West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
8:33 PM: If you’re heading across the Duwamish River any time soon, don’t head for the South Park Bridge. The Every Day March protest group – same one that’s visited city councilmembers and others at their homes (as well as leading an Alki march last Saturday) – is currently blocking the bridge. They’ve hung banners off its sides, according to the livestream that’s up right now. The bridge is in King County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction and deputies are visible in the traffic cam (framegrab added above) turning traffic away at the South Park end.
8:50 PM: Still there. According to the stream, the protesters – estimated by police at ~50 – are writing messages on the bridge deck.
9:33 PM: The Concrete Reports stream shows that the group is leaving the bridge, so it should reopen shortly.
One more South Park note: On Tuesday, after multiple reader tips, we mentioned King County Sheriff’s Office deputies were investigating a body found alongside the Duwamish River, by the bridge. The person who died, described by KCSO as a man in his early 40s, has not yet been publicly identified. But when we checked back with KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Ryan Abbott today, he told us that detectives now say, “As right now it does not appear criminal in nature, but it is still an active investigation.”
We’re continuing to spotlight ways to help neighbors affected by the pandemic, as well as ways to get help. This weekend, if you’re able to help, you can do it by shopping a big yard sale in South Park, coordinated by the Concord International Elementary PTA:
This weekend, September 19-20 [noon-6 pm both days], we are hosting a fundraiser to raise money for rent and utility assistance for Concord Elementary School families in the South Park neighborhood.
75% of Concord Elementary families live below the poverty line and many have not qualified for unemployment benefits during this pandemic.
During our last fundraiser yard sale in July, we raised just under $10,000, and every penny went to rent and utility assistance for our most vulnerable neighbors.
Here’s more background on the school and the PTA’s work to help families and students. The sale address is 8507 14th Avenue S., just west of the bridge – here’s a map.
Thanks to the people who sent tips after seeing the recovery of a body along the Duwamish River by the South Park Bridge. That area is in unincorporated King County – known as the “sliver by the river” – so it’s a Sheriff’s Office case, confirms KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Ryan Abbott. He says the person found dead was a man “in his early 40s” found onshore. KCSO Major Crimes Unit detectives are investigating, but Sgt. Abbott says they’re not expecting to have further comment until the Medical Examiner’s Office does an autopsy to find the cause of death.
In addition to the 44th SW road work this weekend that we’ve already previewed multiple times, SDOT has three more alerts:
ROADSIDE TREE TRIMMING: This may be happening along two stretches:
We are continuing our tree trimming work on West Seattle Bridge closure reroutes this weekend. This work is important to increase visibility and enhance safety. This Saturday and Sunday, August 22-23, we’ll work to complete tree trimming on SW Orchard St between Delridge Way SW and Dumar Way SW heading eastbound. If we’re able to finish that project, there is also some much-needed tree trimming to accomplish at the 6700 block of W Marginal Way SW, near Highland Park Way SW.
ALSO THIS WEEKEND, IN SOUTH PARK: This is along the main route to/from the South Park Bridge – note that it’ll continue next weekend, too:
Starting this weekend, August 22-23, a private contractor will begin working on S Cloverdale St between 10th Ave S and 12th Ave S to replace two large utility cuts in the road that are currently patched with asphalt. This work will continue for two consecutive weekends.
During this work, traffic will be down to a single lane. The contractor’s crews will be directing traffic in alternate directions. Crews will be at the site 24/7 during these weekends and people should expect delays. This work is weather dependent. The paving crews will use fast-setting concrete, which means that if all goes well, the road should be open for Monday morning traffic each week.
DELRIDGE CLOSURE NEXT WEEKEND: Early heads-up:
As a part of the Delridge Way SW RapidRide H Line project, all lanes of Delridge Way SW will be closed from SW Barton St to 18th Ave SW for up to 2 days beginning on Saturday, August 29. Delridge Way SW will be restricted to local access only from SW Henderson St to SW Roxbury St, but access to businesses in this area will be maintained. This closure will allow our team to connect a catch basin in the roadway. Please follow posted detour routes to 16th Ave SW. If you have any questions about this work, please contact DelridgeTransit@seattle.gov or 206-775-8739
This half-mile-long Duwamish River shore site, where a groundbreaking ceremony was held today for a future park, won’t exist once the project is done.
This is T-117, a Port of Seattle=owned former industrial site in South Park (map) put on the Superfund toxic-cleanup list in 2003, and now destined for restoration to its roots as a tidal marsh. Since big ceremonial crowds are out of the question, a small group of Port and community representatives gathered for today’s event, which the Port streamed live.
