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 Play AudioListen 1 min
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 Play AudioListen 14 mins
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
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
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. Alec Cowan Diana Opong Play AudioListen 14 mins
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 Play AudioListen 13 mins
Kids playground canceled at Denny Blaine Park 'nude beach' The effort to preserve Seattle's nude-friendly beach has succeeded. Paige Browning Ann Dornfeld
Controversial totem poles must return to Pike Place Market, says historical commission The city’s parks department petitioned the Market Historical Commission to be allowed to replace the totem poles with art more representative of local tribes. Ann Dornfeld Play AudioListen 4 mins
Would you pay $700k to discourage a homeless encampment? Washington state did by buying rocks In city planning terms, “hostile architecture” is the practice of using spikes, or bike racks, or cement blocks — really anything — as a design choice to prevent people from loitering or laying down in public places. Sometimes hostile architecture is actually hostile landscaping. Libby Denkmann Sarah Leibovitz Play AudioListen 11 mins
