West Seattle, Washington
26 Saturday
(WSB file photo, SPD at Alki on a summer night)
As we’ve reported, the city is moving toward an earlier closing time for Alki Beach Park this spring/summer – and beyond. But what else is planned to address safety concerns as warmer weather brings more people to the regionally renowned beach? The Alki Community Council invites you to this Thursday’s monthly gathering, this time at Alki Bathhouse (60th/Alki), to hear from and talk with a panel of people working on the issue. Here’s the ACC announcement:
Reminder: Alki Community Council Meeting – Thursday, April 17th
Special Summer Safety Prep Meeting* New Location: Alki Bathhouse
* New Start: 6:30-8 pm (In-person only)We’re switching things up this month as we take it to the beach—right where it matters most. Our meeting at Alki Bathhouse is all about the beach: how we can protect it, and the people who live and visit here.
As we prepare for a busy summer with environmental and ongoing safety concerns—amid a 300+ officer shortage—you’ll hear directly from those on the front lines of guardianship of both people and our parks.
What makes this meeting special? We’re bringing together voices from 8th grade changemakers to top city leaders—all committed to keeping Alki safe, clean, and cared for.
Speaker Lineup:
Explorer West Middle School 8th Graders – Youth-led action item.
Captain Krista Bair, SPD SW Precinct commander
Jon Jainga, Seattle Parks Security & Emergency Mgmt.
Tracy Cramer, SPU Clean City / Litter Abatement
Seattle Park Rangers
Dave Delgado, Seal Sitters –– Wildlife crisis responseBring your questions and concerns, and join us to help keep the place we love safe and beautiful.
Story by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Summer visitors to some of West Seattle’s most popular parks will likely have slightly fewer hours to enjoy them.
As we’ve been reporting (including last week, and a couple of weeks before that), Seattle Parks had been considering “permanent seasonal” reductions (Memorial Day to Labor Day, for all upcoming summers) to the hours during which several parks across the city are open, including our own Alki Beach Park and Don Armeni Boat Ramp, as well as a permanent reduction in hours for Hamilton Viewpoint Park.
On Thursday night, the city’s advisory Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners held a public hearing and vote, and the board unanimously approved the proposal, which now goes to the Parks superintendent Anthony-Paul (“AP”) Diaz (who was in attendance on Thursday night) to issue a final decision, which would be followed by necessary city clerk filings and then updates to parks signage and websites.
Of the impacted Seattle parks that are specifically in the West Seattle area, the now-approved proposal calls for:
The meeting on Thursday was a “hybrid” forum, with the board and a handful of in-person attendees gathering downtown at Seattle Parks HQ, while others joined online via Zoom. Public participation was light, with two “general commenters” who signed up and offered thoughts about overall parks concerns, but zero commenters signed up or in attendance to speak specifically about the proposed hourly changes. However, commission members did make reference to some emailed comments from West Seattle residents, as well as “comments on the West Seattle Blog,” summarized as such:
From last month’s meeting slides, here are two tables showing the city-wide changes that were proposed and now approved:
Commissioners noted that the rationale for the changes included fire safety (particularly for Alki and Golden Gardens), managing late-night noise and problematic “non-boating activity” on the boat ramps, and aligning hours and resources with SPD and other resources. Commissioners added that although public commentary on the issue was minimal, the department had done the best it could to get the word out via their web and social channels, and in local news and blogs and social media. Two commissioners suggested the need for a future “comprehensive approach” to park hours, noting that numerous parks (such as Ravenna) have late-night hours but minimal/no lighting, which probably should be evaluated, and others agreed.
In Thursday’s meeting, commissioners discussed the general positive sentiment about the proposal among board members, and among the (admittedly small) number of comments gathered online and via email (again, there was nobody signed up to comment at Thursday’s meeting). Based on that, they agreed to call for a vote rather than to delay a vote to a later meeting (the board meets again on April 24), and the motion then passed unanimously.