It’s an “extraordinary project,” enthused Paulina López, executive director of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition.
DRCC has long been involved with this site (among others); this 2013 WSB story quoted one of her predecessors, describing early cleanup work at T-117. López spoke of the “hope” offered by the site’s transformation, both because it will open up more of the riverfront to a community with “limited public access,” and because the project also promises green job training, with opportunity for youth to learn how to work on habitat restoration and marine conservation.
Magdalena Angel-Cano, also with DRCC, embodies that opportunity – she joined the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps at age 13 and became a “first-generation college student.” She spoke of the need for a clear path for the community’s youth, so there can be more representation in the area’s industries, especially maritime.
The ceremony also included George Blomberg from the Port explaining what’ll happen at T-117.
The site’s elevation will be reduced to bring back the marsh; there’ll be an interpretive path, 8 viewpoints, a pier, and a hand-carry boat launch. Thousands of native plants will go into the ground. “This site has a memory,” observed Blomberg – a memory of its pre-industrial millennia – and that was affirmed by another speaker, Native storyteller/historian Roger Fernandes.
It’s a “powerful act” to see land like this returned to what it once was, Fernandes noted, before telling “The Changer Story.”
The changes here will take place over the next year and a half or so – more project details, and history, are here.
From Dayanne: “Between Thursday night 10 pm and Friday morning at 7 am my dad’s car was stolen from in front of our house on 8th and Sullivan [South Park]. Please keep an eye out for a black Lexus IS 250; the license plate number is BNF6031. It’s all black with tinted windows and has the same wheels as the picture – we don’t have an exact picture of the car, but it looks identical to the one (here).” Call 911 if you see it.
South Park isn’t waiting for SDOTs “mitigation plan” to take action to try to slow down traffic detouring through the neighborhood because of the West Seattle Bridge closure. The photos were sent by Robin Schwartz, who explains:
Folks are VERY concerned with speeding, especially on side streets. We are working on immediate/free actions to raise awareness and impede speeding. The (next) photo is a planter put up in “bump-out/curb bulb” at 5-way intersection [just southwest of the bridge]. Cars and trucks have begun driving right through it so we are trying to block it. The rest of the pictures are “slow down” signs that we will put putting up around the neighborhood on Saturday.
South Park is one of the areas that will get a list of projects to vote on starting July 6th as part of a “neighborhood traffic-mitigation plan” related to the WS Bridge closure – the other three are Georgetown, SODO, and Highland Park/Roxhill/South Delridge/Riverview.
P.S. Here’s what South Park neighborhood advocates requested in a letter to the city two months ago.
Again this week, Food Lifeline is offering free emergency food boxes to anyone who shows up. From the announcement:
The standard emergency food boxes each contain 22-25 lbs of shelf-stable food items like canned fruits and vegetables, canned meats, non-meat protein items, and bread and grains. There will also be fresh produce and select dairy items for those attending the distributions. (While supplies last)
Those wishing to take home boxes can receive a drive-up no-touch distribution, and there will also be walk-up distribution …
Food Lifeline – 815 South 96th Street (2 this week)
Wednesday, June 17, at 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday, June 19, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.FULL SCHEDULE: foodlifeline.org
ANYONE can have access to this food. This is a confidential distribution, so there will be no paperwork or qualification. Food Lifeline is only asking for zip codes to track its efforts.
Food Lifeline encourages everyone to take home this nutritious food. We are all struggling during this crisis, and no one should hesitate to accept this help.
Announced today by Seattle Public Utilities – the reduced schedule at transfer stations is over:
Seattle Public Utilities’ North and South Transfer Stations are open (as of June 15, 2020) normal operating hours, seven days a week from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. We want to thank our customers for understanding that while the stations are operating at their normal schedule, that visits to the stations should be for essential trips only (urgent and perishable waste) in an effort to reduce potential spread of COVID-19.
For more on that, here’s the full SPU announcement. The South Transfer Station is just east of West Seattle, at 130 S. Kenyon.
From Food Lifeline in South Park:
Food Lifeline announced today that it will continue to distribute thousands of emergency food boxes to anyone needing help keeping food on the table during this crisis.
Food Lifeline – 815 South 96th Street (Two this week)
*Wednesday, May 20th, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
*Friday, May 22, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.This schedule is also available on the homepage of foodlifeline.org
ANYONE can have access to this food. This is a confidential distribution, so there will be no paperwork or qualification. Food Lifeline is only asking for zip codes to track its efforts.
