West Seattle, Washington
27 Monday
3:59 PM: Seattle Parks crews are continuing to make the rounds, taping off playground and fitness equipment at parks, now off-limits by order of the mayor. Thanks for sending photos of what you are seeing – above, Carolyn sent that from the Lincoln Park north play area; below, from Mark, outside Hiawatha:
We’ve been checking south end parks – here’s one scene we found:
Just the sound of the new cordon fluttering in the wind at Roxhill Park playground. @seattleparks pic.twitter.com/NcQ0Ejb9sX
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 22, 2020
5:36 PM: We’ve just been out checking on more playgrounds and it appears Park staff had been to every place we looked – here’s Highland Park Playground:
Southwest Teen Life Center’s little-kid area:
And the Alki spot unofficially known as Whale Tail Park:
Lowman Beach’s swing set, too.
While Governor Inslee is NOT issuing a “shelter in place” order, so far (as reported here earlier), there’s a brand-new city/county order to further restrict use of parks – just in:
To follow COVID-19 social distancing guidelines established by Public Health—Seattle & King County and the Washington Department of Health, King County Parks and Seattle Parks and Recreations are closing sports courts, playground equipment, and other active recreation areas where it could be difficult to maintain recommended social distancing guidelines.
Ballfields and playfields are open for walking and other non-team activities.
The closure includes picnic shelters, basketball and tennis courts, ballfields, and other active recreation locations. Parks, natural lands, regional trails, backcountry trails, and beaches where social distancing can be maintained remain open.
Pick-up games, picnics, and other large gatherings will not be permitted.
Restrooms within parks will continue to be open to the public, and will be cleaned and sanitized frequently.
Read the rest of the announcement, including reminders about social distancing on trails, by going here.
P.S. This means what we wrote about this morning – finding less-crowded local parks with lots of room to wander – still applies. The city and county are NOT closing the parks – just specific parts/uses, like playgrounds and sports.
(WSB photo – Myrtle Reservoir Park, Thursday evening)
That’s the south side of Myrtle Reservoir Park – one of the West Seattle park/open space sites where you can go and enjoy the sun while keeping at a safe distance from your fellow parkgoers. After all the discussion about Alki crowds this week – and looking ahead at a rainless weekend – we thought spotlighting other spacious areas might be helpful. Myrtle, for example, has walkways and open fields, next to (and over) water-storage facilities. It’s at 35th/Myrtle – and as you can see on the map, Walt Hundley Playfield, one block east at 34th/Myrtle, is spacious too .
Further south, the Southwest Athletic Complex – which is actually a Seattle Public Schools facility – stretches from the stadium (2801 SW Thistle) westward to the big open field where Denny International Middle School used to be. If you want a north-facing water view, Jack Block Park (2130 Harbor SW) – which is a Port of Seattle site – has lots of walkways and overlooks – though some repair work might still be under way. The lodge at Camp Long (5200 35th SW) is closed but the park has trails and a big open field. Those are just a few of many alternatives to the most-popular spots. More recommendations? Please add yours below!
SIDE NOTE: The definitive guide to Seattle parks was written by one of your neighbors, West Seattleite Linnea Westerlind – we featured her book “Discovering Seattle Parks: A Local’s Guide” when it was published in 2017. She also has a website, Year of Seattle Parks. If you don’t already have her book, you might check with one of West Seattle’s independent booksellers – both selling books via pickup and delivery!
From city-run Southwest Pool:
Due to a contamination, Southwest Pool will be closed all day, Tuesday, March 10th. All drop in and lesson programs are cancelled. Participants will receive a credit on their account for the missed lesson. We expect to reopen for our regular schedule at noon on Wednesday, March 11th.
We asked – the “contamination” is NOT related to COVID-19.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
First thing Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jesús Aguirre wanted to clarify before a packed room at Delridge Community Center on Monday night – the Seattle Park District does NOT go back to voters for renewal – it’s a permanent taxing authority.
