Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is currently working on developing the Seattle Park District Financial Plan, which will lay out the funding for the next six years of the Seattle Park District.

Community members are encouraged to learn more and join the discussion in building the next six-year budget by attending a public meeting.

Public Meetings:

• Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW), Monday, March 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Lake City Community Center (12531 28th Ave. NE), Thursday, March 5 from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Van Asselt Community Center (2820 S Myrtle St.), Saturday, March 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

In 2014, Seattle voters approved the 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.

The current Seattle Park District funding cycle runs from 2015-2020. The next Seattle Park District Financial Plan will run from 2021-2026 and will be informed by a variety of sources, including our 2019 strategic planning process (in which we talked to over 10,000 community members), public input, and other known parks and recreation system needs.

For more information and additional ways to join the discussion, visit https://www.seattle.gov/seattle-park-district/park-district-planning

Seattle Parks and Recreation is now accepting applications for volunteers in the Seattle Urban Nature Guide program. Seattle Urban Nature Guides (SUN Guides) enhance, promote and foster appreciation of nature by connecting families and students with their Seattle parklands, and providing educational opportunities for all.

As a SUN Guide, you will:

• Develop Job Skills such as public speaking, education techniques and group engagement
• Enjoy a community of fellow volunteers and city staff
• Receive FREE Training on Pacific Northwest flora and fauna, habitats, environmental education techniques to connect with a wide variety of audiences and equity concepts
• Lead hands on learning experiences in a variety of settings from playgrounds to beaches
• Familiarize yourself with Seattle’s destination Parks while helping others do the same 

To Apply:

Review the position and description and apply here. Applications are due by Thursday, March 21st. You can also read more about the SUN Guides program as well as other Seattle Parks and Recreation volunteer opportunities here.

Click HERE for updated details on the April 4, 2020 Job Fair for LGBTQ youth and allies.

Seattle Parks and Recreation will host a free job fair for LGBTQ+ youth and allies on Saturday, April 4, 2020 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Miller Community Center, located at 330 19th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112.

There will be many opportunities for high school age (13-19) and young adults (19-24) featuring dozens of employers and organizations with lots of jobs, stipend opportunities, and internships.

Attendees should come prepared to spend some time visiting the various booths and, if possible, bring copies of their resume or work and volunteer experience.

The Youth Job Fair for LGBTQ+ and Allies is a collaborative effort led by the Youth Employment and Service Learning Unit of Seattle Parks and Recreation. For more information contact Kristy Darcy at Kristy.Darcy@seattle.gov or 206.684.4575.

Spring Applications Due March 19

As a SUNGuide you will:

Develop Job Skills in public speaking, education techniques and group engagement.

Enjoy a community of volunteers and city staff.

Receive FREE Training on Pacific Northwest flora and fauna, habitats, environmental education techniques to connect with a wide variety of audiences and equity concepts.

Lead interactive learning experiences in a variety of settings from playgrounds to beaches.

Familiarize yourself with Seattle’s destination parks while helping others do the same.

Full description, training schedule and applications are available here.

Join us at noon on Sunday, March 1 as the Seattle Japanese Garden celebrates First Viewing, a re-opening event welcoming the general public inside the gates for the first time in 2020.

Prior to the gates opening to the public at noon, the Seattle Japanese Garden will hold a special Shinto Blessing ceremony starting at 10:30 a.m. (tickets to this ceremony are currently sold out).

Trained guides will be available to give complimentary tours of the Seattle Japanese Garden, deepening the experience of strolling the garden by sharing insights on the garden’s history, design, and spiritual principles. The 45-minute tours begin at the ticket booth starting at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The Tateuchi Community Room will also have its doors open to the public, where visitors can enjoy a complimentary cup of tea.  

Admission is $8 adults; $6 members; $4 youth (ages 6-17), students with ID, and seniors 65+. Children 5 and under are free.  

Seattle Japanese Garden is located at 1075 Lake Washington Blvd., Seattle. More event details and photographs from past events are available at www.seattlejapanesegarden.org.  

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to provide final input for the Maple Wood Playfield and Play Area renovation project. Please take this short survey here.  The survey will close February 28, 2020.

The Maple Wood Playfield and Play Area 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 overarching objective for this renovation project is to update and improve the existing athletic field and play areas, and address barriers to accessibility while encouraging a cohesive, holistic design. The improvements will benefit the surrounding community and various city‐wide recreational sports leagues.

Thank you to everyone who attended the final Open House on February 12, 2020 and reviewed the preferred design developed with your input by PLACE Landscape Architecture.

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. 

Community invited to join the discussion and provide feedback

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is currently working on developing the Seattle Park District Financial Plan, which will lay out the funding for the next six years of the Seattle Park District.

In 2014, Seattle voters approved the 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.

The current Seattle Park District funding cycle runs from 2015-2020. The next Seattle Park District Financial Plan will run from 2021-2026 and will be informed by a variety of sources, including our 2019 strategic planning process (in which we talked to over 10,000 community members), public input, and other known parks and recreation system needs.

Community members are encouraged to learn more and join the discussion in building the next six-year budget via the following avenues:

• Attend a public meeting:

-Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW) on Monday, March 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.

-Lake City Community Center (12531 28th Ave. NE) on Thursday, March 5 from 6 to 8 p.m.

-Van Asselt Community Center (2820 S Myrtle St.) on Saturday, March 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Take our survey: https://seattle.surveymonkey.com/r/SEAParkDistrict
• Email us at PDplanning@seattle.gov
• Visit our website: https://www.seattle.gov/seattle-park-district/park-district-planning
• Attend and give public testimony at a Park District Oversight/Park Board Committee Meeting, February 2020 through May 2020. See dates here.

Thanks to the Seattle Park District, SPR is able to maintain more parks more frequently, with enhanced maintenance where needed; provide low-cost recreation programs, free drop-in programs, and add to our scholarship fund; develop 14 new parks, and renovate play areas and fields; restore over a thousand acres of urban forest; make critical repairs to community centers and pools; make dozens of accessibility improvements to our restrooms, pathways, and facilities;  put on hundreds of community events across our city, and much more.

Read about Park District Planning in these languages:

• Korean
• Somali
• Simplified Chinese
• Traditional Chinese
• Spanish
• Tagalog
• Amharic

As our city has grown over the last six years, inequities have been exacerbated and there are still unmet community needs. Discussions about our next six-year budget will focus on addressing community needs in a way that first serves those impacted by racism and inequity, and second, seeks innovative and collaborative ways to make our parks, recreation facilities, and events serve the people who visit, live, and work in Seattle.  

For more information, please visit: https://www.seattle.gov/seattle-park-district/park-district-planning