FOLLOWUP: Hiawatha Playfield turf project to start in May

Hiawatha Playfield turf replacement will start in mid-May, Seattle Parks says. They’re expecting the work to last about three months. As shown above, the new turf will include markings for baseball, soccer, football, and softball. (Here’s a PDF version of the rendering shown above, including the legend explaining the markings.) Parks’ update also says, “Seattle Public Schools will provide safety fencing for the outfield when baseball and softball are in play. This project will include replacing the batting cage and resurfacing the rubberized three-lane running track. Seattle Parks and Recreation is investing in a state-of-the-art synthetic turf system that is safe, playable, durable, and retains less heat in the summer. Our standard is to provide a sustainable cork and sand infill over a cushioned pad system.” The contractor is FieldTurf, which installed the current turf in 2009 (twice, actually). FieldTurf USA was one of five bidders, online documents indicate, winning with a $1.4 million bid.

P.S. This project is unrelated to the other two much-delayed Hiawatha projects, the community center and play area. We’re working on a separate followup about them.

13 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Hiawatha Playfield turf project to start in May"

  • onion March 7, 2023 (9:10 pm)

    And the Hiawatha Community Center?? I know you’ve covered that situation in the past, but I don’t recall whether there is any timetable for that project, which is more needed (IMO).

    • WSB March 7, 2023 (9:46 pm)

      Oh sorry, I meant to add a line that this project is unrelated to the much-delayed community center and play area projects (we’re working on separate updates), got caught up in looking up the bid info. Will add that P.S. now.

      • Sharon Nickels March 9, 2023 (9:02 am)

        Thank you for this information.  I wonder how long this has been in the works.  I have been communicating with Parks and my City Council member for almost a year regarding the closure of the play area and the community center.  That and upkeep issues in the park.  No one mentioned this work to replace the field.  The sign at the park was the first information.  As you research the playground project, please note that the playground project was ready to go in early 2020.  The pandemic aside, it will now not be done until after the Hiawatha Community Center renovation which has also be delayed.  It closed just before the pandemic and if all fingers are crossed, will reopen in late 2023 or 2024.  The Playground was delayed because SPU was notified after all things were finalized and they have asked for work that will have to start the project back to various approvals.  Why wasn’t SPU included in the review process.  The park is closed.  It isn’t even maintained much.  I hope you can dig deep enough to find out what is possible instead of all of us just waiting til it opens again in 2025.

        • Kyle March 9, 2023 (11:10 am)

          Honestly, I’ve found Parks capital projects to be the most bungled, poorly communicated, overly bureaucratic projects of all the city departments. I feel your pain as I’ve been asking for updates for the Westcrest Playground that has been closed now for 2+ years too. Not to mention the folks at Lincoln Park Who have been waiting over 5 years for an ever changing plan to deliver a simple playground. But they need more Parks District money every election cycle or so lol.

  • erichschreck10@gmail.com March 8, 2023 (9:38 am)

    Too bad they can’t add Lacrosse lines for the fasted growing sport. We now 5 teams in West Seattle 3 Youth Girls team and 2 West Seattle High School teams.

    Erich Schreck, President, West Seattle Lacrosse Club 

  • TTT March 8, 2023 (12:35 pm)

    Is this new field made with wood based pebbles or those annoying rubber pellets?

    • SPS March 8, 2023 (12:52 pm)

      Cork, so wood based… I work with SPS and we are going away from crumb rubber on all athletic fields and playground turf areas…

  • uncle loco March 8, 2023 (4:16 pm)

    What ever happened to natural surfaces like grass? Heck when I was growing up playing baseball and soccer there that field was gravel.

    • AMC March 8, 2023 (6:36 pm)

      People use them as off-leash dog parks and then they are destroyed and filled with poop and unusable and dangerous like the one at Pathfinder.

    • Josh March 8, 2023 (10:44 pm)

      Not to mention the crows tear them up looking for grubs turning them into pretty rough shape like the Riverview Playfields.

      • uncle loco March 9, 2023 (5:14 am)

        I’d be willing to tolerate those minor inconveniences in order to reduce the “carbon footprint”. Aren’t we all supposed to be saving the planet?

  • Molly March 8, 2023 (10:04 pm)

    When are they going to redo the playground at Lincoln Park that was closed like 5 years ago and has yet to reopen/be worked on/changed? 

  • Bill March 9, 2023 (3:21 pm)

    Watch out Hiawatha users.   If you ask Seattle Parks to to replace your playground you might get more than you bargained for.   https://whereisourplayground.org

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