Author: Christina Hirsch

Celebrate Lunar New Year with Seattle Parks and Recreation on Jan. 29

Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Lifelong Recreation program is hosting a Lunar New Year celebration from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 in partnership with the Vietnamese Senior Association (VSA).

The Lunar New Year festivities will take place at Garfield Community Center (2323 E Cherry St.) and cost $12. The celebration will include cultural demonstrations like the traditional Lion Dance, Vietnamese food, and raffle prizes.

The VSA was founded in 1992 as a nonprofit organization. Its mission is to help Vietnamese refugees by reducing isolation and depression and other barriers refugees face in their new life, such as language, transportation, and life skills. For the past 11 years, the VSA has partnered with the Lifelong Recreation unit of Seattle Parks and Recreation to offer Food and Fitness, a program where people over age 50 can gather to share a meal, have a conversation, get resources, and engage in physical activity.

Lifelong Recreation offers a wide-range of fitness and social programs for people age 50 and better that change each season. For more information, visit http://www.seattle.gov/Parks/Seniors/index.htm.

Seattle Parks and Recreation to hold grand opening of new fitness room at Southwest Pool on Jan. 27

Seattle Parks and Recreation will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 27 at 5 p.m. at Southwest Pool to celebrate the grand opening of the new fitness room at the facility.

The fitness room provides increased access to health and fitness spaces to support overall fitness and reduced risk of chronic diseases caused by inactivity. Community members, partnership organizations, swimmers and Southwest Pool staff are invited to attend the event.

The Southwest Pool fitness room project began following a proposal from the Southwest Advisory Council in April 2006. The room was originally an unutilized space following the completion of the gym at the then Southwest Community Center. Construction and planning was led by Seattle Parks and Recreation in partnership with the Southwest Advisory Council and Ravenna-Eckstine Advisory Council and the Associated Recreation Council. 

The fitness room was completed in December 2015 and provides machines for weight training (powered by compressed air), stretch bands and balance discs, and space for static stretching. The space will allow for community members and regular swimmers to diversify their workouts while still in the same facility, decreasing the risk of overuse injuries and promoting cross-training.

The fitness room is located at the south/shallow end of the pool deck. Hours of operation are identical to Southwest Pool hours of operation and may change quarterly based on public program schedules.

Southwest Pool is located at 2801 SW Thistle St., Seattle, 98126. Visit the following website for pool hours and information: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/aquatics/swpool.htm.

 

MLK Day of Service Volunteer Opportunities

Seattle Parks and Recreation is celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a Day of Service on Monday, January 18. Along with partnering organizations, we are hosting volunteer events on park lands across the city. Volunteer projects will include plant removal, trail renovation, planting, clean up, and much more!

Volunteer opportunities:

Burke-Gilman Trail (NE 50th St)

Date and Time: Monday, January 18, 2016. 8:30am to 12:30pm

Partner Organization: Green Seattle Partnership

Description: Jon us for a restoration work party at Burke-Gilman Trail. See website for important details on what to bring and where to meet.

More info: http://seattle.cedar.greencitypartnerships.org/event/8762/

 

Colman Park (1800 Lake Washington Blvd S)

Date and Time: Monday, January 18, 2016. 9am to 2pm

Partner Organization: United Way

Description: Come and join Seattle Parks and Recreation staff for a trail renovation at upper Colman Park. Volunteers needed to prune shrubs and trees from trail pathways, weed and prune planting bed, remove invasive plants and rake all debris from trails. We’ll edge the trail and apply gravel to surface to finish the project.

More info: Email paul.smith@seattle.gov

 

Amy Yee Tennis Center Orchard (2000 Martin Luther King Jr Way S)

Date and Time: Monday, January 18, 2016. 10am to 1pm

Partner Organization: City Fruit

Description: We’ll be cleaning up the orchard! Dig blackberry roots (the vines are short). Use weed wrenches to pull out tree-sized Scotch Broom. Help expert pruners by hauling and cutting apple tree branches. Enjoy this hidden gem of an orchard – over 50 fruit trees, including apple, pear, cherry, and quince. Lear about the historic past of this site.

More info: https://volunteer.truist.com/uwkc/user/events/projectaspx?listing_id=10915953635

 

Cheasty Greenspace (Beacon Ave S & Cheasty Blvd S)

Date and Time: Monday, January 18, 2016. 10am to 2pm

Partner Organization: Green Seattle Partnership

Description: Join EarthCorps and the Green Seattle Partnership as we continue working in this 43 acre greenspace. See web link for important details on what to bring and where to meet.

More info: http://seattle.cedar.greencitypartnerships.org/event/8467/

 

Mount Baker Park (2521 Lake Park Dr S)

Date and Time: Monday, January 18, 2016. 10am to 2pm

Partner Organization: Green Seattle Partnership

Description: Join us for a restoration work party at Mount Baker Park. See website for important details on what to bring and where to meet.

More info: http://seattle.cedar.greencitypartnerships.org/event/8444/

 

2016 Spring Training with Sound Steps

Are you looking to achieve new health goals in 2016? Our popular Sound Steps program can help!

Each year Sound Steps offers Spring Training, a free training program to prepare adults age 50+ to complete a 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon Walk Event. This free, volunteer-supported walking program can help you achieve the health benefits of regular exercise while meeting new friends and exploring the city.

Group training walks that gradually increase in distance will take place on Saturday mornings in north and south Seattle from February through June. Join us for an information session on 1/27 or 1/30, then try out a walk!

Kick-Off Events:

North Seattle: 1/27 from 2-4pm. Lake City Community Center, 12531 28th Avenue NE

South Seattle: 1/30 from 10am-12pm. Jefferson Community Center, 3801 Beacon Ave S

For more information, visit the Sound Steps blog or email Sound.Steps@seattle.gov.