Mayor Harrell Announces New Summer Safety Strategy to Enhance Security, Reduce Crime in Seattle Parks and Public Spaces – May 21, 2025

Hello View Ridge neighbors,

As many of you know from our April 5th community meeting at View Ridge Elementary, the SPD will be starting their summer emphasis patrol this Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day, September 2nd.

Below is the full list of all safety related actions that have been and will be happening around Magnuson Park.

This is part of what the Mayor has just announced as a city wide program for safer parks this summer.

The Magnuson Park plan has been developed by many city leaders to address the escalating criminal activity happening around Magnuson Park. These city leaders have been hearing from the VRCC as well as all of you to develop this plan.

Thank you to all of our neighbors for using your voice to implement change and make our community a safer place to live!

The VRCC has been working with many stake holders at the park and in our city government and we’d also like to thank them for their continued support of a safer neighborhood for all of us that live around Magnuson Park.

Thank you to our district 4 CM Rivera and her office for spearheading and continually moving the discussion and action forward for a safer neighborhood.

We’d also like to thank past North Precinct Captain Aagard and current Captain Davisson for their direct involvement with the plan to address the criminal activity in the park. As well as our crime prevention coordinator, Sarah Lawson, for her work on the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and working with the Parks dept and other stake holders in the park including the affordable housing providers. This (CPTED) action will help SPD’s emphasis patrol be more effective this summer.

We have heard from many of you that the partying and extreme noise has already started coming from Magnuson Park and this has been forwarded along to SPD and all of our city leaders.

We are hopeful that the city’s plan (below) will work and we will all enjoy a wonderful summer in and around Magnuson Park.

Thank you,

Your VRCC

 

In the past few years to create a safer environment at Magnuson Park, Seattle Parks and Recreation:

  • Closes lock the gate at the end of 65th every evening to prevent unauthorized vehicular access.
  • Completed a Crime Prevention through Environmental Design assessment of the park and began implementing recommendations such as increased lighting, better landscaping to clear pedestrian sightlines, and more.
  • Added daily Park Ranger patrols to promote compliance with Park rules and responds to emergent health and safety concerns.
  • Worked with Office of Housing to connect with nearby affordable housing providers to enhance safety measures in and around their properties.
  • Posted signage throughout the park, with a focus on the boat ramp, reflecting park rules and hours
  • Entered into an agreement with SPD to partner with them to close down the boat ramp weekend evenings (starting Memorial Day weekend going through the end of the summer).

Let me know if you have any additional questions,

Rachel

Rachel Schulkin (she/her/hers)
Public Affairs Manager
City of Seattle, Seattle Parks and Recreation
O: 206-684-8020 | M: 206-669-3656