Parkways Seattle Parks and Recreation

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to participate in the design for the Maple Wood Playfield and Play Area renovation project. Please join SPR staff and PLACE Landscape Architecture at the second Open House on Thursday, December 12, 2019 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Maple Elementary School, 4925 Corson Ave. S. Community input is essential for the success of this project. Come early to view play area ideas presented by Maple Elementary School students! There will be light refreshments.

This second Open House is an opportunity to learn about the project and review design concepts. PLACE Landscape Architecture incorporated community input from the first Open House and survey results into the design concepts. For those who cannot attend the Open House on December 12, a second survey of the concept designs will open on Friday, December 13. Thank you to everyone who participated in our October Open House and the first online survey.

Maple Wood Playfield is located at 4801 Corson Ave. S. on the corner of Corson Ave. S and S Angeline St., just north of Maple Elementary School. The project will improve both the field and the play area. SPR will be hosting a third and final meeting on February 12, 2020 to present the preferred design.

This park project is made possible by the voter-approved 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.

For more information please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/maple-wood-playfield-renovation-projects or contact Libby Hudson at Libby.hudson@seattle.gov or 206-256-5988.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites Lakewood/Seward Park neighborhood to an Open House and final meeting for the play area renovation at Lakewood Playground. Please join SPR staff on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Lakewood Seward Park Community Clubhouse, 4916 S Angeline St. Please note, this is a new time and location from the previous announcement.

This final meeting is an opportunity to learn about the project and provide input on the preferred design. Thank you to everyone who participated in the first meeting and the online survey. The SPR landscape architect incorporated previous community input into the preferred design.

Lakewood Playground is located at 4800 50^th Ave. S on the corner of S Angeline St. and 50^th Ave. S. The project includes installing new play equipment that meets current safety and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The castle motif wall at the park will remain, and the basic layout of the play area will remain the same.

This park project is made possible by the voter-approved 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.

For more information please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/lakewood-playground-park-play-area-renovation or contact Libby Hudson at Libby.hudson@seattle.gov or 206-256-5988.  

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) invite the Delridge and High Point communities to participate in creating better pedestrian connections in the Delridge neighborhood. Please join us on a community walk and provide your input on Saturday, December 7, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Please meet at Greg Davis Park, 2600 SW Brandon St., Seattle, WA 98106, on the corner of 26th Ave. SW and SW Brandon St.

This design project will provide a plan for improving pedestrian paths along SW Brandon and SW Findlay streets and make trail entries to Camp Long and Longfellow Creek more open and welcoming to the public. One of the goals of this project is to improve access for the future new RapidRide H Line stop that will begin service in 2021 at SW Findlay and Delridge.

Following community input at this December meeting and walk, the design team from HBB Landscape Architecture will develop options and present concepts at a second community meeting in early 2020.

For more information about the project please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/sw-brandon-and-sw-findlay-streets-trail-improvements-and-wayfinding.

For more information on the future RapidRide H Line please visit www.seattle.gov/transportation/delridgetransit and https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/programs-projects/fares-routes-and-service/rapidride-expansion/h-line.

For questions about the project or if you need an interpreter or accommodations please contact Ed Pottharst, Ed.Pottharst@seattle.gov or 206-386-4232.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to participate in the renovation of Cottage Grove Playground on Monday, December 2, 2019 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW. Please join us and review the proposed design for the play area renovation.

As part of the Your Voice, Your Choice program, the play area at Cottage Grove Park, 5206 26th Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98106, is being improved to make the playground more usable for younger children. SPR will replace some of the play equipment features and move others. 

Your Voice, Your Choice: Parks & Streets is a participatory budgeting initiative in which Seattle residents decide how to spend a portion of the City’s budget on small-scale park and street improvements. This program is a partnership between the Department of Neighborhoods (DON), Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), and SPR.

For questions about the project or if you need an interpreter or accommodations please contact Pam Kliment at pamela.kliment@seattle.gov or 206-684-7556. To review other SPR Your Voice, Your Choice projects please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/your-voice-your-choice.

Seattle Parks and Recreation and partners invite the public to join us for a variety of seasonal events in our Center City (Downtown) Parks this winter. Events are open to all, and most are free or have a low suggested donation.

2019 Center City Parks Winter Seasonal Events:

Holiday Tree-lighting Celebration

Westlake Park

November 29: Dusk

It’s that time of year again! Usher in the holiday season in downtown Seattle with the annual tree-lighting celebration on Nov. 29, featuring snow, fireworks and more, presented by Alaska Airlines.

