From Tourist Hotspot to Fentanyl Ground Zero
The majestic views of downtown Seattle from Dr. Jose Rizal Park once drew tourists from around the world. The hilltop park in Beacon Hill was a must-see spot for its sweeping vistas of the skyline and stadiums, while local families gathered for picnics and children played on the jungle gym. Now, more than a dozen tents crowd the park, fentanyl foils litter the ground near the playground, and a man lies motionless under a dirty gray blanket in the picnic shelter, barely responding when We Heart Seattle Director Andrea Suarez gently kicks his feet to check if he’s alive.
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