MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Ballard Commons Park reopens Saturday following yearlong closure

Mar 11, 2023, 11:57 AM | Updated: 2:09 pm

(Photo from KIRO 7)...

(Photo from KIRO 7)

(Photo from KIRO 7)

Ballard Commons Park is set to reopen Saturday after being closed for over a year.

The park was swept and shut down in Dec. 2021 due to safety concerns.

Follow this link to read additional stories from KIRO

Before the sweep, the area saw more than 40 arsons and 100 calls to police in just six months.

During the closure, Seattle Parks and Recreation completed several park remediation and improvement projects, including planting trees, removing graffiti and installing new benches.

A new play area is also planned for the park, with construction expected to begin in the second half of the year.

“Ballard Commons Park’s grand reopening is our recommitment to ensure the park is truly a community commons,” Seattle Councilmember Dan Strauss said in a news release. “It is my mission to create a space in the park for every age and the ability for folks to stay, engage, and enjoy our urban park.”

The park was initially supposed to reopen last summer. The city credits the delay to the scale of the cleanup and improvements.

Together with Strauss and the Ballard Alliance, Seattle Parks and Recreation will host a two-day reopening celebration on Mar. 11 and 12 from 12 to 6 p.m.

The event will feature activities such as a youth soccer clinic, an activity fair and musical performances by local artists.

Follow this link to read additional stories from KIRO

MyNorthwest News

Photo: Public Health is investigating a potential measles outbreak....

Julia Dallas

King County Public Health monitoring potential measles case

Last week, the WA Dept. of Health informed Public Health that a group of travelers visiting Seattle were exposed to people with measles.

4 hours ago

Photo: Sequim....

Nate Connors

Annual Washington Coast Cleanup looking for volunteers ahead of Earth Day

The Washington Coast Cleanup is held every year on the Saturday before Earth Day. This year it's Saturday, April 22.

5 hours ago

Photo: A Pierce County teacher was arrested in connection to child molestation....

Julia Dallas

Pierce County elementary school teacher arrested in connection to child molestation

According to the sheriff's department, a student at Evergreen Elementary School in Lake Bay made a report to deputies on February 26.

6 hours ago

Basil is seen in grocery store. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)...

Bill Kaczaraba

Trader Joe’s recall: Salmonella found in basil

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a food safety alert following an outbreak of Salmonella infections.

6 hours ago

Photo: A new vending machine at an Arlington high school is offering students free meals....

Julia Dallas

Arlington school breaks barriers one vending machine meal at a time

Weston High School now offers a vending machine with free breakfast or lunch for students who miss a meal.

6 hours ago

The WNBA's Seattle Storm opens new facility in Interbay. (Seattle Storm X post)...

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer

Seattle Storm unveil new Interbay practice facility, alternative uniforms

SEATTLE (AP) — Alisha Valavanis walked around as the new performance center for the Seattle Storm was unveiled on Thursday filled mostly with joy and a little sadness. The joy for the CEO of the Storm — who has been with the team for nearly a decade — came from helping bring to completion the […]

7 hours ago

Ballard Commons Park reopens Saturday following yearlong closure