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Seattle Parks and Recreation news and events

Youth Basketball Games Update

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Seattle Parks and Recreation will hold basketball games this weekend. As we work to keep everyone healthy, we ask that you please keep in mind the following as you consider your child’s participation this weekend:

  • Please keep your player home if they are sick.
  • Please have any family member who is sick stay home.
  • If you or any family members who plan to attend are in a high-risk group for contracting illness (i.e. over 60, or have an underlying health condition) please stay home.
  • We are also asking that we minimize congregation so please keep your child’s fan club small (only 1-2 fans), arrive only in time for your child’s game and/or wait in your car until your child’s game time. We ask that you only attend your child’s game to minimize crowd size.

We know that these events are important to you and your family, but we want everyone to stay healthy. If some members of your family are not able to attend, you can always videotape the game and send it to loved ones.

Finally, as always, please practice good hygiene by asking all members of your family to wash their hands before entering the gym, and wash hands again as you leave.

Thank you for your support and understanding!

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Early Morning Lap Swim schedule at Evans Pool is temporarily modified

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Due to a temporary reduction in staffing levels at Evans Pool, we plan to reduce morning lap swim to three days a week starting Monday, March 9 through Friday, March 27.

Beginning Monday, March 9, Evans Pool will only have Early Morning Lap Swim on Mon/Wed/Fri from 6 to 7:30 a.m. This temporary schedule will be in effect for three weeks through Friday, March 27

We hope to have adequate staffing levels to resume regular Monday – Friday operations by the end of the month. Please call Evans Pool for updates (206-684-4961) and please see below for information on alternative pool locations with early morning lap swim times.

Evans Pool Planned Closure Information:

The planned maintenance closure at Evans Pool that was originally scheduled for mid-March has been delayed, and current estimates for the closure put us closer to May 4 – Oct. 31, 2020. Evans Pool will be communicating more information on the planned closure in the near future. For now, this means that Evans Pool will have a small spring quarter of programs, with the spring program dates running from March 16 through May 2.

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Seattle Parks and Recreation temporarily canceling programs for seniors

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On March 4, Public Health – Seattle & King County released new recommendations regarding COVID-19, including guidance for people at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness. This guidance recommends that people over 60 years of age should stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible.

With this information, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is canceling all of our Lifelong Recreation classes, trips, and drop-in programs for seniors. Lifelong Recreation programs will be canceled starting Thursday, March 5 at least through Saturday, March 21. SPR will continue to consult with, and follow the guidance of, public health partners and will re-evaluate this program cancellation on an ongoing basis.

Please check the following resources for updates about SPR operations and facilities:

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience during this difficult time. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Cheryl Brown at 206-615-0619.

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Seattle Parks and Recreation canceling Seattle Park District Meetings

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Phone and online meeting options will be offered at a future date

As many of you have heard, Public Health – Seattle & King County has recently released guidance that the public should refrain from non-essential large gatherings. As a result of this guidance, we are evaluating our planned events and activities and making decisions about whether to proceed.

We have canceled two Seattle Park District meetings:

  • Seattle Park District meeting at Lake City Community Center on Thursday, March 5, 2020; 6pm-8pm
  • Seattle Park District meeting at Van Asselt Community Center on Saturday, March 7, 2020; 10am-12pm

In the next week, we will offer a phone and online meeting option for these two canceled meetings. Details coming soon.

We apologize for the inconvenience. Please know that you can send any thoughts or comments about the Park District financial planning process to PDplanning@seattle.gov, or participate in our online survey: https://fal.cn/36SRn

Follow us on social media, blog, and newsletter to stay up to date:

  • Seattle Parks and Recreation Website
  • Seattle Parks and Recreation Facebook
  • Seattle Parks and Recreation Twitter
  • Seattle Parks and Recreation Blog

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Free job fair for LGBTQ youth and allies on April 4 at Miller Community Center

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Seattle Parks and Recreation will host the free fifth annual job fair for LGBTQ youth and allies on Saturday, April 4, 2020 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112. Youth of all ages are welcome to attend! There will be many employment opportunities for high school-age youth (13-19) and young adults (19-24). Attendees should come prepared to spend time visiting the various vendors, which will have representatives from private employers as well as City of Seattle youth-employment and stipend programs.

