Some readers may remember my previous post about supporting our parks at the last community meeting. Well, unfortunately the over $50 million dollar City budget shortfall has become a reality, Parks and Rec Superintendent Tim Gallagher has stepped down, and the department he leaves behind is likely to be one of the hardest him by cutbacks.

With such a large deficit community center closures and job cuts are inevitable. In NE Seattle alone we have community centers in Magnuson, Laurelhurst, Meadowbrook, Ravenna-Eckstein, and Northgate. These centers provide after-school care and teen programs, among other important services, that are vital to our city. Closing even one of these would have a significantly negative impact on our neighborhood.

New community centers, like Magnuson, are more likely to go first when compared to those that have been in the area for decades. Do you want to lose all the nature programming happen at that park? As Emily Bishton points out:

Ever since it opened in 2004, Magnuson...

With the City of Seattle facing a $50 million dollar budget shortfall this year, it's highly likely the Parks and Recreation Department will have to share in the budget cuts needed to make up for the huge loss. This is just one reason why it's really important to attend the Community Open House this Wednesday, April 7th from 6:30 to 8pm at the Lake City Community Center.

The following is a letter about the meeting from Seattle Parks Superintendent, Tim Gallagher:

Dear Neighbor,

Seattle Parks and Recreation will be hosting a Community Open House on Wednesday, April 7 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The purpose of this gathering is to give neighbors an opportunity to meet Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tim Gallagher and other staff members to find out about the programs we provide to your community This letter is a personal invitation for you to attend. The open house will give you and your neighbors an opportunity to meet staff members from Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center, Meadowbrook Community Center, Meadowbrook Teen...

Seattle Parks & Rec is taking suggestions for naming a park right here in Lake City. (The old playground for Lake City elementary school, at 12312 – 26

On Friday, September 18th, people all across the nation will take to the streets to turn car spaces into people spaces. In Seattle, Feet First is leading the charge by making it relatively cheap and easy to get street use and meter permits.  On Capitol Hill, People's Parking Lot (a.k.a. the Keith Harris Conspiracy) and the Capitol Hill Community Council have stepped up to make Park(ing) Day 2009 even better. 

People's Parking Lot and the Capitol Hill Community Council are hosting the first ever Park(ing) Day Seattle Prize.  A group of local journalists (is Lake City Live interested?), unemployed artists, and other disreputable neighborhood-types will be recruited to the judging caravan, which will wind its way throughout Seattle in search of the finest park to grace a parking spot. The winner will receive a super-secret fabulous trophy and an equally fabulous prize.  The awards ceremony will take place at 6pm at Park(ing) Day Central Park on 500 E Pine.

Are you tempted by the visions... (more)