Parks

53 Stories

A beaver dam blocked spawning salmon at Carkeek Park. Now humans are giving nature a nudge

Typically, a major construction project in Seattle requires a city permit. Changes to a park would have you wading into the political process – maybe lobbying your city council member or the mayor. But beavers can’t be bothered with land use applications.
Libby Denkmann

Jason Burrows

November 23, 2023 / 9:04 am
The love story that grew Seattle's 'secret garden'

Since 1972, the Streissguth Gardens have become one of Seattle’s most unique landmarks. The gardens take up a full acre of hillside just west of Capitol Hill’s Volunteer Park. If you’ve spent a morning running up the long Blaine Street Stairs, you’ve passed right by the gardens. But the story of how this unorthodox public garden came to be is one of coincidence, love, and perhaps a bit of magic.
Diana Opong

Alec Cowan

November 13, 2023 / 4:27 pm
Seattle's Green Lake closed due to toxic algae
KUOW STAFF

October 16, 2023 / 2:38 pm
Power production resumes at Skagit dams near Sourdough Fire

Seattle City Light has resumed power generation at two dams on the Skagit River as the Sourdough Fire continues to burn in Washington’s North Cascades.
John Ryan

August 11, 2023 / 6:47 pm
Think before you cut down Seattle trees to improve your view. It could cost you

The City of Seattle has settled a civil lawsuit against a homeowner in the Mount Baker neighborhood and a landscaping company for $125,000 after they cut trees in a city park to improve the homeowner’s view.
Stephen Howie

June 27, 2023 / 4:18 pm
How should park officials deal with traffic/visitors on Mount Rainier? Give your feedback

With crowning, snow covered peaks and sprawling subalpine meadows, it’s no wonder why about two million people visit Mount Rainier National Park every year. But a lot of those visitors are coming by car, and park officials say it’s time to get a handle on all that congestion; they’ve put together four options that the public can weigh in on until Monday.
Libby Denkmann

Noel Gasca

June 22, 2023 / 3:06 pm
Seattle's City Hall Park reopens after 2-year closure, following violent incidents

City Hall Park in downtown Seattle reopened. The park located on the corner of 3rd and Yester closed two years ago after a stabbing and an attempted rape at the nearby King County courthouse.
Natalie Akane Newcomb

June 13, 2023 / 4:18 pm
Swim Seattle works to teach all children how to be safe in water

The city of Seattle is launching a swimming program with the goal of addressing the racial disparity in youth drowning deaths. Registration for the pilot program, called Swim Seattle, opens May 16.
Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez

April 26, 2023 / 11:29 am
Hear It Again: The fraught political battle over national monuments

With the news of new national monuments in Nevada and Texas, and a renewed push for a national monument around Grand Canyon National Park, we revisit our conversation with McKenzie Long about her book: "This Contested Land: The Storied Past and Uncertain Future of America's National Monuments."
Mike Davis

Libby Denkmann

Alec Cowan

Jason Burrows

April 13, 2023 / 1:57 pm
Where are all the monuments to women in Seattle?

If you were to take a tour of public monuments to women here in Seattle — it would be a short one.
Zaki Barak Hamid

Noel Gasca

April 11, 2023 / 10:43 am

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