Seattle Parks Invites You to Weigh In

From the City of Seattle, Seattle Parks & Recreation (note there are specific meetings targeting teens and immigrant populations):

Seattle Parks and Recreation invites the community to help plan the future of Seattle’s parks, programs, community centers and other facilities at one of six upcoming public meetings.

Parks is starting an important public conversation to ensure we have a great park system for generations to come. The goal is to gather public input to be incorporated into the final Parks Legacy Plan. This plan will be presented to the City Council in December to help guide future funding options.

“After an expansion of our system was made possible by several consecutive voter-approved property tax levies, we are at a crossroads,” said Acting Superintendent Christopher Williams. “Now it’s time to ask the hard questions: Are we spending resources as effectively as possible? What does the public think of our park system? What are the basic services we provide?”

To honor Parks’ 130-year legacy and to plan for our future, Parks needs to hear from Seattle residents, park neighbors and park users. Parks has scheduled a series of public meetings in May and encourages everyone who enjoys parks, community centers, swimming pools or other facilities to come and tell us what you think. The goal is to offer access and opportunity to all, in a sustainable way.

Seattle Parks will gather input on how we preserve the Seattle Parks and Recreation legacy.  Parks will pose such questions as:
·         “Should the community center programs seek to bring in more revenue?”
·         “What do you think is important to provide through teen programs?”
·         “How would you prioritize funding dollars for cleaning comfort stations, maintaining sportsfields, and lawn maintenance?”
To learn about the timeline and other input opportunities, please see the attached Parks Legacy Plan online here: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/.

While some of the meetings focus on certain Parks functions, comments on any Parks activity or function are welcome at all of the meetings.

·         Tuesday, May 7 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.: GENERAL MEETING
Seattle Parks and Recreation Administration Building
100 Dexter Ave. N

·         Wednesday, May 8 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.: SPORTS, RECREATION, AND AQUATICS
Green Lake Community Center
7201 E Green Lake Dr. N

·         Monday, May 13 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. SENIORS, TEENS INCLUDING LGBT, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND ASSOCIATED RECREATION COUNCIL (ARC)
Northgate Community Center
10510 5th Ave. NE

·         Thursday, May 16 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.: ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS, OPEN SPACE
AND MAINTENANCE
Jefferson Community Center
3801 Beacon Ave. S

·         Tuesday, May 21 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.: GENERAL MEETING
Dakota Place Park Building
4304 SW Dakota St.

·         Wednesday, May 22 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.: IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES
South Shore K-8 School
4800 S Henderson St.

People who cannot make it to a meeting and who want to comment on the draft plan can send an email to parkslegacy@seattle.gov.

To read the draft plan or to learn about the timeline for the final plan please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/.

For interpretation services or special accommodations at the meetings, please email parkslegacy@seattle.gov or call Susanne Rockwell at 206-733-9702.

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