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FOLLOWUP: Start date set for this year’s early closings at Alki Beach

May 18, 2022 2:59 pm
|      41 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

Two months ago, we reported that Seattle Parks planned to again close Alki Beach Park at 10 pm this summer. At the time, though, they hadn’t set the start date. Now they have: Friday, May 27th, as Memorial Day weekend begins, hours at Alki (and Golden Gardens) will be 4 am-10 pm rather than 4 am-11:30 pm. The earlier closing time will continue through Sunday, September 4th. Though this is the second summer for the earlier closing time – last year it started in July, after a deadly shooting – Parks is still describing it as a “pilot,” and saying it’ll be reviewed once it’s over. The announcement also says SPD will assist Parks in closing the beach starting at 9:30 pm. As you’ve probably noticed on those illuminated mobile signs placed recently along Harbor and Alki Avenues, beach-fire season also will begin on Memorial Day weekend, with the fire pits to be open for use starting May 28th.

P.S. Parks and police are both on the agenda for tomorrow night’s Alki Community Council meeting (7 pm online or in-person at Alki UCC), if you have questions and/or comments about summer plans.

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41 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Start date set for this year's early closings at Alki Beach"

  • Jay May 18, 2022 (3:58 pm)

    It’s not even dark at 9:30 in summer. I hate this so much. It’s ruining the experience. I used to spend late evenings at Alki. I’m a local. There are issues with drunken people on the holidays and a handful of violent crimes, but that’s no reason to blanket close the beach every night. And they send SO MANY cops to close the beach. I’m guessing it costs at least $5,000 every night for the closure. And the cops are never respectful about it.

    • Anne May 18, 2022 (5:21 pm)

      Oh please.It’s not just on holidays & -gotta love that inane “it’s just a handful of violent crimes”-comment. Yes- start closing beach at 9:30 -don’t worry days start to get shorter after June 21st. anyway, Wonder how many folks are “respectful “ when asked to start packing up?

    • Lauren May 19, 2022 (10:02 am)

      I’m with you, Jay. Misplaced priorities and a HUGE waste of money.

    • April May 19, 2022 (1:05 pm)

      Agreed! Been here over 27 years. Tired of the newbies complaining about Alki Noise!

  • J May 18, 2022 (4:43 pm)

    Seattle is so boring and lame. 

  • anonyme May 18, 2022 (4:48 pm)

    At first, I thought this was silly.  It makes no sense to have shorter hours when days are longer, and enforcement is no different at 10 than it is at 11:30.  However, it does make sense that closure should be in accord with the noise ordinance.  It would make even more sense if the noise ordinance were enforced.

  • Alki resident May 18, 2022 (4:49 pm)

    Pretty sad the community has to suffer because of a few incidences. Lots of families live down there and it’s a public beach, making everyone leave at 9:30 is a joke. Restaurants will suffer too

    • CarDriver May 19, 2022 (6:04 am)

      What restaurants are open after 9:30??

      • Delta May 20, 2022 (12:23 am)

        Dukes, Chupacabra, and Pegasus to start, Cactus on weekends.

  • Public space May 18, 2022 (4:55 pm)

    So saddened by this. I have enjoyed watching the twilight after sunset on the beach for the many many years I have lived on Alki. As a local, as someone who experiences the crowds (and the empty beaches) that fluctuate with the seasons, I honestly don’t mind the rush in the summer. For the VAST majority of the time it is simply festive with tons of people, a diverse crowd of ages and groups, enjoying this beautiful place.  To close at 10pm is so early and to have the police start rolling through en masse at 9:30 is disruptive and overkill.  Can only hope this pilot is short lived.

  • Mj May 18, 2022 (5:07 pm)

    Jay – Agreed

  • vee May 18, 2022 (5:09 pm)

    This is way too early, how can we law abiding citizens, the majority, protest this, it isnt right

    • Lauren May 19, 2022 (10:03 am)

      I mean, we could literally protest. Organize a rally. 

      • Nate May 21, 2022 (1:11 pm)

        I would be thrilled to be part of a protest, or help organize it even. I live in Ballard and the same thing is happening at Golden Gardens. It’s ridiculous that people can camp the parks for months but SPD is going to kick people off the beach at 9:30 pm.

  • NotJay May 18, 2022 (5:12 pm)

    @Jay – Living on Alki, Ive heard officers be downright comical with the closings before so I know this is not always true. Also, if it bothers you too much do what all the non-locals do and just wait 30 minutes after the beach is cleared and come back. However, I would rather have them focus on people blowing through crosswalks nearly running down pedestrians, shooting off fireworks at 3am on a Tuesday, street racing, sideswiping cars, riding motorcycles on the sidewalks and blocking traffic to do burnouts.

  • Odd son May 18, 2022 (5:17 pm)

    Glad this is happening again. It’s too bad some people can’t act like adults so everyone has to suffer.

  • Scubafrog May 18, 2022 (5:18 pm)

    With the violent crime on Alki during the summer, and 1 homicide or more per summer (likely increasing with the crime wave), this is for the best – to shut it down early.  Especially with politicians unwilling to allocate more funds to hire more police officers – and balking at overtime pay, it’s unfair to burden SPD and first-responders with another potentially high-crime locale this summer.  Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if current SPD aren’t tired.   In the future, when SPD’s numbers are replenished, and they can resume bike patrols and park their mobile command post on the Ave, perhaps the curfew can change.  For now I think people are worried about 1. keeping the community safe, and 2. keeping SPD/first responders at optimal performance. 

