FOLLOWUP: Schedule slides for West Seattle’s next off-leash area

| Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

This week’s closure of what’s currently West Seattle’s only off-leash area at Westcrest Park led to several readers asking for a schedule update on what’ll be the second local dog park, just south of West Seattle Stadium. The last update had suggested construction would start this spring, but there’s been no sign that was indeed imminent, and as of yesterday, the project website hadn’t been updated in more than half a year. So we asked Seattle Parks. They tell us the construction schedule has now slid to next year: “Construction is now expected to start in early 2027 and be complete by Fall 2027.” What’s happening right now? “We are currently preparing review of 60% Design documents … and expect to go to bid in December of this year.” This info will be added to signage on the site, and – since our inquiry – has been added today to a new “engagement hub” project page (to which the previous project page points). It’s been two years since the site was chosen.

Michael March 24, 2026 (4:27 pm)

Why does it seem impossible for this city to get anything done on schedule and on budget.

Here we go again March 24, 2026 (4:33 pm)

What a joke. This city is so mis-managed. Get a dozer out there and Get Busy.

Lisa March 24, 2026 (5:20 pm)

This project could literally be completed on a week. The bureaucratic red tape is maddening.

Rob March 24, 2026 (5:30 pm)

Just like I said .when they say it’s in review is code for never getting done soon. Kind of like the Morgan junction park.

Dysfunction March 24, 2026 (5:39 pm)

No way, a simple project late again? Aircraft carriers in WW2 took only 20 months to build, and not building anything here other than moving dirt around. It’s like Seattle has too many stages and is a bureaucratic nightmare that nothing can be done in any timeframe that sensible people can tolerate. Smaller towns around here don’t have this problem

gh March 26, 2026 (2:02 pm)

I have a dog and I imagine that I will regularly walk to this dog park when it is done. I am also disappointed that it isn’t happening faster. But comparing this to the construction of an aircraft carrier, 70 years ago, during a time of complete war mobilization is such an off-base comparison that I can’t just let this pass uncommented upon.

Are we instituting chain-link fence and mulch rationing to get this sped up? Is its completion part of an existential effort for the city? No!?!? Ok then.

Roddy3 March 24, 2026 (8:42 pm)

LAME!!

Jort March 24, 2026 (10:21 pm)

Question: has the Seattle Parks Department delivered a single thing on time in the last decade? Literally anything? At all? Anything?

my two cents March 25, 2026 (11:18 am)

Yes

Derp March 25, 2026 (8:06 am)

Do you people really think this is the ONLY project the city is working on. Let’s talk about the homeless, do you think they care about a dog park? No, they really don’t. Instead of lamblasting the city when your pet project gets a delay. How about the homeless and where are they going to be next. On your street, God forbid that. NOT EVERYTHING IS A CONSPIRACY PEOPLE

Emily March 25, 2026 (8:50 am)

What’s up with all the other construction at West Seattle Stadium?

WSB March 25, 2026 (9:18 am)

https://westseattleblog.com/2025/11/you-asked-so-we-asked-heres-whats-about-to-be-built-at-west-seattle-stadium/

Grateful in WS March 25, 2026 (11:22 am)

It makes sense that people want to see faster progress on this. At the same time, it’s worth remembering that Seattle Parks and Rec has about 550 employees responsible for 489 parks, 8 indoor pools, 27 community centers, and more than 6,400 acres of green space across the entire city to manage. That’s an enormous amount of ground to cover, and it means projects sometimes move more slowly than any of us would like.

Keenan March 25, 2026 (11:31 am)

LOL. LAMO even.

4 guys with a bulldozer, a backhoe, and a few truckloads of dirt and gravel could get this done over 2 weekends. That’s the Seattle Process for you. Do we really need an “engagement hub” for a dog park?

my two cents March 25, 2026 (8:07 pm)

Keenan – It is “project” as determined by the size and scope. The Engagement Hub provides a way for government to communicate to the citizens of the community. Would you prefer just a budget number and no additional information? Also – just a bit more to your proposed solution? Do we need to be concerned with drainage scenarios in conjunction with the dogs? What is the amount of grade and direction? Any issues with the rest of the hillside sliding down while you out there with your 4 guys and a bulldozer? Where is your fence in the solution – or will the dogs just run free, they might like the golf course. In addition to the fence, you will need a gate system to securely manage the dogs. Will there be any lighting or security? Will it be ADA compliant?

Jessica March 25, 2026 (5:16 pm)

We need for people to help the West Seattle Dog Coalition is getting this project moving without the red tape. This is so infuriating that for a OVERPOPULATED area as West Seattle there is 1 bad dog park.. yet we fog owners look like a$$ when we let them off leash else where. This needs to get more attention than “possible fall 2027”.. meaning never in Seattle terms.

parentwithoutdogs March 25, 2026 (8:11 pm)

This is just a reminder that every suburb surrounding Seattle sets up and tears down pop updog parks on an annual basis. We can do this too, but we choose not to. In fact I asked some Seattle parks reps why this wasn’t done and I got this response “The idea for pop-up Off Leash Areas (OLA) is something that has come up
in the past as a short-term measure of addressing the growing needs of
pet owners in Seattle. However, SPR’s
main strategy has been to closely study select site across the city for
permanent OLAs and has generally steered away from pop-up OLAs for multiple reasons.” What this reply fails to address is the lack of actually opening any permanent dog parks from the year 2018-2025. I believe if a political person campaigned on opening more dog parks, even as pop ups, and said we’d pay for the dog parks with greater enforcement of off leash laws, they’d win in a landslide. There are more dogs than kids in Seattle, which is unfortunate, but there is an untapped dog-voter group out there for some politician to seize upon.

Bloo March 26, 2026 (12:33 pm)

In the meantime, I recommend Grandview Off Leash Dog Park in Seatac. You can get there in less than 30 minutes from West Seattle and it is big – 35 acres. Sometimes they have water for the dogs, but it’s worth it to at least have some in your car, just in case. https://www.seattlesouthside.com/directory/grandview-off-leash-dog-park/

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