(We’ll confess, even we were confused, so it was a welcome clarification.)
What he was there to kick off – in what was supposed to be the first of three regional meetings around the city, though the other two have just been canceled – was feedback and decisionmaking on what the tax money collected by the Park District will pay for over the next six years. Here’s the slide deck he used to outline it:
(Or, see it here in PDF.) Aguirre will be sending a proposed six-year spending plan to the mayor in May, and after a process including multiple public hearings, it’ll be finalized by the Park District Board – aka the City Council – in November. That will be concurrent with the overall Parks and Rec Department two-year budget plan.
As shown in the slide deck, the superintendent hit the highlights of what the Park District had paid for in the past five-plus years, including art and sports/fitness initiatives, some of the long-overdue maintenance that was cited as a major reason to create the district, scholarship funds to cover fees for those who can’t afford them, community events, programming for older adults … the list went on.
Along the way, Aguirre said, they learned community centers and pools needed even more maintenance than the new funding could handle. They also learned that “free programming was very successful,” and that the scholarship funds were in high demand.
The department also worked on a new strategic plan, highlighting the city’s explosive population growth – 105,000+ new residents since the Park District’s creation. And that’s been accompanied by another kind of growth – the wealth gap – so Parks has focused on equity.
Before making way for table talk, Aguirre threw out three questions, suggesting that each table address one of them:
1. How can Parks facilities serve more people?
2. How can Parks keep taking care of its system?
3, How can Parks build toward the city of the future?
He noted that the system has almost 500 individual buildings.
At the table we observed, Question #1 was addressed; one recurrent critique was that Parks needs to be much more proactive in getting the word out about its programs and services. One woman who was there primarily to advocate for more pickleball access wondered how people find out. One man suggested communicating by USPS mail could be “effective.”
Another participant suggested expanded hours; yet another, there to advocate for space for roller derby, said her organization needed earlier access to reserving space.
Could available hours be expanded by doing more off-peak maintenance/repairs? Is the city adequately tracking which facilities go unused, and when?
When the tables each reported back to the full group, it was clear other attendees had similar sentiments, plus a few others to add – such as, a need for restrooms – even if only portable ones – at more parks and playgrounds.
There was also a warning: Don’t use the Park District money to replace what would previously have been covered by the regular city budget – the commitment made 6 years ago for this to be above and beyond that, needs to be honored.
MISSED THE MEETING? You can still tell the Parks Department what you think the Park District $ should be spent on. Go here and scroll down to the survey link; an email address for comments is available too – PDplanning@seattle.gov. And if you are looking for more financial specifics – here’s 107 pages worth, as shown at an open house last month:
(Here’s the PDF version on Parks’ website.)
(Photo courtesy Seattle Parks)
Once again this year, you’re invited to become a SUNGuide – here’s what that’s all about:
Become a SUNGuide!
Seattle Urban Nature Guides enhance, promote, and foster appreciation of nature by connecting students with their Seattle parklands, and providing active learning opportunities in nature.
As a SUNGuide, you will:
*Develop Job Skills such as public speaking, education techniques and group engagement
*Enjoy a community of fellow volunteers and city staff
*Receive FREE Training on Pacific Northwest flora and fauna, habitats, environmental education techniques to connect with a wide variety of audiences and equity concepts
*Lead hands-on learning experiences in a variety of settings from playgrounds to forests
*Familiarize yourself with Seattle’s destination Parks while helping others do the sameTo Apply
Review the position description, training schedule, and apply online by Thursday, March 19, 2020!
Classes, lessons, leagues … if you’re interested in programs at Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities, spring registration starts tomorrow. We’re inspired to post this reminder because we’re currently at the Park District meeting and several people at our table aren’t aware of these programs. Here’s the brochure (PDF) that lists everything that’ll be offered at local city-run community centers and Southwest Pool. If something that sounds good to you requires registration, it starts at noon tomorrow!