Here’s a map to FL’s South Park location.
We’ve been so busy spotlighting other ways to help, we haven’t had a chance to mention the South Park Arts AID auction until now – but it’s not too late; you still have a full day left to bid!
Last month, the reality of our situation began to sink in, and the pandemic was hitting artists especially hard. For so many, their livelihood relies on human interaction, and the government support was unreliable or nonexistent. South Park Arts wanted to help. The tight-knit community had weathered many storms together, and this was no different. The obvious solution was to buy lots of art. This auction features those pieces. So when you buy this work, you’re supporting not only the artist but you’re refilling the reserves of an art organization to provide for future assistance.
What – an amazing online art auction of painting, photography, collage, home goods, watercolor, letterpress, sculpture, stained glass, even body armor. Yes, body armor.
Who – featuring talented SPArtsAID recipients
When – Through Monday, May 11th at 7:30 PM
Where – from the comfort of your home
How – Go to www.auctria.com/auction/SPArtsAid to bid on the pieces.
Why – Because we could all use some beauty and community right now.
(Seattle Fire Department photo of Ladder 13 in 2010)
Not long after the West Seattle Bridge‘s sudden shutdown, we and others started asking whether West Seattle would get additional SFD resources, as happened during the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project (east half of the bridge) in 2011-2012. The early answer was: It’s being discussed. New answer today: Yes. In addition to West Seattle-based Medic 32, SFD will station Medic 26, staffed with two paramedics, at Station 26 in South Park. And joining WS-based Ladder 11 will be an extra truck, Ladder 13, to be based at Station 37 in Sunrise Heights. The announcement says, “Beginning in June, these units will be in-service for responding to emergencies 24-hours per day, seven days a week.” (Ladder 13 was based at Station 11 in Highland Park during the SSV project.) The SFD announcement adds, “The new medic unit and ladder truck are coming from SFD’s reserve apparatus located at the City’s Fire Garage. The department will continue to have other apparatus on reserve to support scheduled maintenance and for any unforeseen mechanical issues. The funding required for staffing the two new units, apparatus maintenance and fuel, and room accommodations at the fire stations is approximately $2.5 million for the remainder of 2020 and will be covered from existing resources.”
A variety of efforts to keep people from going hungry during the economic crunch continue. Here are three local reminders/updates:
TODAY & WEEKDAYS, DELIVERY BY SCHOOL BUS: For students/families who can’t get to the Seattle Public Schools locations that are distributing meals 11 am-1 pm on weekdays, there are now school-bus deliveries to set routes. If you are in south West Seattle, here’s the stop list/map/schedule; the one for north and west West Seattle is here.
TODAY, FOOD LIFELINE: As previewed yesterday, you can go to FL’s HQ on the south side of South Park 2-5 pm toaay as they distribute 20+-pound boxes of emergency, shelf-stable food. The only information you’ll be asked to provide is your zip code.
SUNDAY, KBM COMMISSARY: Again this weekend, the kitchen in Delridge is offering free meals to anyone in need. Here’s the weekly update from Keith Mathewson:
I am happy to announce that last week we were able to distribute nearly 1200 meals. Even with that amount demand still exceeded what we were able to provide. As nearly everyone is aware of the supply of meat is scarce as a result this week will be baked vegetarian Ziti with rosemary focaccia. We were fortunate to have Merlino’s Foods partner with us to provide high quality ingredients.
This week, meals were made by West Of Chicago Pizza and Los Panes Bakery with the help of the staff at KBM and will be handed out on Sunday from 4 pm to 6 pm; all who are in need are welcome to come.
KBM is at 5604 Delridge Way SW. Mathewson has been funding the project but help is welcome – here’s the crowdfunding page. And a reminder, some of the KBM-based businesses are also selling from a streetfront window, as noted here, and are part of our ongoing West Seattle list.
4:51 PM: Avoid (corrected) 10th S./S. Cloverdale for a while. A driver has hit and injured a pedestrian. Police are there investigating, and SFD is there to treat the victim.
5:04 PM: Correction – the SFD log shows this is at 10th S/S Cloverdale. The latter is the main east-west through South Park. It’s just reopened, per police radio communication. We’ll be checking with SFD on the victim’s condition.