Holiday Carousel

Westlake Park

Friday, November 29-January 1

Light up those dark Seattle winter days with a ride on the festive Holiday Carousel. This Downtown Seattle Association attraction will be spinning in Westlake Park for its 32nd year. Give it a whirl for a suggested donation of $4. Operating hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Holiday Craft Market

Westlake Park

Friday, November 29-December 22

Urban Craft Uprising’s Holiday Market is back in Westlake Park this year. The Holiday Market is your go-to spot for unique, handcrafted gifts for the special people in your life. Urban Craft Uprising presents a new set of vendors every week, ensuring each shopping experience is different than the last. Market hours are 12 p.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 12 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday.

Live Holiday Music

Occidental Square

December 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Downtown Seattle Association presents live holiday music in the park! Come join us at Occidental Square for a few hours of seasonal entertainment. Free and all ages are welcome.

Holiday Festivities: DIY Stocking, Mistletoe, and Scarves

Occidental Square

December 4, 11, 18: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

This year Occidental Square will be hosting a handful of DIY holiday themed activities, including DIY mistletoe, scarves and stockings. Hot chocolate and tea will be available during the activities. Park Ambassadors will also be available to take complimentary photos of participants and park patrons to take home (old-school polaroid style). Also this month, Occidental Square will host the first ever holiday tree in the park. The orb tree is 17’ tall and is covered in LED lights. It will be lit throughout the month of December and will bring a glowing warmth to the park.

Twinkle Twinkle

Freeway Park

Friday, December 6: 4-6 p.m.

Come help us celebrate the Freeway Park Illuminations installation with FREE hot chocolate, make your own s’mores by the bonfire and seasonal songs by the Dickens Carolers. Also featuring holiday book sale and winter craft takeaway for all ages!

Snow Day

Denny Park

Friday, December 6: 4-9 p.m.

A winter lights display – kick-off night feature holiday themed entertainment, food trucks, a holiday beer garden, giant snow globe photo booth, a holiday market and more! Go to www.snowdayslu.com for more details!

Holiday Lights

Bell Street Park: Now-February 10

Cascade Playground: Now-March 15

Denny Park: December 6-January 19

Freeway Park: Now-March 15 ###

Seattle City Light and Seattle Parks and Recreation invite you to an open house at Miller Community Center to learn about the Resiliency Solar Microgrid Project. The project includes the installation of a battery energy storage system, solar panels and microgrid controls to operate at Miller Community Center in case of an emergency. The event will be held Monday, December 9 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave E, Seattle WA, 98112.

A microgrid is a backup power system that can disconnect from the traditional power grid and operate on its own. The microgrid will provide backup power storage for Miller Community Center during emergency events, such as a windstorm or unplanned power outage.

We encourage you to share the event flier with your neighbors and community groups.

Open House Details

• Attendees will gain a better understanding of how a microgrid works and how the technology will benefit Miller Community Center.
• City of Seattle staff will be available to answer questions about the microgrid project.
• Community members will have an opportunity to provide input on certain features of the project.
• Parking is available at the community center. Attendees are encouraged to use public transit. Find your route using King County Metro’s Trip Planner: tripplanner.kingcounty.gov.

Learn more about the microgrid project by clicking the link to access our fact sheet. Click here: Microgrid Fact Sheet (PDF)

TRANSLATION SERVICES AVAILABLE AT (206) 684-3000
* Información en español * Impormasyon sa Tagalog
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* Macluumaad Af-Soomaali ah 

Seattle Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce a series of wintertime events in city parks. Funded by the Seattle Park District, the Arts in Parks initiative invites everyone to enjoy neighborhood celebrations that are free and open to the public.

The Arts in Parks program supports new and established community festivals, art happenings, and music concerts that enliven Seattle parks by promoting arts and culture, celebrating diversity, building community connections, and energizing parks while connecting with rich cultural traditions. Arts in Parks is an initiative of Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Office of Arts and Culture. Learn more here.

To find a Seattle city park visit: www.seattle.gov/parks/find.

Sunday, December 1 and Monday, December 2 

• Getting Hygge w/It

National Nordic Museum, Dec. 1 from 1 – 4 p.m.

Bergen Place, Dec. 2 from 1 – 3 p.m.

Calling all knitters and crocheters! It’s time to pick up your needles and help spread a bit of color and joy in Ballard this holiday season. Bring your yarn, needles of choice, and enjoy holiday drinks and Seattle Chocolate as we work together to create a knit installation inspired by the work of Frida Clements. This free event happens December 1, 1pm to 4pm, at National Nordic Museum, 2655 NW Market Street, Seattle. Knitted art will be installed in Bergen Place on December 2 from 1 – 3 p.m. and will continue to be on display throughout December. 

Friday, December 6, 13, and 20 

• First Hill Park Winter Artist Residency 

First Hill Park from 10:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.

Come join us at First Hill Park the first three Fridays in December to enjoy art by a local artist. This is a great opportunity to meet your local neighbors and to talk about improvements to the neighborhood.