The six-year Seattle Park District levy expires ends its first 6-year budget cycle this year, and Parks is getting ready to propose a new one. The first of three meetings around the city is tomorrow (Monday, March 2nd) in West Seattle – 6 pm at Delridge Community Center. The question is what the money should go toward in “the next cycle.” If you’re interested in preparing for the discussion by seeing information on what’s been spent and what’s being considered – here’s 107 pages worth, as first shown at an open house last month:
(Here’s the PDF version on Parks’ website.) Of interest, toward the end, are summaries of work that Parks advisory committees have done – including the Viewpoint Advisory Committee, which we mentioned in 2018. It issued recommendations, but nothing much has happened, and the documents above say those recommendations (see page 100 in the document above) – along with those of other task forces/committees including those looking at the Olmsted Legacy – could be considered for funding. Monday’s meeting is set for 6-8 pm; Delridge Community Center is at 4501 Delridge Way SW. If you can’t be there, here’s a survey.
MONDAY NIGHT NOTE: Corrected above – what this process is about is proposing the next 6-year plan for the Park District; as approved by voters in 2014, unlike the levies that preceded it, this does NOT expire.
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Neighbors gathered on Thursday at Hiawatha Community Center to share feedback on options for the upcoming redesign of Hiawatha Playfield (details here).
Want to share your input? Seattle Parks has posted a short online survey to gather feedback about the three proposed design options, which will be further refined in preparation for a final “open house” design presentation in late spring.
The project, which has an $800,000 budget funded by the 2013 King County Parks Levy, involves removing the play area at the north end of the park and building a new play area near the community center in the grassy area just south of the wading pool. After designs are finalized, bidding will occur in the summer and construction will begin later this year, to be completed in 2021.
On Thursday, the latest plans were shown by Ed Pottharst from Seattle Parks and landscape architects Karen Kiest and Clara Pang.
Even before winter’s end (three and a half weeks!), it’s time to plan for summer. The city’s Summer Playground Program will include three West Seattle parks this year, and an announcement today opens the search for program providers:
Seattle Parks and Recreation is seeking individuals, groups, or organizations to provide culturally relevant, safe, active and reliable programs to the community through the Summer Playground Program. The focus of the Summer Playground Program is to provide free healthy meals, as well as fun, innovative and active programs at park sites across Seattle that will have a positive impact on the children, families, and communities of Seattle. The Summer Playground Program will run from July 6 to August 21, 2020.
The Summer Playground Expanded Recreation Program Request for Proposals (RFP) is targeted to the following SPR locations: Beacon Hill Playground, Brighton Playfield, Judkins Park and Playfield, Madrona Playground, Othello Playground, Pratt Park, Powell Barnett Park, Lakewood Playground, E.C. Hughes Playground, Highland Park, Roxhill Park, Georgetown Playfield, Little Brook Park, and Greenwood Park.
Summer Playground Expanded Recreation RFP applications can be completed and submitted at seattlepark.gosmart.org. Applications are due by Tuesday, March 31, 2020 by 11:59 p.m.
You can apply for one or multiple sites. The criteria and other info can be found here.
With so many Seattle Parks facilities and properties in West Seattle, this announcement might be of interest:
As a best practice to prevent the spread of viruses during this cold and flu season, and in response to general concerns over Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is increasing custodial cleaning efforts at our facilities, including community centers and pools.
SPR is implementing these measures to support basic good cleaning and hygiene care at our high-traffic public facilities, and not in response to a specific exposure risk.
In addition to our already-established custodial routines, we will be implementing the following measures:
SPR will install Hand Sanitizing stations in lobby areas at our public facilities
SPR will increase the number of times that the following high-traffic areas are sanitized, with custodians sanitizing these areas three times during their shift:
-Bathroom countertops, stall handles, and flushing devices
-Entry/exit door handles and surrounding areas
-Lobby desk tops
The full Parks post also includes general advice for helping prevent viruses from spreading.
