally closed on Mondays and will therefore also be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 18 to observe the holiday)
• Environmental Learning Centers
• Indoor Swimming Pools
• Green Lake Small Craft Center
• Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center
• The Volunteer Park Conservatory (regularly closed on Mondays) and the Japanese Garden (closed for the season)

These facilities are OPEN on regular schedules:

• Parks
• Interbay, Jackson Park, Jefferson Park and West Seattle golf courses
• Amy Yee Tennis Center

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.