Food Lifeline in South Park is usually a place where food is stored and distributed for organizations such as food banks – but tomorrow, anyone in need of food is invited to a special direct distribution that has just announced:
Free Food Distribution for Everyone
Friday, May 8th
2:00 pm. – 5:00 pmFood Lifeline
815 South 96th StreetCome by Food Lifeline to pick up an emergency food box for yourself and/or your family. Food Lifeline will be distributing 2,000 boxes of shelf-stable food items to help you and your family during this difficult time. This is for ANYONE in the community that needs help. Your zip code is the only personal information required.
Each box will include up to 25 pounds of food such as canned fruit/vegetables, canned meats, non-meat protein items, and breads/grains. Here’s a map. This will be primarily a no-contact drive-up distribution between FL’s two warehouse buildings, while supplies last.
The West Seattle Bridge is on the District 1 Community Network‘s monthly agenda, tomorrow night at 7 pm, online – not an SDOT presentation, but rather a community discussion. D1CN is a coalition of community members from a variety of groups and organizations, but anyone from West Seattle or South Park is welcome. Here’s the agenda:
Introductions and Approval of Minutes 7:05
Announcements 7:15
WS Bridge (7:30 – 8:00)
*WS Bridge Update – WSTC, Deb Barker & Larry Wymer
*WS Bridge Alternative Routing – SPNA Aley Thompson
*WS Bridge Discussion – Brainstorming
West Seattle Bike Connections – Bob Winship (8:00 – 8:15)
Racial & Social Justice Tool Kit – Randy Wiger (8:15 – 8:30)
Call for New Proposals (8:30)
New projects or activities that we want to launch
You are welcome to join the meeting via Zoom or by phone (call 669-900-6833; meeting ID: 222 985 415; password: 625318).
(WSB photo: South Park Bridge just before its June 2014 opening)
The West Seattle Bridge closure isn’t just a West Seattle problem. That point’s been made far and wide already, but you probably haven’t heard it yet from this viewpoint – that of your neighbors in South Park, whose bridge (just six years old) is now one of two main alternatives for crossing the Duwamish River. The already-increased traffic has led to this letter to the city from a coalition of South Park community organizations, which we’re publishing with permission:
Dear Mayor Durkan, Councilmember Herbold & Director Zimbabwe,
The community of South Park is extremely concerned about the long term or permanent closure of the West Seattle Bridge and the potential for the lower Spokane St. bridge to also be shut down. We recognize that this closure will impact neighborhoods across West Seattle and within the Duwamish Valley. Our neighborhood is being promoted as a detour for the 100,000 drivers seeking an alternate route. During this time of reduced traffic, we are already seeing an increase in vehicle traffic, speeding and neighborhood cut-throughs. Residents of South Park have extremely poor health outcomes when compared to other neighborhoods. Our neighbors and children have high rates of asthma which has proven to reduce our life expectancy. Years of increased traffic will only perpetuate this inequity. We live in a valley that naturally traps pollution. Everything must be done to prevent additional pollution from coming here. Historically, our community has been disenfranchised and underserved by City and County services. We must have a voice in developing solutions to this long-term problem.
Our community members have raised the following concerns:
● Speeding and increased traffic in the neighborhood (Cloverdale, 14th & Dallas Ave S.)
○ Concerns about the safety of children crossing Cloverdale to get to school, the library, the community center etc.
○ Concerns about vehicles “whipping” onto Dallas Ave S. after crossing the bridge endangering pedestrians and cyclists (Dallas leads to the Duwamish Trail – a safe cycling route to downtown).
○ The increasing traffic back-up at the intersection of 5th & Cloverdale
● Increased pollution due to the increase in traffic
● The need to mitigate the impact on the already slow and often delayed 132 & 60 bus serviceWe would like to put forth the following recommendations:
● Transfer car trips from the West Seattle Bridge to transit, bike and walking trips to reduce pollution.
● Increase access to bus service. If West Seattle buses are rerouted to the First Ave or South Park bridges, some portion need to stop in South Park to provide us with better, faster bus service if we are to bear the brunt of the impacts of additional buses here. We also recommend the use of electric busses to reduce pollution.
● Safe pedestrian crossings
○ Lights for crossing at 10 or 12th & Cloverdale.
■ High-density new construction coming online in 2020 will bring even more neighbors to this area.○ A light or highly visible crosswalk where Dallas Ave S. and the bridge meet to increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
○ A light or four-way stop on Dallas Ave S. near RAM Mounts at Thistle/Dallas/12th streets. Traffic cutting through the industrial area from Marginal Way has led to cars speeding down a residential street that already has a dangerous 4-way stop. We appreciate the Your Voice Your Choice intervention at this intersection, but it will not be enough to prevent accidents with increased traffic.
