My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog

A comment submitted to us over email by Green Lake resident Gayle Garman: “Its really important that residents attend to show they care about programs in our neighborhood that are proposed for elimination or reduction. Our neighborhood has absorbed a great increase in housing units over the last 3-4 years, to transform into an “urban village”. The new apartments, condos and townhouses seldom include a yard, which suggests an increased need for open space and recreational opportunities. I think the open-access gym would be especially in demand, by people who don’t want to join a team or adhere to a pre-arranged schedule (See Amy’s story from Oct 6). One of the reasons Green Lake seems to get “shorted” in these deliberations is because we don’t turn-out and let City officials know how important these programs are to us. That’s why the Bath House Theater roof has leaked for the last 5 or more years, and why our Bath House is the only one in the City from that era that hasn’t been upgraded and renovated (See 1920′s era Bath Houses at Seward Park, Magnolia, Golden Gardens & Madrona. ) In the Green Lake neighborhood, we appreciate the character the older buildings give the neighborhood, but that doesn’t mean we don’t expect timely maintenance and parity with other neighborhoods in facilities and programing. (There aren’t any plans to upgrade our Community Center through year 2016.) I urge you to contact City Council members Sally Bagshaw, Chairman of the Committee that oversees Parks and Recreation, and Tom Rasmussen, Vice-Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee to express your feelings and concerns. Again, you can speak with Councilor Rasmussen at the Green Lake library on Sat Oct 16. See you there!
PS In addition to the proposed cuts to GL Community Center programs and staff, the budget proposes moving operation of the Small Craft Center (rowing program located at the Aqua Theater) from the Parks Dept to the Associated Recreation Council and reducing hours at the Small Craft Center to 3 hrs/day on M-F only.”