 

Join us for:

⦁ Part-time, full-time, summer, & year-round jobs from employers like Starbucks, AMC Theaters, Fred Hutch Research Center & more
⦁ Free sandwiches and beverages from a Local Food Truck 
⦁ Free ice cream from Molly Moon’s
⦁ Free & confidential 60 second HIV screening thanks to Gay City
⦁ Free LGBTQ+ Worker’s Rights Workshop from 3:00-4:30pm from LGBTQ Allyship
⦁ Performances by Kylie Mooncakes

Several City departments offer summer employment appropriate for teens and young adults, including positions in Seattle Parks and Recreation Aquatics (life guards, swim instructors), Youth Engaged in Service (job shadowing an adult mentor), and Summer of Service (trail and neighborhood restoration). Many local LGBTQ-friendly employers, such as Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Northwest Youth Corps, Molly Moon’s Ice Cream (get some free ice cream before they run out!), and the Washington Bus, will also be in attendance. Gay City will also be present to provide free, confidential HIV screenings. Stick around after the job fair from 3 to 4:30 p.m. for a LGBTQ Worker’s Rights Workshop from LGBTQ Allyship!



See the Facebook event page here.



LGBTQ-friendly organizations and employers who will be attending the job fair:

AMC Movie Theaters
Best Buy
Camp Ten Trees
City of Seattle Specialized Programs
City of Seattle Talent Acquisition
City of Seattle Youth Engaged in Service
City of Seattle Summer of Service
City Year- Seattle Office
Data2insight
Discovery Corps at Pacific Science Center
Fred Hutch/ Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Gay City (LGBTQ nonprofit)
Gender Justice League (Gender Identity nonprofit)
Greater Seattle Business Association
Ingersoll (Gender Identity nonprofit)
Juma (customer service jobs)
KEXP-FM Radio
Lambert House (LGBTQ nonprofit)
Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream
Northwest Youth Corps
Port of Seattle
Seattle Humane
Seattle Police Department
Seattle Public Library
Starbucks
Washington Bus (civic engagement nonprofit)
YouthCare (youth homelessness and social services nonprofit)

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Coronavirus Update

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Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) continues to be in communication with, and following the guidance of, Public Health—Seattle & King County (PHSKC), the City’s Office of Emergency Management, and Washington Department of Health regarding COVID-19.

SPR impacts:

  • Programs for seniors canceled: All Lifelong Recreation classes, trips, and drop-in programs for seniors are canceled starting Thursday, March 5 for at least the next two weeks. Details here.
  • Currently, no SPR facilities are closed.
  • If an SPR program is canceled or if a facility is closed, we will notify patrons (either by direct email or phone message for registered participants, or by notices via web, social media, and media for the general public).

Stay informed:

Please check the following resources for updates about SPR operations and facilities:

How can you help?

As a best practice, SPR encourages anyone who feels sick with cold or flu symptoms to stay home and avoid contact with others. If you have health concerns or questions, please contact your regular doctor. PHSKC also recommends the following:

It’s important that everyone take steps to reduce the spread of novel coronavirus, especially to protect those who are more vulnerable. Steps you can take to prevent spread of flu and the common cold will also help prevent coronavirus:

-Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.

-Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands

-Avoid contact with people who are sick

-Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others

-Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing

If you are traveling overseas, check for the latest COVID-19 Travel Alerts and follow the CDC’s Travelers’ Health guidance: guidance:  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

More recommendations about how to prevent the spread of illness in the home and in the community is available from PHSKC here.

Increased cleaning at SPR facilities:

As a best practice to prevent the spread of viruses during this cold and flu season, and in response to general concerns over Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), SPR is increasing custodial cleaning efforts at our facilities, including community centers and pools.

SPR is implementing these measures to support basic good cleaning and hygiene care at our high-traffic public facilities, and not in response to a specific exposure risk.