○ Crossing guards at 8th & 7th & Cloverdale for school children.
○ Improvements at 14th & Henderson.
● Improved Bike Connections
○ Protected bike lanes on the 1st Ave to downtown corridor are especially essential if the low bridge closure were to cut off access from the Duwamish Trail to downtown. A protected crossing across East Marginal from (and to) the First Ave Bridge is immediately needed for this bike route. More people will be biking and this connection is crucial.○ Continue the funding, planning, and development of the Georgetown – South Park trail project
● Detours should keep traffic on major thoroughfares
○ Police should do consistent traffic stops to address speedingWe look forward to collaborating with SDOT and our West Seattle and Duwamish Valley community to develop solutions to this crisis.
n Community,
South Park Neighborhood Association – Aley Thompson & Robin Schwartz
Concord Elementary Parent Teacher Association – Robin Schwartz & Gladis Clemente
Concord Elementary School – Miguel Sansalone & Cesar Roman
Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition – Paulina Lopez
Duwamish Rowing Club – Mike Merta
Duwamish Valley Affordable Housing Coalition – Maria Ramirez, Robin Schwartz & Analia Bertoni
Duwamish Valley Safe Streets – Jesse Moore & Peaches Thomas
Duwamish Valley Youth Corps – Carmen Martinez
Duwamish Valley Port Community Action Team – Bunthay Cheam, Edwin Hermandez, Maggie Angel Cano & Hannah Kett
ECOSS – Cluny McCaffrey
Seattle Neighborhood Group – Jake Hellenkamp & Dennis Diaz
Somali Parents Education Board – Muna Hussein
South Park Area Redevelopment Committee – Meredith Hall, Bill Pease & Aley Thompson
South Park Arts – Jen Nye, Wendy Woldenberg & Bill Pease
South Park Merchants Association – Rocio Arriaga
South Park Senior Center – Dagmar Cronn & Dat Giap
Villa Comunitaria – Analia Bertoni
Side note: The South Park Bridge is owned and operated by King County, though most of the rest of South Park is part of the city of Seattle.
The city has announced recipients of $25,000 grants through what so far is a one-time-only pilot “stabilization” program. Two South Park businesses are on the list. From the announcement:
The City of Seattle launched the new Small Business Stabilization Pilot Program to help vulnerable micro-businesses remain in business after a destabilizing event. In 2019, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan directed the Office of Economic Development (OED) to develop a strategy to help micro-businesses better navigate the impacts of rising commercial rents, displacement, and destabilizing events. All eight Small Business Stabilization Pilot Program grantees are women and minority-owned businesses.
Small businesses make up 95 percent of Seattle establishments and provide nearly 200,000 jobs. During a time of unprecedented economic growth in Seattle, the City recognizes that many small businesses experience unique challenges that put the health of their business at risk, particularly Seattle’s low-income microenterprises. These challenges are particularly acute for women and minority-owned businesses, and businesses owned by immigrants and refugees. …
The Mayor’s Small Business Stabilization Pilot Program awards $25,000 to eight local businesses who meet the following criteria:
Business consists of five employees or less;
Business owner is at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income;
Business suffered a loss of income due to a destabilizing event, like property destruction, construction impacts, or potential displacement;
Business can feasibly be stabilized; and
Business is preferably located in a neighborhood experiencing high rates of displacement. …Grants may be used to cover the day-to-day operating expenses of the business, such as payroll or losses due to destabilizing events. In addition to funding, grantees will be provided with stabilization coaching from an OED Small Business Advocate and financial coaching from an expert. Advocates will support business owners in determining the best use of grant funds and will act as liaisons to connect businesses with additional resources, such as lease education, marketing and branding support, City permit navigation, and credit counseling. ..,
The eight awardees of the 2020 Small Business Stabilization Pilot Program funding are:
Dayspring & Fitch Funeral Home, 4200 S Othello St., Unit 123, Seattle, WA 98118
Dora’s Daycare, 906 23rd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
El Buen Sabor, 8456 Dallas Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108
iConcept Signs, 700 S Orchard St., Seattle, WA 98108
Muy Macho Taco Truck, 8515 14th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108
Seattle’s Best BBQ, 450 Third Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Villa Escondida, 2203 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Yearby’s Hair and Nail Design, 4501 S Lucile St., Seattle, WA 98118 …These grants are awarded through one-time funding secured for 2019; the City’s 2020 Budget invests $300,000 to sustain this program through 2020. OED will evaluate the Pilot Program later in 2020 to determine potential future operations.
