Photo:
Walkers on the path around Green Lake. Credit: Laurel Mercury Seattle Parks/Flickr CC
The City of Seattle announced today that it would close 15 major Seattle parks and other areas for the upcoming Easter weekend, April 11–12. The city closed parking lots at large Seattle Parks March 25 and closed additional parks’ parking lots April 8, though the parks themselves remained open to individuals and families practicing social distancing.
Today's closure announcement bans anyone from using affected Seattle parks, beaches, gardens and boat launches from Friday, April 10, at 11 p.m., through Monday, April 13, at 4:30 a.m., when parks will reopen.
The affected parks and areas are Green Lake and Woodland Park, Golden Gardens, Magnuson Park, Gas Works Park, Discovery Park, Carkeek Park, Alki Beach Park, Lincoln Park, Volunteer Park, Cal Anderson Park, Seward Park, Kubota Garden, West Seattle Stadium and the Washington Park Arboretum. Boat launches at Stan Sayres, Magnuson, Don Armeni and Atlantic Street are also closed.
The city reports that citizens have not followed directives to observe social distancing rules and not gather in groups in parks, prompting the closures. During the weekend closure, Seattle Police Department and parks staff will be onsite at closed parks to remind people to comply.
Neighborhood parks not listed remain open, though the city will consider closing those parks as well if residents continue to disregard the ban on gatherings.
In parks that do remain open, the city reminds residents to adhere to the following rules:
- Practice social distancing: Maintain a minimum of 6 feet between you and other park users.
- Do not access off-limits equipment, including playgrounds, picnic shelters, tables and outdoor exercise equipment.
- Do not congregate in parks: Pick-up games, picnics, cook-outs, parties and bonfires are not allowed.
- Stay home if you are feeling sick.
- Practice good hygiene: Follow the CDC’s guidance on handwashing and personal hygiene prior to and during use of parks.
Bellevue parks remain open, though sport courts, playground equipment and ballfields are closed. Tacoma’s Metro Parks system parks remain open, though restroom facilities, playgrounds, sport courts and picnic shelters are closed. City of Olympia parks remain open to individual and family users for walking, running and nature-viewing; playgrounds, sport courts, skate parks, picnic shelters and parking lots are closed. King County parks are closed.