This year’s Your Voice, Your Choice cycle just got going. The city’s announcement explains:
Now’s your chance to share ideas for small-scale park and street improvements in your neighborhood during Your Voice, Your Choice 2020. Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is asking community members to democratically decide how to spend $2 million of the City’s budget on these improvements.
Until March 18, community members age 11 and up (13 and up to participate online) who live, work, go to school, receive services, or participate in activities in Seattle can submit their idea online or in-person at any Seattle Public Library branch. Projects could include park benches, trail improvements, marked crosswalks, and sidewalk repair, to name a few. The only criteria are the project ideas focus on physical improvements to Seattle’s parks or streets, benefit the public, and cost $150,000 or less.
Once ideas are submitted, volunteers are recruited to turn the ideas into 8 – 10 proposals per council district. Then this summer, everyone will have the opportunity to vote for the top projects within their district. Of the $2 million budget, approximately $185,000 is allocated to each council district. The remaining funds are allocated to projects in underrepresented communities or Equity and Environment Initiative (EEI) Focus Areas.
Share your ideas today! You can learn more about the YVYC process and how to get involved on our webpage. For questions, email shaquan.smith@seattle.gov or call 206-256-5944.
In last year’s cycle, here’s what was proposed in District 1, here’s what was voted on, and here’s what won.
West Seattle has four community centers, one teen center, and one indoor pool run by Seattle Parks, but you only have to browse one brochure to see the events, classes, and public sessions for spring/summer. Just before the holiday weekend, Parks announced the new brochure’s available – see it here (PDF). If you are interested in events/classes that require registration, here are the dates to know: Noon on March 3 is when spring registration starts; noon May 5 is whn summer signups begin.
Set your calendar for 2-6 pm Sunday, March 1st, when you’re invited to join in the fun at Puget Ridge Edible Park (5265 18th SW). From Stu Hennessey:
Hello friends and neighbors.
The dark and short days are behind us and spring will be here soon. Even though, if you have not been to PREP lately, you may be surprised at the progress made over the winter months. As usual the first Sundays of the month, March-October, we invite the greater community and PREP family to join us in a celebration of nature and our methods of permaculture techniques and learning opportunities. March is the time to really get going on the cold-loving plants before it is too warm to enjoy them. Planting beds are being prepared for direct sowing and seedling plantings. Come see how to turn “overwhelming” invasive growth into a fertile and abundant food oasis.
Two notices today from Seattle Parks, with upcoming West Seattle meetings that might interest you:
HIAWATHA PLAY AREA RELOCATION/RENOVATION: The next steps of this project‘s planning process are two meetings on Thursday, February 27th, both at Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW) – 11 am-12:30 pm (during tot gym) or 6:30-8 pm. Both will include the opportunity to review and comment on design options.
PARK DISTRICT LEVY PLANNING: The Parks Department Strategic Plan presentation during last month’s Morgan Community Association meeting (WSB coverage here) included a mention of a West Seattle meeting about the next six-year Park District levy – and now it’s official. As part of this online update from Parks Superintendent Jesús Aguirre, the meeting was announced for 6 pm March 2nd at Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW). You can also offer input about the next levy via email – PDplanning@seattle.gov.
(WSB photo)
That’s the Dragonfly Pavilion in North Delridge, and it’s one of nine spots around the city on a new Seattle Parks list of locations where an incentive is offered for performance-based art – here’s the announcement:
Beginning this year, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is offering to waive fees for community members or groups to host performance-based art in select Seattle parks. Performances can consist of an array of styles, including theatrical, comedic, spoken word, toast masters, acoustical concert, and more.