The recipients were chosen from among businesses that applied in a process that concluded back in November.
(Photo courtesy South Park Arts)
Holiday shopping can be a celebration all its own. While you’re out shopping local this Saturday, save sme time in the afternoon/evening to travel a bit east and visit the last-ever South Park Arts “Art Under $100” extravaganza. The announcement:
It started small in 2004 with just three artists and a garage party in South Park. Today, 15 years later, Art Under $100 has evolved into the holiday party of the season with amazing, accessible art still at its very core. And this particular Art Under $100 takes on a bittersweet significance. AU100 2019 will be the last one, so carve out Saturday, November 30th on your calendar: not to be missed.
It’s a big finale, so wear your finest and funnest outfits and spend the day with us. You’ll be blown away by paintings, sculpture, glass art, metalwork, ceramics, textiles, and so much more. You’ll see the neighbors you miss all year, buy treasures you can’t find elsewhere, support 70 local artists, reminisce, imbibe, create, and connect. You might even dance.
WHAT: Art Under $100
WHEN: Saturday, November 30th
VIP Hour – 1:00 – 2:00 pm $25 ticket includes bubbly, chocolate, stress-free shopping
Free Entry – 2:00 – 8:00 pm
WHERE: Seattle Design Center : 5701 6th Avenue S on the edge of SODO in Georgetown• Plenty of parking
• DJ Doctor David spins the records
• Art Raffles throughout the event
• Food trucks
• Wine, Beer (from Georgetown Brewery), a signature cocktail, and non-alcoholic beverages
• Hands-on projects to take home courtesy of the Makery, an art lab that uses up-cycled materials
• Check out www.southparkarts.org
Early Sunday, someone fired a gun outside a home in South Park. A man in his 50s who had lived there for 19 years was hit and killed. He lived there with his wife, daughter, son, and 13-year-old grandson. Your South Park neighbors are circulating word of crowdfunding to help the family. If you would consider helping, the page is here.
Back from talking climate on an international stage in Europe, Mayor Jenny Durkan visited South Park on Tuesday to gird for potential budget battle back home. Public-safety concerns were in the spotlight as Police Chief Carmen Best and Fire Chief Harold Scoggins accompanied her on a walking tour with the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps. The sights ran from gritty to pretty, the former embodied by the “scary trail” (photo above) running along Highway 99 south of 8th and Trenton, where Youth Corps members said they had found four needles during a recent cleanup event. For the latter, she got to see three murals the Youth Corps, led by Carmen Martinez, created in and around Duwamish Waterway Park.
The mayor pronounced the murals “gorgeous.” Corps members explained they had worked with artist/storyteller Roger Fernandes to create the mural telling the Duwamish River’s story, past, present and future.
Between the murals and the trail, a photo-op outside South Park Library:
Serious moments too. The mayor took questions from the teens at the South Park Neighborhood Center pre-tour:
Among those questions, one Youth Corps member voiced worry about the upcoming renovations at the South Park Community Center, and that they’d be “pushed out.” The mayor and Seattle Parks‘ Christopher Williams reassured them that the work would be done in phases and that other locations were being sought for temporarily displaced programs. Another teen asked if there could be a police station closer to South Park than the Southwest Precinct; Chief Best said response times are actually on par with what the rest of the city experiences. South Park is one of the communities where “emphasis patrols” were added earlier this year, and the mayor’s proposed SPD budget would continue that.
WEST SEATTLE NEXT WEEK: The mayor and chiefs are expected to visit West Seattle next week for a similar tour; we’re awaiting specifics on when and where.
West Seattle’s two international schools were among the dozens of entries in the annual Fiestas Patrias parade in South Park on Saturday.
The parade and accompanying festival are a celebration of Latin American heritage and culture. Many nations and traditions had representation:
Grand Marshal was Jorge Baron of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project:
Some entries carried the theme of immigrants’ rights:
Local issues, too:
As usual, many 2-wheeled and 4-wheeled entries – no motorcycles this year, but the Toros BMX Club was there:
So were cars with hydraulic displays that had one child near us asking “How do they DO that?”
Horseback riders concluded the parade:
The parade is presented by Sea Mar Community Health Centers, which is headquartered in South Park.
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