April 2nd, 2026

Seattle Park Now an Open-Air Drug Scene

What was once a place for families is now something very different. On Seattle’s Beacon Hill, multiple parks have become unusable—overrun by open drug use, fires, and growing encampments.

In this commentary, Charlie Harger shares what he saw firsthand during multiple visits—and what one longtime resident says has changed in just a matter of months.

Listen to Seattle's Morning News w/ Charlie Harger and Manda Factor every weekday at 5am on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM or go to MyNorthwest.com to learn more!

Charlie Harger

Seattle's Morning News