FOURTH OF JULY: Seattle Parks’ lights-on plan to discourage fireworks will last three nights this year

| Holidays | Safety | West Seattle news

(Reader photo of fireworks debris at a local park in 2020 – one that did NOT have lights on)

11:54 AM: Seattle Parks has made its annual announcement that some playfields will be illuminated to discourage fireworks use. This year the plan stretches across three nights, Saturday through Monday (July 2-4). At the affected West Seattle fields, it’ll be lights on at 8:30, lights out at 11. One other difference: Last year’s announcement said the fields will be “monitored” 9 pm-4 am, but this year it’s 9 pm-2 am. Here are the four West Seattle fields affected:

Delridge Playfield, 4458 Delridge Way SW
Hiawatha Playfield, 2700 California Ave. SW
Walt Hundley Playfield, 6920 34th Avenue SW
West Seattle Stadium, 4432 35th Ave. SW

This announcement only involves Seattle Parks facilities – we don’t usually get similar announcements from other entities that have fields in the area, such as Seattle Public Schools (though we’re inquiring).

4:54 PM: SPS says they have no lights-on plans but will have security monitoring their fields.

dwg July 1, 2022 (12:23 pm)

I wonder if this is counterproductive to the city’s aims of limiting structure fires. My thought being that people will have already bought these fireworks, and, once purchased, will use them one place or another on the fourth. They sure as heck won’t let them sit unused just because a park is lit up, but will instead find another location at which to set them off.

If used at a park, and not in a neighborhood, wouldn’t that decrease the chance of an errant firework starting a structure fire? It’s the same logic behind safe shoot-up sites. Folks are going to do it one way or another, we may as well give them a safer place to do it in.

G-Man July 1, 2022 (12:33 pm)

DWG, I believe the purpose of lighting the fields is to prevent the damage to the artificial turf caused by the fireworks.
- dwg July 1, 2022 (1:33 pm)
  
  Ah! I should’ve read the sourced link. Well, nevermind then. :)

Buttler mcgee July 1, 2022 (1:03 pm)

BUT if lighting fireworks from within a field in the burbs, you are shooting them TOWARD residential houses.( If you say you light them straight up I doubt it- enjoy being pelted with fire. )

Jeepney July 1, 2022 (1:08 pm)

I would rather see a synthetic sportsball field burn instead of a structure that houses people. Hoping for a nice steady rain Monday evening.

West Seattlite July 1, 2022 (3:56 pm)

That may happen. Forecast is predicting 30% of showers Mon. night with a low of 53. Daytime high is slated to be 65 with a 60% chance of showers.

Jay July 1, 2022 (1:17 pm)

They should designate safe firework sites. It would be so much better to have people launch their fireworks on the sand at Alki than all throughout the neighborhoods and on the artificial turf of play fields. The city isn’t going to stop people from lighting fireworks, but they could make most firework activity safer.

DC July 1, 2022 (3:47 pm)

Please do not use fireworks at beaches. It leaves so much debris behind. Debris people do not take the time to pick up.
- I’mNotSpartacus July 1, 2022 (10:00 pm)
  
  Or better yet, just don’t do them ANYwhere. Try to be a grownup and enjoy the holiday without needing to make loud noises.

Jeff July 1, 2022 (1:26 pm)

I had wondered if we might not see a decrease in fireworks regardless this year. It’s one thing to go buy in white center, but will everyone that did that last year be willing to go down to Auburn or whatever to buy this year?

BlairJ July 1, 2022 (2:58 pm)

The fireworks that cause the most damage and disturbance were not the “safe and sane” kind bought at the stands in White Center.
- OneTimeCharley July 1, 2022 (11:30 pm)
  
  Tell that to the folks in the apartments on California Avenue from last year’s fire. Those weren’t huge mortar type fireworks. Heck, even simple sparklers can cause immense damage and death.
  - BlairJ July 2, 2022 (9:30 pm)
    
    Agreed. The phrase “safe and sane” is deceptive.

They July 1, 2022 (1:54 pm)

What’s the concern, fireworks have been outlawed in the city….

On Board July 1, 2022 (3:18 pm)

How about “Sprinklers On” as well?

CarDriver July 1, 2022 (5:41 pm)

On a happy note, here on Alki I’ve not heard a single firework go off so far. Never had that happen this close to the 4th in the 37 years since I moved here from Genesee Hill.

AdmiralResident July 1, 2022 (6:44 pm)

Here in Admiral, someone has set them off at least 3 times already in the past week, often after midnight, always in dense residential areas. So there are still plenty of selfish people who just don’t care.
Tom M July 1, 2022 (8:01 pm)

This holiday weekend, please keep your children and pets quiet in the morning. Some of us will have been up until 4 AM blowing off fireworks.
Thank you.

Kyle July 1, 2022 (8:27 pm)

When will Parks fix the lighting at Highland Park? The path lights have been broken for years.

CarDriver July 1, 2022 (8:42 pm)

Just heard a couple of booms. Knew
it’d start at some point……

jissy July 1, 2022 (9:00 pm)

Jeff: They don’t have to go any further than Normandy Park or DesMoines…. stands are up there.

T. R. Tx July 2, 2022 (9:20 am)

So far this yr it’s been ok. Last year was too much.

Jim P. July 2, 2022 (12:35 pm)

Lights out at 11 is a bit silly. These people are just getting warmed up then. The real fun tends to be after the bars close and the drunks sally forth with their arsenal.

summer nights July 2, 2022 (2:17 pm)

Have enjoyed fireworks over the years, but wouldn’t mind doing without them, for the sake of the environment, fire prevention, and for those who find fireworks stressful. Could be cool to see a nationwide switch from fireworks to a new tradition that’s maybe less harmful. What if every 4th of July at midnight, instead of fireworks, everyone celebrated with dance, swimming, stargazing, biking, running, or other similar celebratory parties? Isn’t the point for people to come together, have fun, and celebrate being alive and free sharing in this beautiful land, that we are fortunate to call home? For me, these all feel like some fun possible ways to celebrate and express appreciation together.

Auntie July 2, 2022 (4:39 pm)

With SCOTUS passing the most conservative, restrictive laws in a century, I’m not at all certain that I feel much like celebrating.

Scooter July 2, 2022 (8:01 pm)

WSB has the city provided options for reporting fireworks now that they stopped answering the non-emergency telephone line?

WSB July 2, 2022 (8:30 pm)

No. This is the city message:
https://twitter.com/SeattleCSCC/status/1542183567106531328
Seems to distill to “call 911 if there’s a fire or injury.”
anonyme July 3, 2022 (6:42 pm)

As citizens have been cut off from any option to either report or stop these crimes, I think it would be only fair if the home phone numbers for the Mayor, Council, and SPD leadership were opened up to complaint calls. Either that or open up some other type of reporting system so that the scope of the problem can be fully registered – and perhaps not so easily ignored. Meanwhile, the explosions have been pretty constant over in White Center for a few hours now. Apparently, their new law isn’t working much better than Seattle’s old one.