To: Richard Conlin,
Seattle City Council President

All of us at Southwest Community Center including Staff, Advisory Council, and most importantly our diverse group of community users are stunned by the proposed shutdown and destaffing changes to our site and its thriving activities. This email is a heads-up to you that the proposed changes represent an under informed decision based on old data and we are asking for a more balanced approach.

Southwest Community Center in the past decade has been beset by extensive closures for remodeling and maintenance that has significantly impacted our customer base. In recent years we have rebounded significantly to become a vibrant hub of activity for our culturally diverse community. This result is due to many factors including a very talented and motivated Seattle Parks Department staff, and teens and adult volunteers.

We just hosted a very successful Community BBQ with a large enthusiastic crowd which showed a remarkable spectrum of age and cultural diversity among the happy participants. Attached to this email are a few photos of some of Southwest Community Center’s recent successful community events (BBQ, Egg Hunt, Pancake Breakfast, Luau and Car show).

Other examples of activities at our site include; Home school classes with current enrollment of 130, Special Population social nights, home of the Seattle Slam wheel chair rugby group, Senior Volleyball, Pickle ball, and Bingo, as well as a teen break dance group with 20 kids.

Also coming on line adjacent to Southwest Community Center this November is a large sports/ play area of expansive grass fields, tennis courts, and a softball field. Our staff is already planning many additional activities using these areas for our community users.

We plan to meet with you personally soon to provide current factual information so you can make a correct informed decision in the budget process regarding Southwest Community Center’s important continuing role in serving our local southwest community. See you soon.

Tom Foley, President
Southwest Community Center,
Advisory Council