Tag Archives: seven hills

Woof — With fence to come down at Seven Hills, city safety plan for Capitol Hill parks includes human-canine workout installations

Posted on by
42

Dog-human workout installations — as illustrated by this concept art featuring the CHS News Hound — are coming (Image: CHS)

Parks officials said Tuesday night that the dog and human fitness installations will use “natural features” like stumps and logs — Jones the CHS News Hound demonstrates the idea  (Image: CHS)

City officials say they are sticking to the plan to reopen a Capitol Hill green space that has been closed since September over “bouts of negative park activity” even though resources to help address public safety concerns will not be in place when the fences come down.

Parks department officials announced at Tuesday night’s community meeting that Seven Hills Park will reopen February 26.

“We feel confident about the partnerships we’re building,” Leigh Hindenlang, a planning manager with Seattle Parks told the crowd of park neighbors and supporters during Tuesday night’s meeting at Miller Community Center.

Parks representatives announced an artful “Rainbow Sign” from one new partnership at the 16th Ave at E Howell park will be part of the reopening.

Hindenlang also promised other investments are coming including “human & hound fitness installations” she and parks officials say will help link Capitol Hill-area parks with a circuit of low-cost, low-maintenance workout stations. A 3.1-mile “Healthy Capitol Hill Hike” campaign with signage and printed maps is part of the plan, Hindenlang said, as are hopes for more events and gatherings organized by community groups and parters like neighborhood Business Improvement Areas like the 15th Ave BIA.

While nobody woofed at the dog fitness plan, several neighbors at Tuesday night’s meeting barked at the city pushing forward with the February 26th reopening without more resources in place — not even the canine-friendly workout equipment. Continue reading →

As city prepares to reopen a Capitol Hill park, report cites hope for community gardening, youth play, and increased effort to address homelessness and services

Posted on by
52

Results of an online survey asking about preferred “potential uses” for Seven Hills Park

The fence has been up around Seven Hills Park since September (Image: CHS)

The city has set a date for the community meeting to reopen Capitol Hill’s Seven Hills Park and has released a report on what it has heard in community feedback about public safety upgrades officials say are necessary in a string of parks in the area.

The city highlights concerns around “long-term encampments” and the need for better integration of the parks system with “larger addiction, mental health, and/or housing initiatives” in its report.

Seattle Parks and Recreation announced it will hold the next Seven Hills Park meeting on February 10th. Officials started the year extending the closure of the fenced-off 16th Ave public space through the end of February. Seven Hills has been shuttered and fenced-off since September after “bouts of negative park activity” as parks officials said Broadway Hill Park and Tashkent Park have also been the source of frequent calls for the Seattle Police Department.

CHS reported here on a community meeting held by the city in November to gather feedback on Seven Hills and possible changes there and at the Broadway Hill Park and Tashkent Park spaces. Parks and recreation also posted an online survey to gather feedback.

In the city’s report on the meeting (PDF), officials highlighted an overall concern about encampments and camping in the parks and the need to better integrate the parks system into the city’s efforts around homelessness and addiction. The report also called for plans that “balance activation between recreation (movie nights) with human services (health clinics),” capturing community concerns around trying to mix in events and celebrations into parks where people are struggling with homelessness and addiction. Continue reading →

It’s 2026 and Capitol Hill’s Seven Hills Park is still closed — Meeting planned for February

Posted on by

Seven Hills on a sunnier day (Image: City of Seattle)

A new year, a new city council, and a new mayor did not bring a new start on public safety for Capitol Hill’s Seven Hills Park.

The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department has quietly extended the closure of the fenced-off 16th Ave public space through the end of February.

A parks spokesperson tells CHS the extended closure will give the city another chance to meet with neighbors and park users. Continue reading →

‘South Capitol Hill Parks Activation’ — Surveys, community meeting this week gathering feedback on permanent fence proposal as city extends Seven Hills closure

Posted on by

The city has extended the closures of three city parks including Capitol Hill’s Seven Hills through the end of the year as it prepares to hear from neighbors and parks users about proposed changes including possible new permanent fencing to address concerns about encampments and crime.

With Wednesday night bringing a planned community meeting with city officials to discuss the possible changes to two Capitol Hill parks facing complaints over homelessness and drugs, Seattle Parks and Recreation has also launched surveys to gather feedback.

CHS reported here on the planned Wednesday night session “to discuss priorities and identify “community activation partners and new potential users” for Broadway Hill Park and Seven Hills Park which has been fenced-off since September. Broadway Hill Park remains open but has been a center of complaints and Seattle Police Department activity, officials say. Continue reading →

‘MISSION ACCOMPLISHED’ — Banner mocks fenced-off closure of Capitol Hill park

Posted on by

Thanks CHS reader!

Halfway through a “60-day rest” that closed the Capitol Hill green space over complaints of encampments and crime, the Seattle Parks Department and City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth haven’t said much about any progress and plans to improve the fenced-off Seven Hills Park.

Friday, someone jumped the fence to make a statement.

Thanks to a CHS reader and tipster for this image from 16th Ave and Howell. “I saw someone had jumped the fence into Seven Hills park to hang this Mission Accomplished sign within the fenced off area,” they write. “A truck pulled up at 7:40a this morning, maybe to remove it?” Continue reading →