Locked Bollards To Be Installed At Laurelhurst Park To Stop Unauthorized Vehicle Access

Last month the Laurelhurst Blog reported about cars seen driving in Laurelhurst Park and park users feeling unsafe.

One neighbor said:

On September 3rd, around 11am, a person parked their silver SUV (license plate starting with BEY) on the path and then proceeded to get their dog out to train off leash. He didn't move his car but kept it on the foot path.  It was parked closest to the NE 48th Street side of the park, very close to where the stairs are down to the street.

Another neighbor reported: 

On September 24, I was walking my dog in the park at 6pm,  The playground was full of children, and there were other little ones playing in the grass. I saw a black Dodge SUV,  I think the license was ARP 3*13 driving through the park. I had to stand to the side of the pedestrian walkway to allow him to pass. WHY are people driving in our park? It seems dangerous at best.

The pertaining Seattle Municipal codes says:

11.72.280 - Park.                   

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any park as defined in the Park Code (Ordinance 106615 ), ^[21] except in areas designated for such purposes.

(Ord. 108200 , 2(11.72.280), 1979.)

Cara, Laurelhurst Community Center Recreation Coordinator, said that Parks ground crew have been alerted about the unsafe situation.  She added that locked bollards will be installed near the garbage bins at the service road entry  to deter unauthorized access.

Rachel, with Seattle Parks and Recreation, added:

The driving complaints were reported to Seattle Parks by the community and so we don’t know the nature of why these people were driving in the park. 

Parks and Recreation does it's best to limit putting up signs in parks, because at best they are ignored and at worst vandalized. The installation of bollards should be a more successful solution than signage.

There have not been passes issued to folks and no permission has been given to anyone to drive in the park.  It’s harmful to the turf, and potentially harmful to irrigation to have vehicles on the field, so it’s something we don’t allow.  Only Parks and Recreation vehicles are authorized to use these roads

A rare exception to the rule is that, sometimes, in connection with a public event held in a park, as part of the Park Use Permit application, some minimal pickup and drop-off is allowed for large scale events. 

Enforcement of all laws pertaining to park land are enforced by Seattle Police Department. If our staff witness illegal activity they report it to the police.

Seattle Parks rules and regulations can be found here.