Parkways Seattle Parks and Recreation

The Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects  is advancing the design of the new Pier 58. One element of the pier that is still in its early development stage is a 5,000 sq ft playground (that is about as large as a basketball court!). This playground will be developed to accommodate a range of ages and abilities. We invite kids and their family and friends to take our survey about the playground – What themes would make it fun? What play equipment and other amenities would you like to see? Note that this survey is also available in simplified Chinese, Spanish and Somali.    

Pier 58 is being redesigned to create a public park and improve access, safety and flexibility to the pier, while offering expansive views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. The new pier park is designed especially with families and young children in mind, with a playground, spaces to relax and a public plaza that will be programmed by Friends of Waterfront Seattle.  

Now is an important time for us to hear from you about the design of the new Pier 58. We’ve created a video overview of the design (there is also an accessible PDF available).  In addition to the playground, there is an opportunity to provide feedback on the pier, restroom and future programming through an online open house (available in simplified Chinese, Spanish and Somali as well). Let us know what you hope to see and what would make you feel welcomed in this space.    

Pier 58 has been in the news a lot this year. Removal of the existing pier is ongoing and is anticipated to wrap up in early 2021. Construction of the new pier is anticipated to begin in late 2022. 

Seattle, WA — November 10-Seattle Parks and Recreation and Associated Recreation Council are excited to receive a $13,469 grant from Safeway Foundation from their Nourishing Neighbors Breakfast for Kids initiative to eradicate childhood hunger. The funds will be used to provide essential food to children in our childcare programs.

“We’re excited that Safeway Foundation is supporting the work we do each day to help kids start their day with a good, nutritious meal,” said Jesús Aguirre, Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent. “We know that Safeway Foundation sets a high standard for its Nourishing Neighbors Breakfast for Kids grant recipients because the grants go only to organizations that have the greatest impact on fighting childhood hunger. We’re proud to be part of that recipient group and thank Safeway and their customers for helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of children in Seattle.”

Seattle Parks and Recreation’s mission is to provide welcoming and safe opportunities to play, learn, contemplate, and build community, and promote responsible stewardship of the land. It promotes healthy people, a healthy environment, and strong communities. Associated Recreation Council is the nonprofit partner of Seattle Parks and Recreation. It’s mission is to inspire engagement and participation in equitable, dynamic, culturally relevant, and responsive recreation, childcare, and lifelong learning programs. Together, they are providing essential full-day childcare for 250 children of working families at 19 sites across the city.

Nourishing Neighbors, a charitable program of Safeway Foundation, is designed to build awareness and raise funds in an effort to eradicate childhood hunger in America. Funds raised through Nourishing Neighbors’ Breakfast for Kids Campaign focus on adding breakfasts in and out of school through federal nutrition programs and other means to combat childhood hunger and improving other health-related outcomes. Each Safeway location selects a local organization or food bank to receive the donations. Funds for our $13,469 grant were collected by the stores at Ballard and Crown Hill.

“We know that Seattle Parks and Recreation and Associated Recreation Council are doing great things,” said Karl Schroeder, Safeway and Albertsons Seattle Division President.  “It’s our pleasure to support their innovative programs and tireless commitment to the health and futures of our community’s youngest citizens.”

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to review the conceptual design for the new Green Lake Community Center and Pool. Please join the Online Open House between November 16 and December 4, 2020 at glcc.infocommunity.org.  Guided by community input on location and site concepts we finalized the conceptual design and encourage all to provide feedback by visiting the Online Open House.

The Open House provides an opportunity for the community to review the overall site plan, the building layout, and conceptual renderings of what the building and activity spaces could look like in the facility. By visiting the Online Open House, you can provide feedback to the design team from Miller Hull and the Berger Partnership and share what activities/amenities you would like to see in the center and pool.

After this Online Open House closes, SPR and the design team will be back to dive deeper into the building design and materials with public in 2021. SPR is working to secure funding for the facility and anticipates the new Green Lake Community Center and Evans Pool could start construction in 2025.

The community center (built in 1928) and pool (built in 1955) structures are at the end of their usable life and SPR is working with the Green Lake Advisory Council and the greater north Seattle community on the replacement of the facility located at 7301 E. Green Lake Dr. N. 

For additional questions about project please contact David Graves, Strategic Advisor, at 206-684-7048 or David.Graves@seattle.gov.

As SPR plans for the new center and pool, we will continue with the facility stabilization work in 2020 to ensure the building is functional and usable for the public until the new center can be constructed. Stabilization work involves replacing the boilers and the air handling system at the facility. For more information please contact Garrett Farrell at garrett.farrell@seattle.gov or 206-233-7921.

More information for both projects can be found here http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/green-lake-community-center-projects.