  • CarDriver May 18, 2022 (6:35 pm)

    “Drunken people and violent crimes” and there’s no reason to close the beach because of that? Wow. And the police aren’t “respectful” towards those people? Double wow.

    • Lauren May 19, 2022 (10:04 am)

      …. I mean, the police are not respectful toward people. Not sure why you think they are? 

      • CarDriver May 19, 2022 (1:09 pm)

        Lauren. PLEASE educate me, and others with how police are “not respectful toward people” and please be specific on exactly what “people” you are referencing and be specific as to what “respect” you’re expecting from them.  

  • Eric May 18, 2022 (6:52 pm)

    So glad this is happening again! Parks do not need to be open 24 hours, most are not, Alki should not be an exception.    

  • Mj May 18, 2022 (6:58 pm)

    Eric – you are incorrect, Alki typically closes at 11:30 PM a more reasonable time especially on weekends in the summer.

  • Oh Seattle May 18, 2022 (7:45 pm)

    I wish I had time to go back to the stories about shootings and other criminal activity on Alki from summers past and cross-reference the commenters demanding SPS DO SOMETHING NOW!!! against those now complaining about the early closure time.

    • Alki resident May 18, 2022 (9:20 pm)

      I lived down there for 6 years with my kids. We saw a lot of stuff but never thought the beach should shut down early for any reason. Having police presence was what they needed , not closing the beach early all summer. There’s more homicides downtown, should they close that too? 

  • CloseItDown May 19, 2022 (1:22 am)

    Nice. Why even let people be outside at all? 

  • Marcus May 19, 2022 (6:17 am)

    Got an idea, let’s hire more police to patrol the beach at twilight and then all the responsible groups of friends and families can enjoy sunset on the beach.

  • Runner May 19, 2022 (6:54 am)

    Thank you Seattle Parks!  

  • Greg May 19, 2022 (7:24 am)

    Note to self — never read WSB comments unless you want to be discouraged about the future of humanity. 

  • safety attitudes May 19, 2022 (9:17 am)

    Alki: A place people enjoy going, or live or work near, that is a hot spot for shootings, crime, and nuisance behavior, especially after hours.

    Community response to crime deterrent action being taken: ‘This sucks, I’m disappointed, I really enjoy freedom to enjoy this place all hours’

    Andover: A place where homeless people live in RV’s, that people may have to pass by or live or work near, that is also a hot spot for shootings, crime, and nuisance behavior.

    Community response: ‘why isn’t more being done? Bulldoze it! Burn it down! Let’s organize and force change! Fire city leaders!’

    Kind of interesting how safety attitudes aren’t so consistent, depending on other factors.

  • Kermit May 19, 2022 (9:32 am)

    Still believe the continued blessing of fire pits is part of the problem. Really wish Seattle would follow through on protecting air quality for the general public and eliminate fire pits on public beaches where the winds blow the particulates up and across a wide area forcing residents to shut windows and doors and hunker down inside to avoid asthma attacks and other serious adverse health effects. This is one of the few cities that professes to be “green” yet ignores simple policy changes that could benefit all of us and the environment. 

  • Robert J Schmidt May 19, 2022 (12:28 pm)

    Typical response. Solve a crime problem by punishing law abiding citizens. Wake up people. When the beach opens or closes should not be determined by criminals. 

    • April May 19, 2022 (1:08 pm)

      Agreed! If your scared then don’t go!

  • April May 19, 2022 (1:09 pm)

    Agreed! If your scared to go out then don’t go!

  • Stefan May 19, 2022 (5:26 pm)

    I wish we could enjoy summer nights on the beach. Friends, bonfires and laughs. This is so disappointing.

  • K May 19, 2022 (7:04 pm)

    This is an overreaction, a complete waste of resources, and will have a much bigger (negative) impact on regular beachgoers than it will a (positive) impact on crime rates.

  • Jort May 20, 2022 (10:14 am)

    If the threshold for preemptive closures is the “potential” for danger based on past experiences, then boy we are going to need to start closing down a LOT of the streets in this city to cars entirely, immediately.

  • Lincoln Park Mom May 20, 2022 (1:02 pm)

    Criminals: 1, law abiding citizens: 0

  • Mark Schletty May 21, 2022 (2:06 pm)

    This, and the restrictions on Constellation Av., are both for the same reason and the same cause. This is only happening because the City (politicians, not police officers) refuses to enforce already in place laws concerning conduct.  Everyone gets punished because the City wont punish the law breakers. Almost all of the behavior that causes the problems is illegal. Prosecute the miscreants and the restrictions won’t be necessary. 

  • Get to Know Your Neighbors May 21, 2022 (2:42 pm)

    Some of y’all sound like you want personal police escorts to walk you around and make sure no one looks “the wrong way” in your vicinity.  Really gross that you’re this afraid of your neighbors. (SPD is much more likely to cause you or someone you know harm. This is a documented fact.) Alki used to be Luna Park after all… let people enjoy things.

  • A Feral Fox May 22, 2022 (11:03 pm)

    A curfew to treat us like children, enforced by the SPD who are active Trump Loyalists, shielding 6 officers who went to the DC insurrection on January 6th (The most out of any police department in the nation)…With law enforcement like this, I will be wearing a loincloth all pride, everywhere I go in this damn city, directly to spite these puritan loyalists.

Sorry, comment time is over.