Reader report from North Delridge via text:
With Seattle Parks grounds crews overwhelmed, these neighbors and others decided to mow out most of Puget Blvd. Park (Sunday) evening for the little kids to run. One was even using a push mower. Good social distancing too.
The area is adjacent the Delridge P-Patch.
This is so great! Why is it that the parks aren’t getting mowed by the grounds crews, though? I’ve been wondering but hadn’t heard anything about it.
I hadn’t heard about the problem so I haven’t (yet) checked, but one likely reason: Lots of other new duties for parks crews – “social distancing ambassadors,” putting up lots of signs, taping off playground equipment and picnic tabls …
Can confirm that the grass and weeds are growing tall at some parks. Some parts of our local parks are getting cut but not as frequently as before. At Walt Hundley, for example, some of the playfield lawns were cut about a week ago but the area near the tennis courts is growing tall. Thanks to our neighbors who are chipping in to help!
Neighbors have been doing the same at Dragonfly a Pavilion. In fact, this mystery neighbor used a manual push mower to mow just the wings – took two days. We all would love to thank the multiple neighbors who pitched in whomever they are!
Parks look terrible. Maybe they should mow the lawns instead of installing wood on benches so you can’t sit on them. Why is Don Armini boat launch closed? What is going on with the parks department?
Turns out there is a pandemic going on. You may not have heard, but all non-essential services have been turned off.
Did I miss the memo? Is it now ok to trim/maintain the landscaping on city owned without being licensed and obtaining the appropriate permits? I seem to recall some big hullabaloo a while ago about unauthorized trimming of vegetation at the north end of 35th…
Because illegally cutting down city owned trees to improve your view is not the same as pitching in to mow the grass at your neighborhood park.
A few of these overgrown grassy areas should be restored to native plant habitats. Especially planting strips and other areas that receive little use.
Agree, it would be nice to have more details here. While I understand the residents have entirely good intentions, we pay plenty to live in Seattle… I’d appreciate it if the city could clarify why they can’t provide this service. If they’re too busy closing off (and then re-opening) benches to maintain grounds, that’s good to know.
The 2×4 wood pieces were added by citizens, not the Parks Department. Please don’t spread false news.
No, the benches were boarded (and then un-boarded) by city crews, and Parks acknowledged that, in writing. We covered it all last month:
https://westseattleblog.com/2020/04/keep-it-moving-park-policy-also-now-apparently-includes-a-ban-on-sitting/
The city currently has a hiring freeze in place. Parks usually adds staff in summer for the increased maintenance but that isn’t possible this summer with the huge budget shortfall because of COVID-19.
Thanks Bertha, I forgot about the hiring freeze. Less Parks workers to cut the grass. Good job to those taking on the maintenance!!
Where are our expensive Seattle tax dollars going? If the parks crew aren’t keeping up the parks tax payers should be getting a refund or tax break. Kudos to the local neighbors taking matters in their own hands to keep our parks in ship shape, excellent community effort.
In addition to the usual expenses of maintaining the city and services, the city has also been dealing with a pandemic which means they need more money to cover increased costs at a time when they are taking in less income from taxes because lots of our revenue is based on sales taxes and people aren’t buying at the level they were previously.
This is awesome! My family and I walked by there and thought it was so weird that this one random patch of grass was mowed. We stopped to let my 15 month old run around in it. I think we’re going to do the same for a chunk of the Delridge Play field too! :D
Outdoor maintenance of parks and vegetation was not considered essential public works and it was suspended during the Stay Home orders by the Governor. It should be getting phased back in, however there will be a considerable back-log of work and potential staffing shortages.
Geez, talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth. Non-essential work has been halted + people with free time= people pitching in. Good work!
I’ll have to check on the “non-essential” theory, fwiw. I read the orders several times in recent weeks and recall language like “landscaping/maintenance of public assets” was allowed.
I walk Riverview Playfield almost every day, and I’d been wondering if it was okay if folks chipped in to help. The grass is more than knee high in spots. Maybe HPIC could organize a volunteer crew for a weekend? I’d be happy to help. Should be easy to do so with plenty of room for social distancing.
this is atom cuss i think that it really helps the communities out and i think it is good that they do that because the people in thous counties are helping a lot whit the fear of corona vies
I think this is absolutely fabulous for so many reasons. WAY TO GO WEST SEATTLE for holding it down, y’all ROCK!! helping my son do this for a communications badge.
A few days ago, I mowed a patchof the Delridge Play field grassy area (with my push mower), but hadn’t been able to get back because of the rain. (Trust me, it’s enough of a workout with a push mower and the grass being this long, we don’t need to add the extra weight of rain to that.) Well some lovely West Seattleite mowed ALL of it. :D (Minus a small patch near some benches.) THANK YOU!
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