Parkways Seattle Parks and Recreation

Parkways

Seattle Parks and Recreation news and events

The Whispering Season

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Carkeek Park demonstration garden photo courtesy of Terri Johnson, owner of Plumb Pixel Photography

Carkeek Park demonstration garden photo courtesy of Terri Johnson, owner of Plumb Pixel Photography

Written by Deborah Phare, Carkeek Park Steward

Between the closed-fist grip of deep winter and the gentle touch of early spring resides another, much shorter, season. Gardeners are familiar with this brief time of year and respond to its arrival with hope and joy. Its duration is brief – sometimes just three weeks – but its days are filled with the soft green shoots and emerging buds of early perennials and shrubs poking through a mist of soft fog or the crumble-top layer of tired mulch.

In the demonstration gardens at Carkeek Park, few plants are in bloom during this time of year but the gardens’ gifts are on full display. The garden has a large selection of Hellebores and Heucheras, as do most gardens, but above and beyond those important plants there is a full palette of subtle colors and interesting shapes best seen during this short season. [Read more…]

Celebrate Neighbor Appreciation Day Feb. 11-13

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belltown staff smiling

NAD 2016 2x1.4 Icon F1We’re thankful for our Seattle neighbors every day, but in February, we dedicate a holiday just to them. Neighbor Appreciation Day is Saturday, Feb. 13. Join the celebration at an event listed below!

NORTHWEST

Magnolia Community Center
What: Cookies, punch and coffee served
When: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13
Cost: Free

Ballard Pool
What: Public swim, free slide
When: 12:30-1:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13
Cost: $2

NORTHEAST

Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center
What: Free play space and light refreshments
When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13
Cost: Free

CENTRAL

Garfield Community Center
What: Indoor tot gym, cookies and juice
When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 12
Cost: Free

Miller Community Center
What:  Mighty Mights indoor playground with cookies and hot cocoa
When: 10 a.m.-noon, Thursday, Feb. 11
Cost: Free

SOUTHWEST

Southwest Pool
What: Public swim with snacks, games and prizes
When: 1-2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13
Cost: Free

For more citywide events, visit the Department of Neighborhoods’ events calendar.

Seattle Parks and Recreation aquatics programs

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Stay warm and fit this winter at one of our indoor pools!

Stay warm and fit this winter at one of our indoor pools!

Doggy paddle, breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke. We think it’s important to master one or two of these when you live in a city nearly surrounded by water. Our swimming pools offer swimming lessons, public swims and special events year-round, and best of all, they’re indoors. [Read more…]

Lunar New Year celebrations

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Lunar New Year celebrations start Jan. 29

Lunar New Year celebrations start Jan. 29

It’s the year of the monkey, and we’re ready to celebrate Lunar New Year! Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a monster named Nian who lived deep under the sea. On New Year’s Eve the beast would emerge to feed on people and livestock. Villagers lived in fear of Nian and often fled on the annual holiday.

Then, one year, an old man refused to leave with the others. He claimed he scared Nian away by pasting the color red on the doors of his neighbors’ homes, building a loud crackling fire and dressing in red garments. When the villagers returned, they were happily surprised to see their homes intact. [Read more…]

Seattle Parks and Recreation offers scholarships for recreation programming

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Recreation program participants

Recreation program participants

Seattle Parks and Recreation values access and opportunity and it’s the department’s goal not to turn any individual away who wants to participate in SPR programs.

As part of the 2016 Park District spending plan, Seattle Parks and Recreation will partner with the Associated Recreation Council in the creation of a citywide scholarship system estimated to support a $400,000 system-wide scholarship fund enabling more people access to programs.

In the past, only individual community center advisory councils allocated scholarships for recreation programs, which created an issue of access inequity. Some wealthier advisory councils could offer more scholarships than others—leaving out areas where scholarships are needed the most.  [Read more…]

Jan. 7 Parks Buzz: You haven’t been there unless you have a PIC to PROVE it

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Send your photos to @seattleparks on Twitter for a chance to be featured on our blog!

Visit our homepage and subscribe to Explore More, our twice-monthly newsletter, to learn about new things happening in our parks and community centers this month.

@charleneblackwell 9 @ Gas Works Park

@charleneblackwell 9 @ Gas Works Park

 

child in lincoln park

@ladyerintate @ Lincoln Park
“❤️ @ Lincoln Park in West Seattle, WA”

 

@myhpeace @ Gas Works Park "Winding down a lovely Staycation with this charming young man. #mommylife #Teo"

@myhpeace @ Gas Works Park
“Winding down a lovely Staycation with this charming young man. #mommylife #Teo”

 

@sherrardoh @ Discovery Park "Thanks to TJ & Marcel for braving the wind & rain for today's @seattlerunningclub Group Run!"

