Seattle Parks and Recreation will host three open houses in April and May to propose to the community about the possibility of standardizing park operating hours.

The open houses will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 27, at Green Lake Community Center, 7201 E. Green Lake Drive N.; on Monday, May 4, at Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E.; and on Thursday, May 7, at Jefferson Community Center, 3801 Beacon Ave. S.
 
As established by Seattle City Council ordinance, most Seattle parks are open from 4 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. But the Parks Superintendent, Tim Gallagher, has the authority to make exceptions to this rule.

Numerous exceptions have been made over the years in response to problems in some parks that include noise, graffiti, and alcohol and drug use. As a result, Seattle Parks and Recreation has a patchwork of park operating hours.
 
The purpose of this proposal is to reduce the opportunity for confusion about what each park’s operating hours are, and to alleviate actual and perceived neighborhood safety issues.
 
Seattle Parks and Recreation briefed the Board of Park Commissioners on this issue in February, and will present the community’s feedback to the Park Board in May to seek a final recommendation from the superintendent. If standardization is recommended, it will require enactment by city council ordinance.
 
For more information, contact Community Connections Manager Mickey Fearn at (206) 684-8035 or mickey.fearn@seattle.gov or visit seattle.gov/parks/parkboard.