Another Lincoln Park note: Why the parking lots are closed

Unrelated to the downed tree along the Lincoln Park waterfront path, two people e-mailed us about LP parking being off-limits today; our photo above shows the gated-and-empty central parking lot along Fauntleroy north of Rose. This posted note on the park’s kiosks seems to explain:

The fine print: Last Friday and tomorrow are the first of this year’s unpaid-furlough days for Seattle Parks staff, and of course those are bookending today’s holiday. This post from Parkways explains how the department’s splitting up those days – but it doesn’t include specific impacts such as gated parking lots; the notice does say that some gates may not be open as a result of furloughs, but “the park is open.” Today, that meant a lot of street parking usage, though after 3 pm the west side of Fauntleroy is off-limits because of ferry traffic.

Jacob January 18, 2010 (3:55 pm)

Ridiculous.

Terri January 18, 2010 (4:37 pm)

Somehow this doesn’t seem particularly well thought through – lots of kids and parents home today and the parking lots are closed – huh?!? It is a beautiful day so let’s make it extra difficult to use the parks. How does a furlough close a parking lot? I don’t see the connection.

WSB January 18, 2010 (4:43 pm)

I don’t know how soon we’ll be able to get answers – since the Parks communications staff is part of the group that’s on furlough tomorrow – although there are a few non-staff type people I’m going to try asking … The question is whether the parking gates were closed or open the past two days. If closed, could be a case that no one was on duty to open them since before Friday’s furlough day. — tr

marty January 18, 2010 (4:41 pm)

Extreme B.S.!!!! Sounds like if the employees don’t get their way they are going to take their ball and go home.

RainyDay January 18, 2010 (4:53 pm)

Seriously, one person couldn’t open and close the gate today. What a waste…I packed up and drove by with baby and dog and had to keep going…!$#@%!

christyinseattle January 18, 2010 (5:12 pm)

I went to the park. Wasn’t too much of a big deal for me not to have the parking lot. Park and walk just a little further … and you’re there!

Alkikmac January 18, 2010 (5:22 pm)

I don’t expect an hourly paid worker forced to take a day off without pay to get out of their bed and open a city gate. Hell no, not if they’re not getting paid. It’s a PR problem for the City “powers”, not the little guys and gals.

Amanda January 18, 2010 (5:23 pm)

Actually, you can park on the west side of the street after 3 because of the holiday ;) Not that it matters now, since it’s dark.

coffee January 18, 2010 (7:50 pm)

Just remember, the city is dealing with a cash crunch, therefore services, i.e. parks, parking in the parks, etc have all been cut back. You get a holiday, the employees get holidays. If you have a city worker opening the lots on a holiday its probably double time, or even double and 1/2 time if they belong to a union. If you want more services, expect to pay yet higher taxes. Everyone has to remember the city has to run just like a business, reduce expenses when revenues are down. I am not defending the city, rather looking at it from a financial side.

Mags January 18, 2010 (8:15 pm)

Today is not a furlough day, it is a holiday. So I would assume normal holiday policies would be in effect. Many city employees were given the choice to take their furlough day on either schedule A (Fridays) or schedule B (Mondays or Tuesday following holiday) so not all employees would be off on the same day. And managers had their furlough days cut from 10 to 7 by McGinn.

Glenda January 18, 2010 (8:45 pm)

As a life-long resident AND a Seattle City employee (not Parks) for over 10 years, I’m so so tired of seeing comments like “take their ball and go home” and general anti-city employee tirades. I love this city, I always have and want the best for it just like you do. For the last four years, the city has already taken many job cuts, there isn’t a lot of fat to trim anymore. I keep hearing rumors of “lazy government employees” but I’ve yet to actually see one in the wild. Instead, most people I know are doing two jobs, just like everyone else in todays private job market. The furloughs were a pretty good solution to cutting some of the budget without losing jobs and services for good. So sorry guys, that you had to deal with a gate to a park locked on a federal holiday or shorter closing hours at your local library, but this is what “doing more with less” looks like in action.

old timer January 18, 2010 (9:13 pm)

So why is there a gate?
Someone please refresh my memory.
Thanks

Rick January 19, 2010 (7:26 am)

Back in the “olden” days when I lived across the street from the north lot the youngsters would gather in the lot for their parties during the summer months. After the gates went up it became possible to sleep at night. They also helped folks who can’t or won’t read the signs that the park is actually closed at night.

lynne January 19, 2010 (9:48 am)

Well said, Glenda. There are plenty of residents in this city that appreciate the work you do. Thank you!

MB January 19, 2010 (11:57 am)

I appreciate the work city employees do very much and walked Lincoln Park yesterday as well. Not too big of a deal for me and the hubby who simply parked across the street, but I can see how it would be a pain for a family with multiple small children, strollers, etc. I was confused when I saw the gates closed. Everyone needs a day off, but it did seem weird to me that on a day when people actually could take their kids to the park during the week because there was no school, they weren’t able to use the lot. Didn’t seem to stop people though, I saw multiple single parents schlepping bags and kids and strollers and dogs from parking spots all over the place.

BB January 19, 2010 (12:18 pm)

The gates on the parking lots have made a huge difference to the community adjacent to Lincoln Park. There were loud parties in the lots that often ended in vandalism to park structures, fights and even gunshots. There were also people driving donuts at wee hours of the morning. In addition, people who use the ferry would leave their cars overnight in the lot. The large boulders were added in the grass strip to keep people from driving out that way when the gates were locked. The police (SW precinct) and the Parks Department met with the community several times and addressed all these issues. I for one am grateful to all the City employees who care for Lincoln Park and keep it a beautiful and much safer place.

Brenda

OP January 19, 2010 (2:38 pm)

Why are we blaming the employees, folks? It’s the fine folks on Seattle City Council and the mayor that can’t balance the damn budget (or cut needless services and programs from it).

Mike January 19, 2010 (4:36 pm)

I wonder if any of the neighbors very close by the park would be willing to volunteer to open and then close the gates on days like yesterday? I imagine the Parks Department would be willing to give someone a key. There are quite a few volunteer groups who work in the various parks to help maintain them, so maybe this is one more area the community could help out with.

Been here a long time January 19, 2010 (8:18 pm)

If one day of locked gates so they have to park across the street: is the only problem some of the people of this city have. Then I wish they would count their blessings and stop berating the city workers.
After watching all the problems in Haiti, and reading all the stats about cancer in the N.W. on the rise; and then reading this tale of woe due to one locked gate…. well really.

Robert February 8, 2010 (7:31 am)

Did the hours of the park change as well? There are signs up that say the park is closed until 6am now. I exercise every morning in the park from 530am to 6am. The sign says I’m now trespassing? The parks website says Lincoln Park is open at 4am which is it?

Sorry, comment time is over.