Aside from the park-hours discussion, there were a handful of other West Seattle mentions during other portions of the meeting agenda:
(2024 low-low tide photo from Tom Trulin at Lincoln Park)
With minus tides on the way next week, and very low tides expected at month’s end, we checked in with the Seattle Aquarium to find out if they have assembled a schedule for this year’s Beach Naturalist program. Aquarium spokesperson Tim Kuniholm says they are working toward a mid-April deadline and will be able to talk about the details of the program after that. As we’ve been reporting, after reader tips, the program is being reorganized after aquarium-staff layoffs earlier this year, and is expected to be significantly scaled back from its previous reach, with 300+ volunteers at beaches across the region, including Lincoln Park and Constellation Park. Last year, Aquarium-coordinated naturalists staffed 11 beaches, each with 22 low-tide events from May to July. We’ll have another update when the new plans are finalized.
With about two months to go until Memorial Day, Seattle Parks has just unveiled its proposed plan for Alki Beach Park and Don Armeni Boat Ramp hours this summer – and it’s proposing a permanent change for Hamilton Viewpoint Park. Deputy superintendent Daisy Catague just briefed the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners on this year’s proposed hours, pending a public hearing and vote next month. First, from the slide deck used for the briefing, here’s the list including Alki (which would have the same closing time as last summer):
“Seasonal” means Memorial Day to Labor Day, Catague explained. The key word on that slide, however, is “permanent”; for the last several years, changes have been made, always explained as a “pilot” project. Parks is also proposing a permanent seasonal change for Don Armeni Boat Ramp:
Parks also is proposing permanently shifting Hamilton Viewpoint Park hours, currently 4 am to 11:30 pm, changing to 6 am to 10 pm. Catague says there was a pilot of those hours dating back to 2015. If you want to have a say in the process, here’s the timeline:
The hearing and vote will be at meetings of the Parks and Rec Board, and you can participate either in person at Park HQ downtown, or remotely – agendas will appear here.
(File photo, Lincoln Park)
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
With only about 2 months before the traditional start of the Beach Naturalist program at Lincoln Park, Constellation Park, and other beaches around the region, the Seattle Aquarium tells WSB there are “no new updates” about their plans to revise the popular low-tide program. But clues are starting to surface.
As we reported last month, the program is on “pause” and being reconfigured, following layoffs due to the Seattle Aquarium’s reported budget shortfall. The Aquarium says the program, which has included full-time and part-time seasonal staff overseeing hundreds of volunteers, will “look different” but has been slow to share details. While Aquarium staff works to “reimagine” the popular program, some of the seasonal staff who were laid off are talking about organizing their own program.
The Aquarium has organized and trained Beach Naturalists for more than 20 years, assigning staff and volunteers to beaches from Dash Point to Shoreline, both during daytime and occasional evening mega-low tides. It has attracted a dedicated group of volunteers, many of whom are on the same beaches year after year, and who are passionate about the way the program makes the Aquarium’s educational outreach available to anyone who can go to the beach, even if tickets to the Aquarium itself may be out of reach financially. The Aquarium has also paused its Cedar River Salmon Journey program, which relies on volunteers at the Ballard Locks and other locations to teach about the migration and life cycle of salmon. The pause in the two programs has left all of those volunteers largely in limbo for the last few months.
Now a “listening session” is planned by the Aquarium for volunteers of both programs next week. An email to volunteers sent a week ago indicated the program is intended to become a collaboration between the Aquarium and several other marine-focused educational groups. A followup email sent last evening makes mention of the potential for a much scaled-back program, with just a handful of low-tide events a year. That email also stated that the volunteer trainings that are usually scheduled in March will not happen at all this year. The Aquarium did not answer questions about the specifics when asked.
Some of the staff laid off in January feel they can’t wait indefinitely to hear about plans that they think are unlikely to include them. “None of us expect to be rehired,” says Bill Rogers, one of the 20 part-time seasonal staff known as “beach captains” who managed volunteers in the field. Knowing that the beach captains were laid off signals what Rogers expects will be a big change to the program, so he and others are now organizing to bring together those who are interested in making sure there are as many naturalists at beaches on as many days as possible during the very low tides. It would also provide an opportunity for volunteers and former staff who feel blindsided by the way the changes to the program are being handled and are upset enough they wouldn’t go back if invited. Rogers noted, “It hurt a lot of people personally.”