This opportunity is open to new permittees that host their event in one of nine Seattle parks near or around the park’s amphitheater. Parks include: 6th Ave. NW Pocket Park, A.B. Ernst Park, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Civil Rights Memorial Park, Dr. Jose Rizal Park, Dragonfly Pavilion in Longfellow Creek Greenspace, Greenwood Park, Jimi Hendrix Park, Magnuson Park, and Othello Park.
Applications are based on a first come, first served basis on a rolling calendar. To qualify, applicants must be willing to meet the requirements for the fees to be waived. Requirements include the following: events must be open to the public, no amplified sound and no money collection is allowed, and selected applicants must provide event insurance, and commit to do outreach to the neighborhood where the event will take place.
Interested in applying? You can apply by visiting seattle.gov/parks/reserve/park-use-permits and downloading a Park Use Application. Application forms must be turned in to Seattle Parks and Recreation staff at the Event Scheduling Office or e-mailed to parkusepermits@seattle.gov. Approval can take 5-10 business days.
Outreach can include publication of an announcement – so if you decide to have a show there, let us know too!
(WSB photo, October)
In December, we reported on a local case that went before the city Hearing Examiner, related to the upcoming Seattle Parks project that will close the Westcrest Park Off-Leash Area for an estimated six months of drainage work. Park neighbor Inge Anderson appealed the Parks decision that an environmental-impact study wasn’t needed, saying that among other impacts, it will affect many users of West Seattle’s only off-leash area because the planned temporary replacement OLA is small. Five weeks after Anderson and Parks manager David Graves argued their respective sides before Hearing Examiner Ryan Vancil (WSB coverage here), his decision is in – read it here (PDF).
While Vancil reiterates points he noted during the December 16th hearing – such as, that appellants face a tough challenge because it’s on them to prove a city department made the wrong decision – he sided with Parks. He said Anderson “did not introduce evidence demonstrating any significant impacts that are reasonably likely to result from the proposal.” The key word there is “significant”; Vancil agreed that the plan would have some impacts, just not enough to require a full environmental study. His decision is the city’s final word on the matter, and any further challenges would have to be done in court; when we contacted Anderson to ask if she intends to do that, she said yes.
By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Back in early December, we reported on the preliminary ideas for renovating the Cottage Grove Park playground (aka Puget Boulevard Commons Park) at 5206 26th SW, to make the play area more appealing and usable for younger children.
This week, Seattle Parks project manager Pam Kliment provided an email update to neighbors who attended that December forum: The team now has a detailed plan for the park layout (see the PDF here or below), as well as an end-of-April timeframe for completion (8 weeks to get the new play equipment, then a couple of weeks to install it).
Kliment noted that some work on the project has already been done, including the removal of problematic play equipment such as “the rocker,” which was cited by neighbors as being difficult and dangerous for younger children to use.
The Cottage Grove project was chosen by the public as part of the Your Voice, Your Choice program in partnership with the Department of Neighborhoods, Department of Transportation, and Seattle Parks.
Questions about the Cottage Grove Park project can be sent to Pam Kliment at pamela.kliment@seattle.gov or 206-684-7556.
7:02 PM: A reader texted us that photo late today, saying the state Department of Ecology was investigating a reported fuel spill into Longfellow Creek at the West Seattle Golf Course. “Dead fish and odor in the creek on the 12th hole,” the text said. We contacted an Ecology spokesperson, who had not heard about it; since then, Seattle Public Utilities has tweeted, “Vandalism of an approximately 250-300-gallon gasoline storage tank has caused a fuel spill at City of Seattle’s West Seattle Golf Course. Gasoline has reached Longfellow Creek. SPU’s Spill Response team is on site and coordinating with (Ecology).” More as we get it.
7:51 PM: Just talked with the Ecology spokesperson we originally spoke with earlier, Ty Keltner, as well as with SPU spokesperson Sabrina Register. Keltner said Seattle Parks first discovered the spill early this morning, then contacted SPU, and notified Ecology this afternoon. A cleanup contractor already has been hired, they said, and they confirmed that dead fish were found and so the Department of Fish and Wildlife is involved in the investigation. Register said the cleanup and SPU personnel have booms out and will be on scene overnight; she’s not sure exactly how much got into the creek and how much of the fuel was stolen, but she says Parks recovered about 70 gallons.
