Keep listening to residents’ concerns to improve Seattle parks

It has been 90 days since the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department met with residents of the Mount Baker neighborhood over their concerns about noise and gunfire at the Stan Sayres Memorial Park.

Things have changed for the better at the park, also known as The Pits because of its role in hydroplane racing, and the Atlantic City Boat Ramp, where shootings and amplified noises were mainstays. More police periodically patrol the areas, abbreviated hours have been temporarily created and enforced. Residents near The Pits credit the city for removing litter from the park and enforcing its new 10 p.m. closing time.

That’s the way it should happen: Residents cite problems that are quality-of-life and safety issues, the city investigates and improvements happen.

Yet, there are still issues to be resolved at those two locations and at Golden Gardens and Alki Beach.

Many of the city’s boat launches and parks have had problems, Deputy Parks Superintendent Andy Sheffer told the editorial board. In response, the Atlantic City boat ramp reduced its hours in July because of late-night shootings and noise. The Parks department also shortened hours at Golden Gardens in Ballard and Alki Beach in West Seattle this summer due to a surge of criminal activity. But those two parks are back to closing at 11:30 p.m. during the fall, winter and spring of 2024. The Parks board should vote to return to closing Golden Gardens and Alki Beach earlier to prevent a repeat of last spring’s activity.

The temporary open hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Atlantic City boat ramp have been extended, which has made a positive difference at the site.

Still, residents near Stan Sayres continue to suffer with loud, offensive music blasting into the night air, fires set and left unattended near the rowing facility and litter left strewn about. In addition to shortening hours, the city should install gates at Stan Sayres and Atlantic City boat launch, much like the one at Lake Sammamish State Park, which closes at dusk. And since the Seattle Police Department is understaffed, the newly commissioned park rangers should be allowed to patrol outside of downtown and at the four parks and boat ramps where neighbors have been pleading for help.

There’s typically an uptick in violence during the warmer months, though a mass shooting at Golden Gardens Park in October proved fatal for one person. With the data SPD and Parks have collected, informed decisions are expected that center on neighborhood safety and how to make for a pleasurable recreation experience for all.