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Opinion

Keep listening to residents’ concerns to improve Seattle parks

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It has been 90 days because the Seattle Parks and Recreation Division met with residents of the Mount Baker neighborhood over their issues about noise and gunfire on the Stan Sayres Memorial Park.

Issues have modified for the higher on the park, also called The Pits due to its position in hydroplane racing, and the Atlantic Metropolis Boat Ramp, the place shootings and amplified noises have been mainstays. Extra police periodically patrol the areas, abbreviated hours have been briefly created and enforced. Residents close to The Pits credit score the town for eradicating litter from the park and implementing its new 10 p.m. closing time.

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That’s the way in which it ought to occur: Residents cite issues which can be quality-of-life and issues of safety, the town investigates and enhancements occur.

But, there are nonetheless points to be resolved at these two places and at Golden Gardens and Alki Seaside.

Lots of the metropolis’s boat launches and parks have had issues, Deputy Parks Superintendent Andy Sheffer advised the editorial board. In response, the Atlantic Metropolis boat ramp decreased its hours in July due to late-night shootings and noise. The Parks division additionally shortened hours at Golden Gardens in Ballard and Alki Seaside in West Seattle this summer season as a result of a surge of prison exercise. However these two parks are again to closing at 11:30 p.m. in the course of the fall, winter and spring of 2024. The Parks board ought to vote to return to closing Golden Gardens and Alki Seaside earlier to stop a repeat of final spring’s exercise.

The short-term open hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Atlantic Metropolis boat ramp have been prolonged, which has made a optimistic distinction on the web site.

Nonetheless, residents close to Stan Sayres proceed to undergo with loud, offensive music blasting into the night time air, fires set and left unattended close to the rowing facility and litter left strewn about. Along with shortening hours, the town ought to set up gates at Stan Sayres and Atlantic Metropolis boat launch, very similar to the one at Lake Sammamish State Park, which closes at nightfall. And because the Seattle Police Division is understaffed, the newly commissioned park rangers needs to be allowed to patrol outdoors of downtown and on the 4 parks and boat ramps the place neighbors have been pleading for assist.

There’s sometimes an uptick in violence in the course of the hotter months, although a mass taking pictures at Golden Gardens Park in October proved deadly for one individual. With the information SPD and Parks have collected, knowledgeable selections are anticipated that heart on neighborhood security and tips on how to make for a pleasurable recreation expertise for all.


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