Exactly what shape a new naturalist program might take is uncertain. A formal work meeting in early April with interested volunteers may help focus both structure and mission. “Will it be a group or a club? We have to work that out,” says Rogers, who was looking forward to his 13th season as beach captain and 15th in the program, “The plan is to still be involved.”
As for the Seattle Aquarium, it’s also dealing with the impending arrival of a new CEO and the first operational year of its Ocean Pavilion, part of a $160 million project.
FIRST REPORT, 12:14 PM: This afternoon, Special Olympics of Washington is making a splash at Alki with this year’s Polar Plunge fundraiser.
(WSB photos)
The plunging starts in an hour or so – but right now, 10 food trucks are lined up near Alki Bathhouse as part of the celebration:
Here’s who we saw there (links added):
Tabassum
Theo’s Gyros
Ryan’s Rez-ipes
Cheese Pit
Whateke
Sam Choy’s Poké to the Max
Big Boys
Sugar and Spoon
Kathmandu Momocha
Goodbelly
We’ll have coverage of the plunging later! The trucks are expected to stay until 4-ish; the event has a beer garden too.
ADDED, SECOND REPORT: Photographer Dave Gershgorn was there for WSB as teams showed off their contests – and then plunged! Biggest fundraisers were Erik Johnson’s Nearly Nekkid Norwegians:
Biggest team, the Judgy Plungers (from Amazon’s legal department):
Lots of spirited plungers went into the water in waves:
Some were in no rush to get back out:
Others showed off on the sand:
These two found a moment for a pause:
This was the third of five Polar Plunges that are raising money for Special Olympics of Washington around the state – the final two are in Anacortes next Saturday, and the Tri-Cities a week after that.
If you’re in the area of the 3500 block of Beach Drive SW and wondering why multiple SFD and SPD responders have shown up – there’s a large piece of debris that’s apparently been reported as a possible “capsized boat,” but multiple responders have now told dispatch it’s a “large piece of foam,” likely broken away from a dock. (This hasn’t triggered a large response – one engine logged at a time – but it’s enough to spark some curiosity.)
(File photo)
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
“It’s not cancelled.”
That’s the word from the Seattle Aquarium, which confirmed to WSB that its popular Beach Naturalist program will be back at select Puget Sound waterfront parks this summer, albeit with changes. Staff that worked on the program were among a dozen Aquarium employees laid off last month to address a budget shortfall, and the program has been on “pause” since then, spurring fears from volunteers and others that the program would be shuttered. Some contacted WSB with their concerns, so we looked into it.
For 20+ years, the naturalist program has trained hundreds of volunteers to meet park users at the tideline to safely observe and learn about starfish, sea slugs, and other aquatic life that becomes visible as the tide recedes. Lincoln Park and Constellation Park in West Seattle have been among the consistent locations over the years, with school field trips and other groups joining the throngs of park visitors to see the lowest tides of the year and on other selected days.
Aquarium spokesperson Tim Kuniholm describes the program as a “beloved tradition” that is valued for its connections to the community, but also one that will benefit from some changes that are “long overdue.” He says the Aquarium team assessing the program is, among other things, looking at new connections “working with community partners in more diverse communities.” Specifics are not yet available, though Kuniholm confirmed, “It will look different.”
(File photo)
Typically, volunteer training starts in March, but that is also on pause until the program details are finalized. The Aquarium is expecting to have more to share soon about how the program will operate in 2025. The beach naturalists have traditionally been out during the lowest daytime tides of the warm months (last year, the events started in May), with a few nighttime low-tide events too.
If you have comments about the program, the Seattle Aquarium is a nonprofit, overseen by a board of directors whose membership and contact info is here.
