FOURTH OF JULY: Seattle Parks will turn on lighting at four local fields for two nights again this year

| Holidays | West Seattle news

(Reader photo of fireworks debris collected post-Fourth at Walt Hundley Playfield park)

The annual announcement is just in – Seattle Parks will turn on the lighting at fields around the city for two nights in hopes of discouraging fireworks use. The list includes the same four as last year – two of which have since received new turf:

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

Parks’ announcement says the lights at those fields (and most others on its list) will be on from “approximately” 9 pm Wednesday and Thursday (July 3-4) nights and turned off at 11 pm, with roving security then monitoring fields until 2 am. The list does not include Seattle Public Schools-owned fields (which include West Seattle’s Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex and Madison Middle School); the district has historically just had roving security monitoring its fields.

Bradley July 2, 2024 (4:43 pm)

Madison needs it. Let’s not destroy the new turf.

wsgaL July 2, 2024 (5:37 pm)

The lights should just be on ALL night. It seems the worst fireworks go off AFTER 11pm…

Bibliophile July 2, 2024 (6:45 pm)

Can they set up a giant trap for the jerks who set off fireworks on the EC Hughes basketball court? Or I don’t know, have the cops patrol this area too as it is right around the corner from the SW precinct??

anonyme July 3, 2024 (12:55 pm)

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This is actually a good idea. Playfields have limited access, so it would be easy to trap the criminals inside, charge them with a crime, and issue some nice big fines. Maybe some community service would be a great addition, including clean up fireworks and dog poop from playfields.

Daiso Gal July 2, 2024 (7:04 pm)

Uh, the loudest, biggest, “crowd-pleaser” fireworks are launched AFTER 11pm, so…

Patrick July 2, 2024 (7:12 pm)

There is no roving security at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. People are also in the parking lot and chief Sealth parking lot lighting off fireworks until 3am.

Alkilocal July 2, 2024 (10:19 pm)

A good plan- and still many gaps. 11pm seems too early and not enough fields with preventative measures. I agree with protecting our new turf fields. Is find it fix it the best place to place issues we witness? This is a small sampling of some used and some still live incendiaries from my last Alki beach clean up two days ago with much of activity still to come. It’s too bad we can’t protect the beach and Alki play field. Lots of things for kids who come to the beach, whale tale, and the playground to step on or put in their mouths. Let alone all the broken glass. Be safe while walking at/near Alki.

Whisky Woods July 3, 2024 (1:25 am)

lucy July 3, 2024 (11:06 am)

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thank you! this is hysterical!
Frog July 3, 2024 (3:28 pm)

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If your cat is shooting back, good for him. Why would you report that to the police? Remember, snitches get scratches.

Lola July 3, 2024 (7:45 am)

I thought it was illegal to light off Fireworks in King County? Why would we turn on lights on the playfields if you are not supposed to do any Fireworks at all in the City? Not even in your own yard are you supposed to light off the fireworks.

ACG July 3, 2024 (3:02 pm)

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Lola, you are totally right. It IS illegal to shoot fireworks off. But people don’t care and still shoot a ton of them off anyway. As for why they turn the lights on in those areas, it’s to try to make the area less appealing for people to set the fireworks off (no fun watching fireworks under bright lights). I think turning the lights off at 11:00 is too early though. Lots of fireworks are set off after 11;00 pm.