City Hall Park with Lawn Chairs, New Lighting and an Oversized Game of Chess
Seattle’s once-crime ridden City Hall Park officially re-opened to the public on Tuesday.
“City Hall Park closed almost 2 years ago, that was a different time in our city” Mayor Bruce Harrell told a crowd at 3rd and Jefferson Street.
“Our commitment to our parks reflects our commitment to people, we want the to be safe, vibrant, healthy” And Harrell made this park part of his downtown revitalization plan “A place where you can recreate, shake the hand of a neighbor, introduce yourself to a stranger.”
Today the one-acre park is neatly manicured, dotted with lawn chairs and an oversized Game of Chess.
This opening today is a reflection of the city coming back better and stronger” says A.P. Diaz, Superintendent of Seattle Parks “The comments you heard from the mayor today are a steadfast commitment to revitalize and recapture our downtown core neighborhood.”
Since the pandemic City Hall Park has been the site of homeless encampments, drug use, violence and even murder.
“For those of use who’ve been working in the courthouse” the images are haunting at the King County Courthouse next door and Superior Court Judge Patrick Oishi is cautious “(we) frankly have a lot of lived experience (and) we saw this park at its worst.”
Newly hired Park Rangers will be close by to maintain order and protect the public.
“When we look back on today in 10 years” says Lisa Howard at the Alliance for Pioneer Square “My hope is that history shows that today is a tipping point, a point in time where we transition from fencing off challenges to facing them.”
City Hall Park will be busy the mayor says with games, concerts, activities and even food trucks “It’s a great day as we open up City Hall Park!”