In January, the 2011 City of Seattle Budget will take effect. The new budget will impact many city departments, including Parks and Recreation.
Initially, Mayor McGinn proposed severe cuts to the Green Lake Community Center. His budget limited drop-in access to just 15 hours a week, cut 6.0 FTE staff positions, and called for the conversion of three rooms, including the tot play space, into offices.
After significant public outcry, City Council scaled these cuts back. They added 15 more weekly drop-in hours and a part-time Recreation Leader position to the Green Lake Community Center. They also ensured that the preschool at the facility would stay in operation until the end of the school year, if not longer. And, they saved one of the multi-purpose rooms (Room 3) and the tot play space.
However, one room could not be saved. On Monday, Dec. 27, construction work will begin on Room 1. This is the multi-purpose room that is located to the right of the top of the stairs on the second floor of the community center. The 980-square-foot room will be converted to offices for city-wide event permit staff, who are expected to move in by Wednesday, Jan. 5.
Room 1
In addition to losing public space, the Green Lake Community Center will also be losing staff in January.
Jeff Skinner, the facility’s full-time Coordinator, and Faizah Osayande, full-time Assistant Coordinator, will be transferred to other community centers. Their positions will not be re-filled. Instead, one manager will oversee all five of the city’s newly-designated “limited-use” community centers, including the Green Lake Community Center.
Green Lake will also lose a custodian and a Teen Development Leader position. A Recreation Leader position has been cut from the Green Lake Small Craft Center. Staff and programming at Evans Pool, however, have not been affected by the 2011 budget.
Green Lake Community Center staff in the facility's tot play space, Dec. 21, 2010. Clockwise from top left: Carl Bergquist, current Teen Development Leader at Green Lake, will soon be Green Lake's Recreation Leader; Maria Yamaguchi, Preschool Frogs teacher, will remain at Green Lake through at least the end of the school year; Mputela Scott will be splitting his time as a Recreation Attendant between the Green Lake Community Center and the Green Lake Small Craft Center; Jeff Skinner has lost his position as Coordinator at Green Lake and will be transferred; Faizah Osayande has lost her position as Assistant Coordinator and will be transferred.
The loss of staff and programming space will have an effect on class offerings at the Green Lake Community Center. While some classes have been canceled or moved to the Northgate Community Center, several still remain. You can browse Winter 2011 class offerings online via SPARC or by checking the North Central Brochure.
In the wake of the changes, Seattle Parks and Recreation is looking for community members to participate on a new Community Center Advisory Team. The team will be exploring innovative ideas for operating the City’s community centers. Information can be found here.
