Since West Seattle is home to city parks big (Alki and Lincoln) and small (California Place, Morgan Junction), not to mention more than a few inbetween (like Fauntleroy, at left), these are meetings you’ll want to know about: First, Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher is wrapping up a round of “hear from the public” events, and the closest he is getting to West Seattle is a gathering tonight at the South Park Community Center (map), 7 pm. Meantime, the city Parks Board (chaired by Alki’s Jackie Ramels) – meets tomorrow night downtown, and the major topic of West Seattle interest will be the board’s recommendation on whether to change some parks’ operating hours. Read on for toplines of the West Seattle-specific recommendations (all detailed in this briefing paper) …

*Two areas now open 6 am-sunset would be proposed for changing to 6 am-10 pm, Fauntleroy Park and the Westcrest Park parking lot.

*Three areas now open 6 am-11 pm would be proposed for changing to 6 am-10 pm, with a review also intended to “make the park hours the same as the parking lot hours where they are different” – Alki (summer hours, 4/15-10/1), Lincoln Park parking lot, Schmitz Park parking lot)

The briefing paper is quite detailed so if there’s a specific park you’re concerned about, it’s worth a look – see it here. The Parks Board has already had public hearings on this and the notations on the above proposals say that a community meeting would be held before changes are made, but public comment is usually welcome at Parks Board meetings as long as it’s in reference to what’s on the agenda – 7 pm tomorrow, Parks HQ at Denny Park downtown (map). (The agenda also includes a proposed “synthetic turf policy” – with new turf going in at Hiawatha and Delridge, that’s of local interest too.)