The Burien Community Center and Moshier Community Art Center are currently closed in compliance with Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, but the City of Burien’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services (PaRCS) department continues to serve the community in a virtual format.

Weekly virtual programs and virtual events are being added to the City of Burien website and Burien PaRCS Facebook page. The programs and events are tailored to different age groups, from toddlers to older adults, and cover a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, fitness, cooking, mindfulness, wellness, and family fun. New activities are posted on the City’s website by noon each Friday.

The Burien PaRCS department will also be hosting virtual events and challenges that last two to three weeks, giving people time to participate when their schedule allow. All are welcome to participate.

The first virtual event was the three-week Great Burien Baking Challenge, where residents were encouraged to bake a recipe based on criteria such as making a pastry using the theme “dream vacation.” Participants were asked submit photos to Facebook for a chance to win a gift card.

Chalk B-Town, a two-week event that launched on Friday, invites community members to turn Burien into an inspiring gallery full of color and creativity. Residents are invited to find a slab of sidewalk or driveway and using chalk, create a piece of art. Learn more on the City’s website.

“The core mission of our department is to enrich and inspire the Burien community through high-quality experiences, people, and places,” says Carolyn Hope, Burien Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director. “While we love seeing so many people enjoy our parks, we realized we needed to also quickly shift our focus to offering programs and services that people can access from their own homes. We know this doesn’t replace the wonderful community events, programs, and classes that our residents have come to love. But we hope this helps make it a little easier for people to stay healthy and happy while at home.”

The Burien PaRCS department will soon be offering fee-based virtual programs, led by PaRCS instructors via Zoom. PaRCS staff have been busy contacting and surveying participants during this time, evaluating the needs of the community and their interest in virtual programming. Please contact us at parksinfo@burienwa.gov if you have ideas or questions about how the PaRCS department can help you.