Please Participate!

Seattle Parks and Recreation encourages the community to participate in designing the new play area for Bitter Lake. Please join us at the play area on Saturday, September 18 from 10 a.m. to noon to review the schematic design and provide input on play equipment.  Bitter Lake Play Area is located just south of the community center at 13035 Linden Ave. N. If you are unable to join us in person, please participate by taking this short survey. https://seattle.surveymonkey.com/r/BitterLakePlay

Thank you to everyone who has participated in the public process to date. The design team from Hoshide Wanzer Architects and Berger Partnership incorporated community input into a preferred schematic design and is looking to gather additional feedback on the swings, spinners, and multi-generational fitness and sensory equipment. The project team will be at the park on September 18^th and look forward to explaining the design and collecting your feedback.

The project will provide a renovation to the existing restroom including newly upgraded and accessible all-gender comfort station/restroom, and new play equipment that provides play opportunities for all abilities. In addition, the project will make safety and accessibility improvements that meet the standards from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

For more information please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/bitter-lake-playfield-play-area-and-comfort-station-renovation

or contact Katie Bang at katie.bang@seattle.gov or 206-684-9286.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is happy to announce we awarded the construction contract to Service Electric Co., Inc. for the lighting replacement project at Ballard Playground Playfield adjacent to the Ballard Community Center at 2644 NW 60^th St.  Construction begins the week of September 6 and will be completed in early 2022. The playfield will be closed during construction.

SPR is invested in installing the highest quality energy-efficient field lighting which minimizes spill light and glare off the field while providing performance recreation light.

A large percentage of the primary improvement project, which included new synthetic turf infield and subsurface field restoration, improving accessibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, along with field light poles and light replacement, was placed on hold due to COVID-19.  For safety and energy efficiency, SPR is moving the lighting replacement portion of this project forward.

For more information, please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/ballard-playground-athletic-field-improvements or contact Peggy Tosdal at peggy.tosdal@seattle.gov.

Seattle Parks and Recreation(SPR) is looking for feedback from the community on the cork infill product used at Bobby Morris Playfield adjacent to Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11 Ave., Seattle, WA 98122. Please take this short survey that will provide SPR important information on the users experience and help guide future field projects.

In 2016, SPR completed the Bobby Morris synthetic field replacement pilot project. This pilot project used cork as an alternative to the crumb-rubber infill. As a pilot project, SPR is gathering input on the playability, durability as well as overall playfield experience – visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BobbyMorrisPlayfield

Please pass this survey onto other playfield users. For more information please contact Jay Rood at jay.rood@seattle.gov. 

Visit the Our Online Open House

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Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) needs to hear from you! How can SPR support our community as we implement our 2020 – 2032 Strategic Plan? Your input will help us identify critical needs and priorities as we plan for the next three years and beyond. Please visit Seattle Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan Implementation online open house at https://sprstrategicplan.infocommunity.org/ today! 

The purpose of this online open house is to seek community input to inform our plans for pandemic and economic recovery, responding to climate change, and supporting racial equity. We want to learn more about what you want to see in your parks, open spaces, and community centers in the coming years.

“Our charge as public servants and stewards of this incredible system is to ensure we’re serving our community, especially those with the greatest needs. We can only do that if we have a clear vision for our work, if we’re engaged in authentic and open dialogue with our constituents, and if we are able to articulate our plans for meeting the needs of community. To accomplish this, we need to create an implementation plan that directs the adaptation of our programs, services, and amenities to aid in our city’s recovery and meet the needs of our changing city,” said Jesús Aguirre, Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent.

In March 2020, after extensive public input, SPR released an updated Strategic Plan to guide programming, services, and investments from 2020 to 2032. Guided by a new Pathway to Equity, a roadmap for SPR to play our part in ending institutional and structural racism in Seattle, the plan identified 40 strategies to advance our collective vision. These strategies support our vision of promoting healthy people, a healthy environment, and strong communities while pursuing racial equity and organizational excellence. Read more about the Strategic Plan and Pathway to Equity

“As we look to implement the priorities in our 2020-2032 Strategic Plan, it’s critical to check back in with communities we serve and consider the dramatic change and disruption we’ve faced over the past 18 months through the COVID-19 pandemic, the associated economic downturn, the nationwide racial reckoning, and the increasing impacts of climate change,” said Aguirre.

This engagement effort to support Strategic Plan implementation will also inform the next six-year cycle of the voter-approved Seattle Park District, which was also put on hold during the pandemic. The Seattle Park District is a sustainable funding source to repair, maintain, and restore basic services at the city’s parks, community centers, and regional attractions, and provides about 20% of SPR’s funding. Originally planned for 2021-2026, the next Park District funding cycle will now span 2023-2028. SPR will resume this financial planning process in early 2022.

For more information on the Strategic Plan and how your participation in the Strategic Plan Implementation online open house will contribute to the future of SPR please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/strategicplan or contact PKS_SprStrategicPlan@seattle.gov.

Seattle Parks and Recreation(SPR) is happy to announce we are working in the East Duwamish Greenspace and have hired Garden Cycles as the contractor to continue weed removal, regulated noxious weed control prior to planting this fall 2021.

Work is ongoing with professional crews and volunteers. SPR and Garden Cycles will be focused in the vicinity of over the next several months.

• Beacon Ave. S between Holgate overpass and 13^th Ave. S

• Western terminus of S Cloverdale St. and Cecil Ave. S
• Carkeek Dr. S
• S Fletcher St. & Beacon Ave. S above Martin Luther King Blvd. S

The East Duwamish Greenbelt is a series of SPR greenspaces that form part of the forested areas on the western edge of Beacon Hill. In Lushootseed, Duwamish call the hill qWátSéécH or “greenish-yellow spine”, referring to the color of the bigleaf maple, alder and willow trees that grow on the hill. The forested parkland stretches the length of Beacon Hill from Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge all the way to Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. It buffers Beacon Hill neighborhoods from heat and pollution from nearby Interstate 5 while also preserving habitat for local and migrating wildlife species.

