One would suppose dwelling with a view of Lake Washington would imply a lifetime of peace and serenity. However that’s not the case for dozens of Seattleites within the Mount Baker and Leschi neighborhoods.
Weekend after weekend, and typically throughout weeknights, residents are woke up or disturbed by music blaring from automobiles or transportable audio system at Stan Sayres Memorial Park or town’s moorage parking zone on Lake Washington Boulevard.
The park closes at 10 p.m., however that doesn’t cease park partyers from gathering there till closing time. And when the gate isn’t closed on time, the events, that are continuously punctuated with what feels like commercial-grade fireworks, have rolled on for hours previous 10 p.m., residents say.
This 12 months up to now, there have been 19 requires service in comparison with 12 by this time in 2025. This 12 months, This 12 months, not one of the calls had been for violent crime; 10 of the 19 calls had been for disturbances.
One resolution to the park issues can be to deploy in a single day safety officers, just like the parks division will soon implement at Golden Gardens and Magnuson parks.
The issue just isn’t new. Crowds began gathering on the moorage parking zone throughout COVID. Since entry to the lot is unrestricted, small teams of music lovers gathered there previous midnight.
In 2023, the editorial board called for the city to improve safety in any respect of its parks after a sequence of shootings and assaults occurred at Golden Gardens, Alki Seashore and the Atlantic Metropolis Boat Launch.
All of Seattle’s parks have guidelines for its patrons. At Stan Sayres, also referred to as the Pits as a result of it’s the place hydroplanes take their pit stops throughout Seafair races, posted indicators forbid alcohol and drug use and amplified sound and excessively loud music.
The Parks Division responded to neighbors’ most up-to-date complaints by referring them to the division’s new summer safety initiative and inspiring them to name Seattle Police Division’s non-emergency quantity with nuisance complaints.
An SPD spokesperson mentioned SPD and the Parks Division have plans for security enhancements for the park.
“Forward of the summer season months, we and the Parks and Recreation Division introduced a summer season security plan particularly for our parks,” mentioned Barbara DeLollis, chief communications officer for the Seattle police. “Stan Sayres Memorial Park is among the parks we’re prioritizing within the plan. This contains altered hours of operation and elevated patrols involving each Seattle Police Division officers and Seattle Park Rangers. We’re additionally including new signage and making bodily adjustments throughout our parks to make sure security.”
Police and parks officers have made assurances that motion can be taken. Summer season is simply beginning; let’s hope the early morning hours are quieter.
