Seattle Parks Welcome Rangers, Offer Programs for the Summer

The Seattle Park Rangers report for duty

For the second year in a row, the Downtown parks activation program is in full swing, bringing a variety of arts and activities to Downtown residents, workers and visitors each day. This year welcomes the addition of the Seattle Park Rangers, who reported for duty on June 11 in an effort to make the Downtown parks more safe and welcoming public spaces.

The concept for the Seattle Park Rangers was initially developed as part of Mayor Nickels' Center City Strategy by a specially appointed mayoral taskforce. DSA President Kate Joncas was co-chair of the taskforce and has long lobbied for the addition of the Seattle Park Rangers to the Downtown landscape.

The Seattle Park Rangers are currently tasked with offering assistance, information, and a helping hand wherever possible in and around the Downtown parks. They will support Parks programming and community events and provide occasional maintenance. In addition, the team will monitor the parks for safety issues of all kinds, educate people on the laws and policies of the parks, contact SPD whenever appropriate, and provide an authoritative and friendly presence to deter negative activity and to encourage positive enjoyment of the parks by all.

To further support the betterment of parks, Victor Steinbrueck, Occidental and Hing Hay parks are all playing host to a variety of summer outdoor activities which kicked off in mid-July with a popular kite crafting lesson by the Washington Kitefliers Association. Other July programs included poetry readings, storytelling and Kung Fu demonstrations.

Funded in part by Seattle Parks and Recreation, the summer parks activation program is managed and produced by the DSA in an effort to encourage better utilization of community parks within Downtown.

For a full schedule of events at Downtown parks, visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/centercity/.