(File photo from past ‘king tide,’ by David Hutchinson at Alki)
While most are focusing on the possibility of snow this weekend (no alerts yet!), it’s also of note that Sunday will be one of three days this year with the highest predicted high tide – 12.9 feet – one of the so-called “king tides.” That’s what’s expected at 7:42 am Sunday (February 2), as well as on the mornings of December 6-7. Will that truly be the year’s highest tide? Shore-watchers know that atmospheric conditions can affect what actually happens; you can track the actual water levels via this page, which you can always find linked from the WSB West Seattle Weather page.
Another round of nighttime low-low tides has accompanied the full moon, and Rosalie Miller has shared photos of the wildlife she saw on the shore at Charles Richey Sr. Viewpoint/Constellation Park (along the north end of Beach Drive SW). Above, a Pacific Octopus; below, a Monterey Dorid:
And a Northern Leopard Dorid:
Still time to get to the beach for tonight’s lowest tide, -2.4 feet at 10:28 pm.
(WSB photo, September 21)
Back in September, dozens of volunteers gathered at Alki for an International Coastal Cleanup event. There are certainly everyday cleanup heroes working in our area year-round – like A Cleaner Alki – but the September event was the first time regional organizations held their flagship event here, and now Puget Soundkeeper has released a report on the regional results:
In an exceptional display of community commitment, more than 741 volunteers removed 2,600 pounds of debris during International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) events across the Puget Sound from August through December 2024. Across 13 cleanup events from Seattle to the San Juan Islands, volunteers collectively tackled the growing impact of litter and plastic pollution, making an impact on the health of Puget Sound.
Since its inception in 1986, the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) movement has been a global initiative by the Ocean Conservancy to document and remove debris from beaches and waterways globally. Every year, Puget Soundkeeper serves as the regional coordinator for ICC events across Puget Sound and works alongside several partner organizations who make these efforts possible.
“In a time where it seems like there’s a lot of negative news spreading over social media, it’s truly inspiring to see so many volunteers and people come out to commit their time and energy toward making our waterways safer and healthier for future generation,” said Tanya Balaji, the Stewardship and Education Manager at Puget Soundkeeper.
2024 was a special year for the ICC movement as for the first time in history, the Ocean Conservancy hosted its flagship ICC event in Seattle and more than 200 volunteers gathered at Alki Beach on September 21st to celebrate the movement. “Despite 2024’s cleanups showing the power of collective action, it highlights the importance of advocating and fighting for legislation that targets pollution at its sources,” added Balaji. For more information about our 2024 ICC report, click here.
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance remains committed to continuing our cleanup efforts while advocating for policies that prevent pollution at its source, including working on the 2025 Recycling Reform Act. Moreover, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, alongside its partner organizations across the state, will also continue organizing ICC events throughout the Fall of 2025.
Though the total weight wasn’t huge, as our September 21 coverage showed, volunteers were encouraged to look for small debris, which post the most harm to marine life from potential ingestion and other risks. The full report, including the list of top types of debris, and how to report what you might find year-round, is embedded at the bottom of this page. Best way you can help reduce the need for this? Use less plastic. Even if you think you’re disposing of it properly, it has a nasty way of ending up as pollution just the same.
(Photo by Rosalie Miller – sea star during recent nighttime low tide)
It won’t be a low-low tide but if you’d like to head out on a West Seattle beach with an environmental educator, Seattle Parks is offering the opportunity this Tuesday night (January 7) at Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook. Their event is set for 7 to 9 pm – meet at Me-Kwa-Mooks (4430 Beach Drive SW), across the street. Registration is required in advance, and there’s a fee – here’s where to sign up.
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
By dusk tonight, all candles on the Torah Learning Center of West Seattle‘s giant menorah at Alki Beach were lit. On the last of Hanukkah’s eight nights, it took Rabbi Eli Duban two tries to get the flames to take – facing toward the south finally worked.
(WSB photos/video from here by Tracy Record)
The rabbi noted that the Hanukkah story shows that even a “small light can dispel a great darkness.”
More than 50 people gathered for the waterfront ceremony organized by Ilana Duban, with music, crafts, and donuts.