@sherrardoh @ Discovery Park
“Thanks to TJ & Marcel for braving the wind & rain for today’s @seattlerunningclub Group Run!”

 

@seattletimes @ Gas Works Park "Derek Baylor practices taking off in his paraglider at Gas Works Park. Photo: @SeaTimesFotoKen"

@seattletimes @ Gas Works Park
“Derek Baylor practices taking off in his paraglider at Gas Works Park. Photo: @SeaTimesFotoKen”

 

@moni1216 @ Magnuson Park "Beautiful morning for the last #one5Kamonth of 2015! Bring it on 2016. "

@moni1216 @ Magnuson Park
“Beautiful morning for the last #one5Kamonth of 2015! Bring it on 2016. “

 

@johnny_matias @ Carkeek Park "Carkeek Park, Seattle, WA"

@johnny_matias @ Carkeek Park
“Carkeek Park, Seattle, WA”

 

@thedearjames @ Gas Works Park

@thedearjames @ Gas Works Park

 

Winter walks in Seattle parks

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Carkeek Park

Carkeek Park

Winters in Seattle are wet and damp but they help keep our parks lush and green. Don’t let a little rain keep you from seeing the wonder of winter flora this season. We have dozens of trails that are waiting to be explored.

Carkeek Park
Carkeek Park offers extraordinary views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains. Explore the hidden gems of this Northwest Watershed just nine miles from downtown Seattle. The park encompasses 220 acres of lush forest, meadows, wetlands, creeks and beach and has more than a dozen trails running through it. Hike along Piper’s Creek or be awed by the Puget Sound. The Carkeek Park demonstration garden is alive with winter color this time of year. Kalmiopsis leachiana provides tiny pink buds and Mahonia repens shows its deepest purple, red and maroon. In total, the park offers just over six miles of trail. The Salmon to Sound trail, the Piper’s Creek trail from the lower meadow to Piper’s Orchard and the Wetland Trail are all ADA accessible. [Read more…]

Seattle at Work | Housing Affordability & Livability Agenda

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UntitledWhere: Seattle City Hall—600 4th Ave
Bertha Knight Landes Room

When: Tuesday, January 26, 2016
5 – 7 p.m.

Join Mayor Murray & department directors to discuss how Seattle is at work in your neighborhood and throughout the City.

We’ll be continuing the conversation around the Housing Affordability & Livability Agenda,

and we’d like your help in creating new programs aimed at increasing housing affordability, reducing housing barriers, & strengthening tenant protections.

Connect with City resources and learn about projects & programs that are working to make Seattle a

Safe, Innovative, Affordable, Interconnected, & Vibrant City!

Stay tuned for events around the City: seattle.gov/mayor

For questions or more information, please contact SeattleatWork@seattle.gov

January 14, 2016 Board of Park Commissioners meeting canceled

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Due to scheduling issues, the Board of Park Commissioners will hold their first meeting of 2016 on Jan. 28 at the Queen Anne Community Center.

The Seattle Board of Park Commissioners is a nine-member citizen board created by the City Charter. Four members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council; four members are appointed by the City Council; and one member is a young adult appointed by the YMCA Get Engaged http://pugetsoundoff.org/getengaged. The Board generally meets twice a month, normally on the second and fourth Thursday, to advise the Parks and Recreation Superintendent, the Mayor, and the City Council on parks and recreation matters.

 

Seattle Parks and Recreation winter programs

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Register for winter programs today!

Register for winter programs today!

A new year is for new beginnings. Registration for our winter programs and classes is underway, and we have more than 50 new offerings this season. Find a class that’s right for you and start 2016 off right.

Draw and Paint Art Studio: The Draw and Paint Studio class located in the Alki Bathhouse will teach students various techniques for both drawing and painting. Students will acquire the skills to capture light, atmosphere and mood by working with water-based paints from their own drawings and photographs. The classes are intended for people 18 and older. The first session of classes runs Jan. 12-Feb. 16 on Tuesday evenings with a second session running March 1-April 5. Registration for each session is $120.

Innovation Club: Adventures in Coding 101: Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a programmer? Join Rainier Community Center for scratch programming and get your feet wet in the world of coding with projects like interactive stories or even games! The classes are intended for grades 1-3. The first session of classes runs Jan. 6-Feb. 17 on Wednesday evenings with a second session running Feb. 24-March 30. Registration runs from $90-105. [Read more…]