FOLLOWUP: Contractor chosen. But long-delayed West Seattle play area projects won’t be done before next year.

(WSB photo, Lincoln Park South Play Area right after July 2017 closure)

Five weeks ago. we reported that a contractor had been chosen for the long-delayed Lincoln Park South and Westcrest Park play-area projects. At the time, Seattle Parks said the “best estimate” was that work would start in “late summer,” though they didn’t know which would be first. So we checked back, with “late summer” running out, and learned that work actually is now still months away. Parks spokesperson Karen O’Connor tells WSB, “For the South Lincoln Park Play Area and Westcrest Play Area replacement projects, we will negotiate a start date with the contractor this fall. The contractor has other park projects under construction now that must be finished before these start. We have also learned the play equipment will be available to ship in March 2024. Construction will likely start in winter 2023/early 2024 to align with the availability of the play equipment.” By that time, Lincoln Park South will have been closed 6 1/2 years, while Westcrest will have been closed 2 1/2 years.

The Earl September 11, 2023 (3:53 pm)

6 1/2 years of the play area being closed seems reasonable.

Curious George September 11, 2023 (8:00 pm)

Our City Parks didn’t want to rush into action ?

Pathetic Seattle September 11, 2023 (3:58 pm)

Kids are too old now.

jsparra September 11, 2023 (6:33 pm)

Thank you! I needed a good laugh…

Alki resident September 11, 2023 (4:21 pm)

A bunch of parents could’ve put this together in less time and B.S

Tired September 12, 2023 (11:51 am)
- Unions would prevent that.

Jim September 11, 2023 (4:22 pm)

This is taking an obscenely long time! I should have had all this in place before they tore down the old structure

Justin September 11, 2023 (4:51 pm)

The likelihood of Seattle Parks meeting any of these new milestones is presumably less than zero.

Blue September 11, 2023 (5:27 pm)

Maybe it’s a blessing because now children can continue to use more of their imagination playing under the trees, playing with sticks and rocks and dirt and running wild in Lincoln Park. Children don’t need a playground to be happy at a park.

a_mom September 14, 2023 (3:50 pm)

My kid is younger that the park has been closed, so I don’t know what we’re missing. I will say we have gotten a lot of mileage out of the concrete rimmed sand pit and one remaining wooden structure.

J September 11, 2023 (7:37 pm)

The Parks & Recreation Dept. heads and their Managers need supervision. Yesterday.

Gary McDonald September 11, 2023 (8:25 pm)

Good grief typical city of Seattle Parks and recreation department. Too much bureaucracy and way too lenient with contractors.

Don Brubeck September 11, 2023 (8:37 pm)

Shameful, Seattle Parks & Recreation.

Chuck Jacobs September 11, 2023 (8:57 pm)

Leslie Knope would’ve had this done by now.

S September 11, 2023 (9:16 pm)

Can’t wait to bring my teens to the park when it’s finally done! I hope they will still fit on the slide 😆

Laughable September 11, 2023 (9:56 pm)

I don’t even know what to say. I mean I know it’s low on the priority list, but years? Almost comical. Almost infuriating. Almost a playground.

D-Mom September 11, 2023 (10:07 pm)

So frustrating that they took this playground out at Lincoln Park without being ready to replace it immediately. My son grew up waiting for this to be replaced! Why the hell did it take so long?

DelridgeBiker September 11, 2023 (10:08 pm)

WSB, if you have the resources and interest, it’d be really illuminating to get a full list of delayed Seattle parks projects and their initial timelines in a single article. It’d be pretty devastating to see them all listed together. I’m not generally the anti government type, but I find Seattle parks to be an absolute picture of ineptitude. I just don’t understand how they can be so poorly managed and why there seems to be no accountability. We deserve so much better.

Second September 11, 2023 (10:38 pm)

I second this
Sue T. September 12, 2023 (12:40 am)

DelridgeBiker -Hiawatha Community Center in Admiral has been closed for three and a half years now, and Parks has still done nothing whatsoever — absolutely nothing — to set a target reopening date or start any of the overdue building work (mainly earthquake retrofitting) that was approved and pre-funded by the City Council in 2019. The work was to have been completed by 2021.
- N September 12, 2023 (9:40 am)
  
  That’s alarming, I was wondering about the status as some kids were trying to break into the front door this week. The South Park community center was also just closed until 2025 for updating. That’s at least 2 community centers at once and for who knows how long based on recent history.
DRW September 12, 2023 (10:25 pm)

sounds like the type of info gathering and reporting the “FYI Guy” does at the Seattle Times. Might he be asked to investigate and publicize??
Brian September 19, 2023 (9:04 am)

Check out https://whereisourplayground.org/, it’s made for exactly that purpose to track “progress” on these parks.

star 55 September 11, 2023 (10:14 pm)

Crazy the time line. Choose someone who can get it done before the kids have kids of their own who can play on the structure. No excuses!!!

GW September 12, 2023 (7:13 am)

They chose a contractor with neither the equipment nor time to build a playground?

WSB September 12, 2023 (8:45 am)

The play equipment comes from a supplier, not the contractor.

Kyle September 12, 2023 (11:44 am)

Honestly a city council member who cares about this stuff and works to reduce the bureaucracy and accountability of city departments is who will get my vote.

Tired of the BS September 12, 2023 (1:29 pm)

A database on Seattle Parks and Recreation salaries from The News Tribune shows 130 employees with salaries over 6 figures. Let that sink in when you contemplate the value of their effort…