Saturday, December 7 

• Hot Apple Cider Bean Bag Toss 

Ballard Commons Park from 11 a.m. -3 p.m.

The 4th Annual “Hot Apple Cider Bean Bag Toss” is coming to Ballard Commons Park on December 7th from 11 am to 3pm. Stop by our tent in the park to play the Giant Snowman Family Bean Bag Toss game and enjoy a free cup of cider for participating. It is a colorful and quirky 10-minute diversion on your Ballard stroll! Our tradition of drinking hot apple cider takes the chill away and the big bright bean bag toss game, by local artist Blanca Santander, chases away the grey. Make it a point to swing by and say hello! Fun for all ages!

• Ballard Holiday Fest 

Bergen Place Park from 2 – 5 p.m.

Enjoy live music, free photos with Santa, popcorn, treats, hot chocolate and find out the winners of the Tomte Trail adventure and more at this free event celebrating the holiday season in Ballard. Fun family entertainment in the heart of Ballard!

• West Seattle Tree Lighting and Holiday Show 

Junction Plaza Park from 4 – 6 p.m.

Come to the Holiday Night Market on Saturday, December 7th, from 3 to 7 p.m. on Alaska St., where you’ll find local handmade goods from over 40 local artisans. Get your picture with Santa too! Watch for Santa from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Holiday Night Market Santa House. Make an ornament to hang on the tree to show holiday spirit the entire community can enjoy! Held in Junction Plaza Park at 42nd and Alaska during the Holiday Night Market, we present a full music and entertainment line-up with the finale: the tree lighting.

• Lake City Winter Festival 

Albert Davis Park from 5 – 7 p.m.

Lake City Winter Fest continues the longstanding tradition of bringing community together in the neighborhood for free treats, tree lighting, kid’s crafts, face painting, live music and free pictures with Santa. 

Tuesday, December 10  

• Photography in the Park

Othello Playground from 3 – 5 p.m.

Come learn how to produce a photoshoot at this amazing workshop!

Saturday, December 14 

• Winter Mokojumbies

Jimi Hendrix Park from 2 – 4 p.m.

Dance along with this unique cross-cultural tradition of stilt walking from the Caribbean.    

• Park ‘n Roll –Summer themed Latin American Soft Rock

Ballard Common Park from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Come jam out with us at Ballard Commons Park while we play Latin American soft rock!

• Philippine Holiday Lantern Festival

Dr. Jose Rizal Park from 12 – 9 p.m.

Come and join us as we celebrate the Filipino Way of Culture and Tradition! We will have games and activities for all ages. Santa Photo Booth, Traditional Table Setting Displays, Parol (lantern) Contest, Holiday Carols, Traditional Holiday Treats, Raffle prizes, and much more. Grand prize or raffle tickets is a Filipino Style (Pig Luau) Lechon (delivered to your home on December 24th) for your Noche Buena.

Sunday, December 15 

• Bombazo en Diciembre

Jimi Hendrix Park from 3 – 5 p.m.

Bring your barril drums, cuás, and maracas. Bring your full, long skirts, scarves, and cloth. Bring mittens, coats, and blankets. Bring your own snacks, hot drinks, and reusable water bottle. We will begin with a workshop on traditional Puerto Rican drumming, song, and dance and move into the Bombazo. All ages and abilities are welcome.

Saturday, December 21

• Winter Jazz Land 2019

Pratt Park

12-3:30 pm

Winter Jazz Land will be a warm-spirited, family friendly, fun- filled event! It will feature live music, festive sounds of jazz music, singing, and encouraged dancing. Hot Chocolate and spiced cider will warm bodies as live jazz music warms the soul for the holiday season.

• Nyabinghi Drumming and Singing

Lincoln Park from 2 – 4 p.m.

Come join us for some Nyabinghi drumming and singing which comes from Jamaican Rastafarian culture! We will have a drum circle along with dancers that will teach dance steps and songs. Songs sheets will also be provided!

• Tis the Season: Card Making & Holiday Drive 

Mineral Springs Park from 1 – 4 p.m. 

Come join us at Mineral Springs Park on Saturday, December 21st from 1 to 4 p.m. for a FREE holiday event including music, holiday card-making activities, festive games, hot beverages and snacks. Bring winter clothing items for donation to Aurora Commons. All are welcome! Event will be held rain or shine!

Sunday, December 22

• Yemaya Gathering 

Lincoln Park from 2 – 4 p.m.

Gather with family and friends to learn and share the Mixteco indigenous language. Learn Mixteco words through planting, painting, and drawing. All ages are welcome. 

• Winter Wonderland in the Park 

Salmon Bay Park from 5 – 7 p.m.

Enjoy a special evening set to the sounds of Ballard High School’s outstanding Vocal Jazz choir. While their songs warm your heart, the park will be lit up with luminaries. Hot cider and hot chocolate will be served, and artists of all ages will be able to participate in a variety of winter-themed crafts. 