After the menorah-lighting, everyone was invited to stay for a “fire show” – a performer dancing with small torches on the promenade.
The Torah Learning Center sponsored other Hanukkah-related activities in the days and weeks leading up to tonight’s gathering, including a story hour and a crafts event.
(Aerial photo by Sly Stewart)
It was as much shrieking as swimming when more than a thousand people ran into and out of Puget Sound along Alki Beach this morning during the 2025 edition of the West Seattle New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim. Here’s our video of what it looked and sounded like, starting with organizer Mark Ufkes leading the countdown through his trusty megaphone:
(WSB video by Tracy Record)
But if you haven’t done the Polar Bear Swim before, these participants’ faces might tell you more of the story:
(This WSB photo and next five are by Dave Gershgorn)
Many participants “swam” in groups – we found athletes from the Chief Sealth International High School girls’ gymnastic team under a canopy pre-swim with coach Chris Troupe – and a portable heater:
(This WSB photo and next two are by Lora Radford)
And of course organizer Mark went in too, as he always does, and was all smiles afterward:
Not everyone just ran in and ran out, though! Some had to stop and pose in the 49-degree water (nine degrees warmer than the air):
(This WSB photo and next two are by Dave Gershgorn)
And some went for total immersion:
(WSB photo by Dave Gershgorn)
P.S. Special Olympics of Washington is bringing its (unrelated except in spirit) Polar Plunge fundraiser back to Alki this year – set your calendar for March 8.
One more way to spend your New Year’s Eve … exploring the beach at the -2.5-foot 11:13 pm low-low tide!
Rosalie Miller sent photos of what she encountered on the beach at last night’s similarly low tide – a kelp crab, red rock crab, and mottled star.
If you go out exploring, tread lightly!
(File photo by Robert Spears)
We brought you first word in November that the annual Alki Beach Polar Bear Swim was on again for January 1, 2025, after covering an Alki Community Council meeting at which organizer Mark Ufkes was one of the guests. Today, for anyone who missed that first announcement, Mark has just sent this reminder:
Alki Beach Polar Bear Swim
New Years Day – January 1, 2025, in front of Duke’s West Seattle
Make sure that you are in good health if you participate.
We go into the water at 10:00 am sharp; after a group countdown from 10, 9, 8 . . . There will be a huge crowd (well over 1,000 last year), so plan accordingly. Line up and down the beach. Spread out. Holding hands with someone you love makes going into the water much easier. Trust me on this. Once the countdown begins, get ready to run. And keep your kids close.
Wear good water shoes, bring a large towel and a warm sweater to put on after you get out of the water. And remember, the water will be warmer than the air, making the experience much more pleasant.
In that brief moment, as you run into the water, you will be surrounded by joy and laughter from the huge crowd. The entire beach is filled with cheering, abundance and happiness. It’s really quite amazing. And the crowd watching us from the sidewalk will be cheering too, with a touch of envy, for not joining us.
So, wash away the complexities of 2024, and your fears too. And as you come out of the water, you will bask in the unlimited possibilities that life offers to each of us in the New Year.
Whatever it is that you want in life, go for it. That is what the New Year, and our great nation, is telling us. Enjoy life and go for it.
Everyone has a GREAT time. You will too.
Sincerely,
Mark Ufkes and Lois Schipper (20-year Alki Polar Bear veterans)
While the beach across from Duke’s is where you’ll find Mark and his megaphone, you can find a spot pretty much anywhere on the sand to be part of the crowd running in and out.
Sent by Michael:
Found on our beach south of ferry landing.
If it’s yours, email us and we’ll connect you,
Thanks for the photos! Wind and other atmospheric conditions pushed this morning’s “king tide” up onto the beach and boardwalk at Alki. The first three photos are from David Hutchinson.
Alki Bathhouse and Statue of Liberty Plaza had been sandbagged in anticipation of this possibility. The next photo was texted anonymously, from further east along the sand:
This NOAA page (linked on the WSB West Seattle Weather page any time you want to find it) shows the high tide water level was actually about a foot and a half higher than the basic projection.
