On Tuesday (April 27, 2010), KING 5 aired an interview with outgoing superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation Tim Gallagher. Gallagher said that community centers and pools, as well as 24 of Seattle’s 27 public wading pools may close in June.
According to Gallagher, three wading pools - at Lincoln Park, Green Lake and Volunteer Park – will “likely” remain open:
Wallyhood, Wallingford’s neighborhood blog, reported today that the Wallingford wading pool is still scheduled to open on June 26 and run through Labor Day.
With this news as backdrop, the first of two city-wide public hearings on the City of Seattle’s budget was held yesterday in Beacon Hill. West Seattle Blog covered the meeting.
We received this report on yesterday’s public hearing from Christina Arcidy, Project Coordinator at the Associated Recreation Council:
The message was clear: Seattle Parks and Recreation offers essential public services our community cannot afford to lose.
This was said best by the many participants, instructors, volunteers, and advisory council who testified at the New Holly Public Budget Hearing last night.
We heard from the parent who said his daughters grew on the water through the discipline of their team rowing experience at Green Lake Small Craft Center.
We heard from the Van Asselt teen who asked the Mayor and City Council “Where will I go if the community center isn’t open?”
We heard from the line dancing instructor who teared up as she explained how her husband went from a walking heart attack to a healthily aging man after participating in Parks 50+ fitness programs.
We heard from the single mom of three boys who knows they are safe when they are at the Rainier Beach Community Center.
We heard from the young families who rely on Ballard Pool to teach their little ones to swim.
Mayor McGinn and City Council heard your message loud and clear: DON’T CUT OUR PROGRAMS! DON’T CLOSE OUR FACILITIES!
There will be another public hearing at which you can share your thoughts about the City of Seattle’s budget. The next meeting is Tuesday evening (May 4, 2010) in the North Seattle Community College cafeteria (9600 College Way N). Sign-in will be at 5 p.m. and the public hearing will begin at 5:30 p.m.