• Winter Capoeira Fun

University Heights Plaza from 1 – 3 p.m.

Come join us for a workshop that introduces Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian art form. Capoeira includes elements of dance, theater, martial arts, gymnastics and song.

Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Friends of Hing Hay Park, and the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda) invite the community to celebrate the new art piece at Hing Hay Park on Monday, December 9, 2019. Please join us from 5 to 6 p.m. to view the newly installed Celebrate Happiness Lantern. There will be a short program beginning at 5:15 p.m. with small snacks to be handed out after the program. Cantonese interpretation will be available. 

During the community engagement process for the Hing Hay Park expansion between 2013 and 2016, the Chinatown International District community expressed a desire to have an artistic sign to communicate the name and meaning of Hing Hay Park. Translated into English, “Hing Hay” means “celebrate happiness.” After the expansion was completed in 2017, the Friends of Hing Hay Park facilitated a request for qualifications process and local artist George Lee was hired to design and build a public art piece for Hing Hay Park. Throughout 2018, George, the Friends of Hing Hay Park, and the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda) conducted a comprehensive community engagement program that resulted in the final design, inspired by a sky lantern.

The new lantern artistically brings together the older and newer halves of the park. The design is an eight-sided aluminum red lantern with bright yellow signage and gold trim. On three faces primary text is displayed, each on one face: 慶喜公園, Hing Hay Park, and Celebrate Happiness. On two panels, adjacent on each side of primary text panels, are additional languages of communities within the CID. At night, the lettering is illuminated, and all of the same languages are projected below the lantern onto the ground below.

This was an exciting collaboration between artist and community to showcase the festivity of the Park’s name for all to appreciate in different languages and in the sculptural, illuminated interpretation of a sky lantern.

This project is funded by the Seattle Office of Economic Development and administered by SCIDpda. This event is sponsored by Seattle Parks and Recreation. 

The Argosy Christmas Ships will soon be cruising! An annual Seattle tradition, Argosy sponsors a string of festively-decorated boats that move from the Sound to Lake Union and out to Lake Washington. These boats stop to share their holiday cheer and perform Christmas carols for neighbors and community who watch from the beach.

Community members are invited to bring a thermos of hot cocoa to one of the following parks and watch the sparkling lights while the choir sings. Come celebrate the season! Dress warm, bring umbrellas just in case, and join with your community in this guaranteed-to-make-you-feel-good activity. (The ships make stops outside the park system too.)

These events are free, and all ages are welcome. The times below are for when Seattle Parks and Recreation will be organizing bonfires at the following park locations.

SW	Fri, 11/29	Pritchard Beach Park	7:25pm
SW	Fri, 11/29	Alki Beach Park	8:10pm
NW	Sun, 12/1	Carkeek Park	7:30pm
NW	Sun, 12/1	Golden Gardens Park	8:10pm
SW	Sat, 12/7	Duwamish Waterway Park	2:00pm
SE	Sat, 12/14	Seward Park	3:05pm
SE	Sat, 12/14	Mount Baker Beach	7:45pm
SE	Sat, 12/14	Stan Sayers Memorial Park	8:15pm
SE	Sat, 12/14	Ferdinand Street Park	8:50pm
SE	Sun, 12/15	Pritchard Island Beach	2:30pm
CE	Tue, 12/17	Madrona Park	7:35pm
CE	Tue, 12/17	Madison Park Beach	8:10pm
NE	Fri, 12/20	Matthews Beach Park	7:50pm
NE	Mon, 12/23	Magnuson Park	3:05pm
NE	Mon, 12/23	Gas Works Park	8:45pm

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the Fremont community to review and provide input on design options for the B. F. Day Playground Play Area Renovation project on Thursday, December 5, 2019 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.at B. F. Day School in the cafeteria, 3921 Linden Ave. N. This meeting is an opportunity to learn about the project and provide input on play equipment.

The community is encouraged to participate in the meeting and in an onlinesurvey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BFDayPlaygroundRenovation) for the project that will open on Dec. 2, 2019.

The play area renovation project will replace the play equipment and improve the adjacent picnic area, including replacing the drinking fountain and making accessibility improvements in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and national safety standards.  Thank you to everyone who participated in the first meeting and survey.

Funding for this park project is provided by the Seattle Park District. Approved by voters in 2014, 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. In addition, it provides funding to improve and rehabilitate community centers, preserve the urban forest, perform day-to-day maintenance of parks and facilities, provide more recreation opportunities for people from underserved communities, provide programs for people of all ages and abilities, and acquire and develop new park land.

For more information about the project please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/b-f-day-playground-play-area-renovation. For questions about the project or if you need an interpreter or accommodations please contact Colin Campbell, colin.campbell@seattle.gov or 206-256-5604.