In addition to our already-established custodial routines, we will be implementing the following measures:

  • SPR will install Hand Sanitizing stations in lobby areas at our public facilities
  • SPR will increase the number of times that the following high-traffic areas are sanitized, with custodians sanitizing these areas three times during their shift:
    • Bathroom countertops, stall handles, and flushing devices
    • Entry/exit door handles and surrounding areas
    • Lobby desk tops

Coronavirus and Stigma:

Please see important information below from PHSKC on preventing discrimination and stigma around coronavirus.

Discrimination based on ethnicity or ancestry will make the situation worse. Having Chinese ancestry – or any other ancestry – does not make a person more vulnerable to this illness. Coronavirus doesn’t recognize race, nationality nor ethnicity.

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Laurelhurst Firepit to remain open

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Over the years, many community members have shared concerns about vandalism and unattended fires at the Laurelhurst firepit (located at Laurelhurst Park next to the community center). When Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) recently proposed addressing these concerns through the removal of the firepit, many community members reached out to say that they were not pleased with this plan.

We heard from many of you about how this firepit still serves as an important community gathering location and how it holds lots of value to the Laurelhurst community. So for now, SPR will not be moving forward with plans to remove the firepit.

We will continue to listen to and respond to public concerns, and will follow the community’s lead on how we can best support community-building efforts and safety in this neighborhood.

If you have comments or concerns about the firepit, please email pks_info@seattle.gov.

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Ballard Pool closed until mid-May, 2020

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Ballard Pool closed for planned major maintenance on December 2nd, and is now expected to reopen sometime in mid-May (instead of our most recent estimate of April), depending on progress. Please check our Facebook page and voicemail (206-684-4094) for status updates.

For a list of other pools in the area that can serve you, please visit www.seattle.gov/parks.

As part of our City Wide Pools Project, contractors are working on the following repairs and improvements at Ballard Pool: demolish and replace existing concrete pool deck, pool deck drains, pool & spa plaster liner and replace existing pool filter system.

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Seattle Parks and Recreation seeks partners to provide programs for youth through the Summer Playground Program

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Seattle Parks and Recreation is seeking individuals, groups, or organizations to provide culturally relevant, safe, active and reliable programs to the community through the Summer Playground Program. The focus of the Summer Playground Program is to provide free healthy meals, as well as fun, innovative and active programs at park sites across Seattle that will have a positive impact on the children, families, and communities of Seattle. The Summer Playground Program will run from July 6 to August 21, 2020.

The Summer Playground Expanded Recreation Program Request for Proposals (RFP) is targeted to the following SPR locations: Beacon Hill Playground, Brighton Playfield, Judkins Park and Playfield, Madrona Playground, Othello Playground, Pratt Park, Powell Barnett Park, Lakewood Playground, E.C. Hughes Playground, Highland Park, Roxhill Park, Georgetown Playfield, Little Brook Park, and Greenwood Park.

Summer Playground Expanded Recreation RFP applications can be completed and submitted at seattlepark.gosmart.org.  Applications are due by Tuesday, March 31, 2020 by 11:59 p.m.

For more details, eligibility, and application criteria and timeline, please see the funds guidelines  or contact Connor Durham, Seattle Parks and Recreation, at connor.durham@seattle.gov or 206-615-0303.

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Help provide input on the play area relocation and renovation at Hiawatha Playfield

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Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to participate in the design for the relocation and renovation of the play area at Hiawatha Playfield. Please join the design team at the Hiawatha Community Center from either 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Tot Gym or from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for an evening meeting. Both will be held at Hiawatha Community Center, 2700 California Ave. SW. on Thursday, February 27, 2020.

This is an opportunity for the community to learn about the proposal to demolish and rebuild the play area at Hiawatha Playfield and review design options. Additionally, the community will be asked to participate in a quick survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HiawathaPlayArea2 to help inform the design. The survey will open after the meetings on February 27. Community involvement is essential in developing this new play area and we hope to hear from you.

The goal of this project is to transfer the location of the play area from the north end of the park to the grass area just south of the wading pool. The project includes new play equipment and restoration of the old play area site. The new location will improve visibility and access for all.

We anticipate holding a final Open House in the late spring to present the schematic design.

Funding for this park 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 or for meeting notification translations, please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/hiawatha-play-area-relocation

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

Thank you to the Hiawatha Community Center and the Associated Recreation Council (ARC) for their partnership with the community engagement for this project.

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