In an update that skirts the edge of bureaucratic non-event, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) announced it will not be forging ahead with new supplemental use guidelines for Denny Blaine Park after a pulse-taking of public opinion. The consensus? The exuberant park-goers of Seattle don't need new rules when the old ones are holding up fine, thank you very much. According to a post on Seattle Parkways, the initial proposal was squashed by community response, with SPR noting that suggestions were already "covered under existing Parks Code."
But, while new guidelines are off the table, the involvement of the community has not been for naught. The Friends of Denny Blaine Park, a queer-led cohort advocating for park improvements, has been officially recognized through a formal agreement. With a nod to inclusivity and sleeves rolled up for practical work, the group's leaders, Colleen Kimseylove and Sophie Amity Debs, said it best: "The only qualification for being a Friend of Denny Blaine is loving this park; if you want to be a part of the efforts to steward the park, please reach out!"
The spirit of collaboration extends beyond active park users. SPR has brought local stakeholders to the table, including long-time neighbors like Spafford Robbins. "I appreciated the opportunity to sit down with park users, discuss our shared love for the park, and work to build relationships and defuse conflict," explained Robbins in a statement that captures continuing efforts to knit a tighter community fabric around this verdant oasis.
Not only has consensus-building been a highlight of this process, but tangible improvements are on the horizon. On the docket for 2024-2025 are stairway enhancements backed by SPR funds. Additionally, the Friends have propelled a park improvement plan into the project development phase, eyeing better accessibility and possibly even addressing the perennial Seattle puzzle: parking and restrooms.