9:13 PM: Our original tipster says they first reported this to Parks after noticing it while walking the golf course this morning. They shared a photo of what they described as the area where the tank is, by the golf course’s maintenance shed:
“The gas was flowing from there and then into the catch basin by the 18th tee box,” they said.
12:25 PM SATURDAY: We’re working on a detailed followup (coming up separately later this afternoon) after talking with SPU at the spill site and seeing cleanup crews at the creek. Not much additional information yet but cleanup work continues.
They still don’t know exactly how much got into the creek. pic.twitter.com/tmWqnDskAV
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) January 18, 2020
1:34 PM: Two notes for tonight, with more snow forecast (right now we’re getting a snow shower mixed with sunshine):
SEATTLE PARKS: Facilities are closing early – from the announcement:
All Seattle Parks and Recreation evening programs cancelled and recreation facilities closed after 6 p.m. today: Due to freezing temperatures, icy road conditions, and the forecast for additional snow this evening, Seattle Parks and Recreation is cancelling all evening programs after 6 p.m. today (Jan. 14) at all recreation facilities, including at community centers and pools. All recreation facilities will be closed after 6 p.m. today for the safety of community members and staff. We will assess the weather in the morning and make a determination on tomorrow’s conditions based on our Snow Procedures.
Matt Richardson from Southwest Pool tells WSB, “Participants for pre-registered programs will be issued a credit on their account for the missed class.”
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: The district says this announcement already has been sent to all families:
Tonight, another wave of snow and cold temperatures is projected to hit our region. Due to the forecast, the Athletic Dept., has approved cancelling ALL athletic events.
All after-school events are also cancelled, including those that don’t require transportation. Childcare providers will continue to communicate any changes in regularly scheduled hours directly to families.
The district’s Special Education Resource Fair and the Board’s Curriculum and Instruction Committee are also cancelled.
The cancellations include basketball that had been scheduled at Chief Sealth IHS.
3:10 PM: South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) advisory: “Due to inclement weather, campuses will close at 4:30 p.m. today, 1/14. All classes and activities after 4:30 p.m. are canceled.”
Thanks to Jenny for sending the photo and report: Less than a week after a driver hit and damaged the Roxhill Park swing set, it is fixed and reopened. No one was hurt in the New Year’s Day crash.
(WSB photos)
That Roxhill Park play-area swing set is damaged and taped off because of his crash. We got there just as the car was about to be towed away. Police tell us the driver went forward when she meant to go in reverse. No injuries reported.
We’ll be checking with Seattle Parks about repair plans.
(WSB photo)
Earlier this month, Seattle Parks told us the renovated E.C. Hughes Playground (2805 SW Holden) would be open by month’s end – and that’s indeed happened (as noted earlier this week by commenter Leah). Today’s announcement:
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is happy to announce the new play area at E.C. Hughes Playground is open. Small areas around the play area are fenced off and will be seeded in the spring when the temperatures will allow for grass establishment.
The play area renovation project provides nature-themed play structures accessible to children of all abilities, ages 2-5 and 5-12. The play area features slides, climbing structures, new swings, a large netted merry-go-round and climbing balls. Improvements to the site also include new bike racks, relocation of the kiosk, a new accessible drinking fountain, and an accessible transfer platform for the sand pit. Through this project, safety has been improved and play area accessibility has been brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Funding for this park project is provided by the Seattle Park District. Approved by Seattle voters in 2014, the Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding to Seattle Parks and Recreation for maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites.
The old play equipment had to be replaced because of termite damage found more than two years ago after similar damage shut down Lincoln Park South Play Area, where renovations are supposed to finally start next year.
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