FOLLOWUP: Westcrest Park play-area project ‘ahead of schedule’

| Highland Park | West Seattle news

That photo was sent Sunday by PM of Highland Park, one of several readers who’ve pointed out that the new Westcrest Park play equipment looks almost ready to go, though it’s still fenced off. We checked in with Seattle Parks today about its official status; spokesperson Karen O’Connor replied, “The contractor is ahead of schedule on this project. We anticipate opening sometime in the next two weeks after all final inspections are completed.” The same contractor is also working on the Lincoln Park South Play Area, so we’re asking where that’s at. Both play areas had been closed for years because of safety concerns before the replacement projects finally got going this year.

MO March 25, 2024 (4:03 pm)

That comment from the department is a bit generous/disingenuous considering that the project was supposed to be completed in 2022.

WSB March 25, 2024 (4:07 pm)

I thought about adding a parenthetical (current) before schedule but settled for the reminder that it and LP South have been closed for years.

ExcellenceAward March 25, 2024 (4:50 pm)

Umm, Hiawatha playground?

WSB March 25, 2024 (4:54 pm)

Someone just asked about that below our recent Hiawatha CC update. Parks has posted a relatively recent update.
https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/projects/hiawatha-play-area-relocation

I’m checking the permit files.

Mellow Kitty March 25, 2024 (5:38 pm)

That looks like it’s a lot of fun to play on.

Erik March 25, 2024 (7:31 pm)

Yea someone broke into it the other weekend and took a side panel off. Loads of kids playing having fun. Hopefully they can get it finished with inspections and they can open for real.
- Mellow Kitty March 26, 2024 (5:39 pm)
  
  I apologize that my knowledge of the situation is limited to what is in the photo. I didn’t feel compelled to do an in-depth investigation into a new playground before commenting. And my psychic abilities just aren’t what they used to be.

anonyme March 26, 2024 (5:48 am)

Will they be adding any color at all? This looks pretty grim, like something abandoned rather than something new.

Kyle March 26, 2024 (6:31 am)

Glad to see this almost open. Also had a chuckle on the “ahead of schedule” part

Where is our playground? March 26, 2024 (12:42 pm)

Astounding that the play area worksite at Lincoln Park hasn’t been touched since January. Also ridiculous that these two play area were supposed to be worked on simultaneously and when Parks announces that Westcrest is opening soon, we get more crickets on Lincoln Park. And they wonder why the public does not trust them to do the right thing…

WSB March 26, 2024 (12:49 pm)

I got a reply back this morning but was going down to look at the LPS site before publishing. They apparently decided to go full speed ahead with Westcrest and now are going to “resume work at” LPS.

Sorry, comment time is over.