Seattle Parks and Recreation will celebrated the renovation of South Park Community Center with a community parade on Saturday, just ahead of the center’s official reopening today, May 11.
The event marked the completion of an $11 million overhaul of the community center and adjoining South Park Playfields. Renovations addressed long-standing maintenance, accessibility, and programming concerns and added a new roof, upgraded HVAC system, remodeled bathrooms and kitchen spaces, and new flooring in the center’s multipurpose room.
The larger park redevelopment includes new synthetic turf fields, a circular walking trail, updated LED stadium lighting designed to reduce light pollution, playgrounds, outdoor fitness areas, an off-leash dog park, and a spray park expected to open this summer.
A $4 million contribution from Seattle Academy helped fund the outdoor improvements through a partnership with the city. Under that agreement, community drop-in access to the fields will remain protected for at least five years, while Seattle Academy athletics will be allowed limited annual use during school sports seasons.
City leaders and project partners said the renovation was driven in large part by years of advocacy from South Park residents pushing for modern recreational space for neighborhood families and kids. For more on the story check out this article by the South Seattle Emerald.