For more than ten years, SPR has emphasized restoration of these natural areas as part of Green Seattle Partnership efforts. Principle activities include weed removal of plants such as ivy and blackberry, stabilizing soils from erosion and replanting longer-lived evergreen trees and shrubs. This restoration work is being funded in part with Real Estate Excise Tax and Seattle Park District funding.

For more information, please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/volunteer/urban-forest-restoration. If you have questions about this project or restoration in other parts of the city please contact plant ecologist, Michael Yadrick at michael.yadrick@seattle.gov. Please visit Friends of East Duwamish Greenbelt Facebook page to learn more about monthly work parties at S Trenton St. and 39th Ave S.

2020—it’s a year many of us would like to forget! But despite the extraordinary challenges that last year presented, so many in our Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) community stepped up to support one another through multiple crises.

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, SPR operations rapidly shifted to focus on providing critical services, including community showers, childcare for those furthest from educational justice, enhanced cleaning of facilities and restrooms, a focus on keeping parks open while supporting public health and safety, free meals programs, and virtual programming aimed at those most isolated.

Our 2020 Impact Report below highlights some of the ways we supported healthy people, a healthy environment, and strong communities last year. Thank you to our staff, volunteers, partners, and community for these incredible accomplishments!

Seattle Parks and Recreation will be ramping up public services and programming at recreation facilities across Seattle beginning September 7, 2021. This ramp up will include reopening most public pools for all drop-in swimming opportunities including lap swim, water exercise, and public and family swims; resuming community center and environmental learning center registered programs (lifelong recreation, specialized programs, etc.), and restarting teen programs that support academic success and enrichment. These programs are in addition to the preschool and childcare programs already operating in community centers.  

With the increase in COVID-19 cases and the rise of the Delta variant, community center rentals, swim lessons, and drop-in and general use will continue to be closed.  This includes weight rooms, drop-in sports, and similar amenities.  

More information on specific programs times and locations can be found by visiting our website, checking out the community center Facebook page, or through our online registration system.   

Please note that all facilities will continue to follow any current COVID-19 restrictions as outlined by the State, City or King County Public Health. The current guidance requires all staff and visitors to mask up upon entry regardless of vaccination status. Conditions may change as restrictions and guidelines evolve. Each facility will have clear signage upon entry as to what the safety requirements are at each site. 

Pool reopenings will ramp up over the course of the fall. The list below highlights the locations and hours of operations for these aquatic facilities. The pools listed below will open for all drop in swimming opportunities including lap swim, water exercise, and public and family swims. Swim lessons and some aquatic classes are still on hold as we monitor the Delta variant in our region. Listed operating hours are based on projected staffing levels.  If we are unable to hire enough staff, hours may be modified. Check the Parkways blog for the latest information. 

SE Seattle
Medgar Evers Pool	September 7: Open for lap swim, independent aquatic fitness, limited aquatic exercise classes and Swim team rental
Rainier Beach Pool	September 7:  Open for lap swim, independent aquatic fitness, limited aquatic exercise classes and Swim team rental
SW Seattle
Southwest Pool	September 13: Open for lap swim, limited aquatic exercise classes, independent aquatic fitness, and swim team rentals.
Colman Pool	Closed for the season.
NE Seattle
Madison Pool	September 13: Open for lap swim, limited aquatic exercise classes, independent aquatic fitness, and swim team rentals.
Meadowbrook Pool	October 18:  Open for lap swim,  independent aquatic fitness, limited aquatics fitness classes, and swim team rentals.
NW Seattle
Queen Anne Pool	Sep 7: Rentals Only  January 2022: Re-opening
Ballard Pool	October 18:  Open for lap swim, limited aquatic fitness classes, independent aquatic fitness, and swim team rentals.
Evans Pool	January 2022: Re-opening
Mounger Pool	Closed for the season

Teen Life Centers will be open for teens during the hours below to support academic success and enrichment opportunities.  These hours are based on projected staffing levels.  If we are unable to hire enough staff hours may be modified. Check the Parkways blog for the latest information.     

Teen Life Centers	Hours of Operation
Garfield Teen Life Center	Monday-Thursday 2:30pm-8:00pm Friday 3pm-12am Saturday 7pm-12am
Southwest Teen Life Center	Tuesday-Thursday 3pm-8pm Friday 3pm-12am Saturday 7pm-12am
Meadowbrook Teen Life Center	Tuesday-Thursday 3pm-8pm Friday 3pm-12am Saturday 7pm-12am

Due to building renovations, the following recreation facilities will remain closed for programs, rentals, and childcare through 2021:  

• Jefferson Community Center (closed until 2^nd quarter of 2022),  
• Hiawatha Community Center (closed until 2^nd quarter of 2022),  
• South Park Community Center (closed until 4^th quarter of 2022),  
• Discovery Park Environmental Learning Center (closed until 2^nd quarter of 2022) 
• Laurelhurst will remain closed due to limited staffing   

Starting Tuesday August 17, 2021, a small portion of the Arboretum Loop Trail will be closed for pavement repairs for approximately two weeks. The section requiring repairs is near the Seattle Japanese Garden.

During this time, bicycle traffic will be rerouted along Arboretum Drive. You can see the full detour map here.

For questions or concerns, please contact Amanda Hannah at 206-423-0842.