(Image: City of Seattle)

It has been the drippiest of Juneuaries here in Seattle but Friday will bring a celebration of hopes for a lovely summer. The Pratt Park Spraypark renovation is complete.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell will be in attendance for a Friday, June 10th community celebration of the upgraded Central District play area:

WHO: Mayor, Bruce Harrell & Seattle Parks & Recreation Superintendent Christopher Williams
WHAT: Community celebration for the Pratt Park Renovation
WHEN: Friday, June 10 4 – 6 p.m. Speaking Portion 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: 1800 S Main St. near the play area at the corner of 20th Ave. S and S Washington St.

The overhauled spraypark came about after Seattle Parks discovered last summer that a section of old sewer line north of the play area needed to be replaced due to extensive tree root damage.

Site Workshop Landscape Architects and Hoshide Wanzer Architects designed the park improvements including a re-circulation water system and new play features at the existing spraypark, plus a new restroom building, adult fitness equipment, site furnishings, pathway improvements and upgrades to the irrigation system.

While the wading pools in the city’s oldest parks remain popular, Seattle Parks has focused on spraypark installations in its newest public spaces and upgrades. The parks don’t require lifeguards, an ongoing staffing problem for the city.

Meanwhile, the department’s Medgar Evers public pool remains closed “until at least mid-June” due to mechanical and electrical repair work, Seattle Parks says.

But according to officials, the pool is likely to remain closed through the summer. “Unfortunately, Medgar Evers Pool, along with Evans and Queen Anne pools will remain closed this summer,” an email from Dave Mozer of Seattle Parks sent to swimmers this week reads. “We are taking advantage of pool closures for construction work and redirecting lifeguards at these sites to other pools and beaches.”

The Parks & Green Spaces Levy and Seattle Park District provided funding for the Pratt spraypark improvements with Vulcan Real Estate and Seattle Seahawks Charitable Foundation contributing a total of $50,000 toward the park renovation and pathway improvements. A partnership with Kaiser Permanente provided $80,000 for the adult fitness equipment.

Seattle Parks did not provide a total cost for the spraypark upgrades.

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