Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is inviting community feedback, both online and in person, for five Seattle parks that have experienced recent closures due to negative activity. One park is in Lake City, one is in the Central District, and three are in Capitol Hill. As SPR attempts to find solutions to improve these parks, from permanent fencing to outdoor movie nights, they are asking the public to share concerns, ideas, and feedback.
Read on for all the details!
There will be three community meetings this week to discuss the parks in question. The first meeting is regarding Lake City Mini Park on Tuesday, November 18 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Akin Building. This park will remain closed through December 27, 2025.
The second meeting will address the issues at three parks in South Capitol Hill:
- Seven Hills Park
- Broadway Hill Park
- Tashkent Park
Of these, Seven Hills Park is currently closed through December 27. If you want to have a say in improvements and changes made to these parks in Capitol Hill, you can join a community feedback session on Wednesday, November 19, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at Garfield Community Center (2323 E Cherry St).
There will also be a third community meeting this week for one park in the Central District:
- Dr. Blanche Lavizzo Park
The Shelter House area at Dr. Blanche Lavizzo Park is currently closed through December 27, 2025. This park’s community feedback session will be on Thursday, November 20, from 6:00 to 7:45 PM at Garfield Community Center (2323 E Cherry St.)
All five parks have experienced recent closures due to what SPR cites as “safety concerns, accessibility barriers, and park misuse.”
During these meetings, community members will have the opportunity to share feedback and ideas for how Seattle Parks and Rec can improve public safety and activate these parks with recreational and community activities. Permanent fencing is one potential solution being considered, in addition to “useful park infrastructure” such as furniture and community gardens. In a statement on engageseattleparks.org, SPR said:
We recognize that these parks have been impacted by activities incompatible with their intended use. We are working to ensure that all parks are clean, safe and welcoming.”
If you are unable to attend the in-person meetings at Garfield Community Center this week, you can still make your voice heard in this conversation. Seattle Parks and Recreation has made a short online survey available on their website for each park; find the Dr. Blanche Lavizzo Park survey here and the Capitol Hill parks surveys here.