Another beautiful photo in a day full of them – thank you to the sender! The moon will be officially full just after 1 am our time. We’re mentioning that because as usual, the full moon brings tidal extremes. A texter noticed flashlight beams on the shore; we note that tonight’s low-low tide, hitting right this moment, is -3.4 feet, same as it’ll be tomorrow night shortly before 11 pm, and between the two, high tide will be 12.6 feet before 6 am, with even-higher high tides the next three mornings (here’s the chart).
That’s part of the colorful display – also including seawall luminarias – the Alki Community Council created as part of its first-ever Alki Holiday Lights celebration Saturday night, before and after the Christmas Ship’s visit to the beach (WSB coverage here). The event also included business participation, plus the Log House Museum, and a food drive. One of the ACC organizers, Zak, tells WSB, “I made a survey to gather feedback on this first annual event. Hoping to have 2025 be bigger and better. Would love to have more attendees fill it out and hear what we did well or could improve on.” If you were there and can offer some feedback, here’s how!
Thanks to Don Brubeck for the photo! Sandbags ring Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza just in case the first round of fall/winter “king tides” slops up onto the plaza, as high-tide waters have done in the past (2022, for example). They’ll peak at 12.6 feet just before 7:30 am Monday (providing no meteorological factor pushes the tides higher). The flip side of king tides: Mega-low tides, and we’re expecting another one tonight, -3.5 feet just before 11 pm, even lower than the one that inspired last night’s beach-naturalists event at Constellation Park:
Thanks to Marty Westerman for that photo as beach visitors explored the shore on Friday night. Commenter Camille offered this view of exposed sealife under a blacklight:
The next wave of king tides/mega-low tides accompanies the December 15 full moon, including 12.8-foot high tides on December 16-17.
(February 2023 photo sent by Sara)
Thanks to Midi for the heads-up on this, which wasn’t in our calendar: With a low-low tide of -3.1 feet expected at 10:17 pm, Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will be out at Constellation Park (63rd/Beach Drive), 8-10 pm. Here’s their advice:
We recommend bringing a bright flashlight or headlamp, layering up to stay warm and wearing sturdy boots or shoes that have a good grip and can get wet. To help care for our marine environment, make sure to walk with gentle steps (there is life beneath your feet!) and observe animals where they are (that is their home!).
The event is free, all ages. Look for the naturalists’ canopy. (They won’t be there tomorrow night, but the tide will be even lower – out to -3.5 feet at 10:59 pm.
(WSB photos/video unless otherwise credited)
Before grabbing pickers and bags, that throng of International Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers gathered for a group photo just west of Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. As previewed here earlier this week, Ocean Conservancy partnered with Puget Soundkeeper to host this local event as part of the international observance, the first time an International Coastal Cleanup Day flagship event has been held at Alki Beach Park. And they learned before heading out onto the sand and the streets that every little bit helps, literally. First they got the big picture from Ocean Conservancy’s Nick Mallos, vice president of conservation for ocean plastics, about today’s worldwide effort:
Puget Soundkeeper’s executive director Sean Dixon got into the specifics of what was most important to look for while cleaning – a lesson you can apply to even a simple informal cleanup while you’re at the beach (or out at sea): In short, look for small plastic pieces, which can end up not just in the water, but also inside fish, marine mammals, and seabirds:
Going for the small stuff, as was encouraged, the hundred-plus volunteers collected 142 pounds in about two hours of work on Alki.
(This photo and next by Patty Chambers, courtesy Ocean Conservancy)
If you’d like to join the cleanup movement – or are already active – you don’t have to wait for the next event; Ocean Conservancy also offers the Clean Swell app, where you can contribute to what OC says is “the world’s largest repository of marine debris data and is used to inform scientists, conservation groups, governments, and industry leaders about ocean trash and support plastic pollution prevention and advocacy efforts.” Meantime, one more simple thing you can do is use less plastic – today’s volunteers got a souvenir that’ll help with that:
This year’s International Coastal Cleanup Day worldwide stats aren’t tallied yet but these numbers from last year are eye-opening.
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