Medgar Evers pool reopens for lap swim and independent water fitness

November 23 Update:
Due to rapidly climbing COVID-19 cases in the county and state, the pool’s plans for re-opening are on hold until at least December 14. We will continue to monitor and evaluate conditions, and will keep you posted when the situation changes.

Medgar Evers pool, 500 23^rd Ave, will reopen to the public on November 16. Seattle Parks and Recreation will reopen one pool to the public for lap swimming and independent water fitness. The pool will be open 11:30 AM to 6:30 PM on weekdays, and 9 AM to 4 PM on weekends. Pool admission must be reserved in advance online or via phone 206-684-4766. The first reservations can be made on November 9.

The Governor’s guidance for counties in Phase 2 does allow for pools to reopen 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 (with designated rest spots. (link to any ‘know before you go’ content on website). 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.  An FAQ can be found here.

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.

UPDATED 11/17/20 – All Pathway of Lights kits now SOLD OUT

Under normal circumstances Green Lake Community Center staff along with community partners would be preparing for the Annual Pathway of Lights as a kickoff to the Winter season. Unfortunately, this year due to COVID-19 and King County Health guidelines we are unable to host an in-person event. We know how important this event is to Seattle, so we have found some safe, alternative ways to celebrate. Here is how you’ll be able to celebrate with us:

The luminary kits on sale have sold out, but we can all still participate. On December 1 we will be posting a How to have a Pathway of Lights in your Backyard video on Facebook. This video will explain how we set up the bags with candles at the traditional event. Plus, it will also talk about alternative ways to have luminaries in your backyard. (For those who were able to purchase a luminary kit from us, please scroll to the bottom for pickup options.)

Finally, we will be compiling music, videos, and photos from past events to create a compellation video highlight the best of Pathway of lights. If you have photos or videos that you want to share please send them to MaryPat.Byington@seattle.gov by December 1, 2020. We will do our best to include as much of what you provide as possible. The video will air on the Green Lake Community Center Facebook page on December 12, at 4:30 pm.

This Seattle tradition is presented in partnership with the Green Lake Advisory Council and our title sponsor, Green Lake Masonic Lodge #149, and Associated Recreation Council.

We have sold out of Pathway of Lights kits. These were created to help continue the tradition from the safety of your own home. The kit includes luminary supplies, instructions, and some family friendly surprises. If you purchased a kit the only supplies you need to provide would be sand or rocks to hold bag down. From November 19-30, the kit pick-up options are:

• Green Lake Community Center Mon – Fri 9:30am-3:30pm
• Rainier Community Center: Mon-Thurs 9:30am-7:30pm, Sat 9:30am-4pm
• Delridge Community Center: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
• Miller Community Center: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
• Meadowbrook Community Center: Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 9am-2pm
• Ballard Community Center: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.

For further questions please contact MaryPat.Byington@seattle.gov.

Season’s Greetings from Seattle Parks & Recreation.

While we cannot meet in person right now, your input is important to us! Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is beginning the renovation of the Soundview Terrace Park, a neighborhood park in Queen Anne at 2500 11th Ave. W, Seattle, WA 98119. Please participate in this short survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YGJ9R9H and provide your input on two proposed play area options. As part of the project and to improve accessibility, the rubberized surface slope and engineer wood fibers will be replaced with new playground grass. The new play equipment will be installed in early spring of 2021.

Funding for this play area project is provided by the Seattle Park District. The Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding to tackle the $267 million major maintenance backlog for Seattle Parks and Recreation as well as other facilities including the Aquarium and Zoo. The Seattle Park District helps improve and rehabilitate community centers, preserves the urban forest, performs day-to-day maintenance of parks and facilities, provides more recreation opportunities for people from underserved communities, supports programs for people of all ages and abilities, and acquires and develops new park land.

For more information please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/soundview-terrace-play-area-renovation or contact Janice Liang at janice.liang@seattle.gov or 206-507-3058.

Work postponed to Monday, November 2 due to weather.

Seattle Parks and Recreation(SPR) has contracted with Statewide Parking Lot Services to repair sections of the Burke-Gilman Trail in 2020. On Monday, November 2, weather permitting, the trail will be closed between N.E. 125^th Street and 42^nd Place N.E. as they make trail improvements.  

Cyclists and pedestrians will be detoured around the construction area onto side streets. SPR and SDOT worked together on detour routes and we recommend trail users visit www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/burke-gilman-trail-repairs for detailed detour routes. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience during construction.

The Seattle Park District provides $250,000 in funding each year  for this Burke-Gilman Trail improvements. Trial sections were determined by 2015 condition-assessment work done in collaboration with SDOT and reconfirmed each spring. Approved by voters in 2014, the Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding for Seattle Parks and Recreation including maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites.

For more information, please visit www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/burke-gilman-trail-repairs or contact Sandi Albertsen, Project Manager, at sandra.albertsen@seattle.gov or 206-684-8938.