Parks public relations post:
Saying goodbye to the Laurelhurst Fire Pit
January 24, 2020 by Christina Hirsch
Seattle Parks and Recreation will be removing the Laurelhurst Fire Pit in the coming weeks. Over the past 5 years, we have seen an increase in more aggressive fires and unattended fires. Staff have also reported fires being ignited by youth under the age of 18 without adult supervision as well as users burning trash or unclean wood. In addition, neighbors have complained each summer about the smoke and the use of the pit, including issues around trash and alcohol bottles being left in the area.
We are sad to see the fire pit go, but we want to be responsive to the community’s concerns as well as the health and safety concerns noticed by our staff.
Do you have fond memories of the Laurelhurst Fire Pit? We’d love to see pics of how you’ve enjoyed the fire pit over the years! Please share pictures or your favorite memories by tagging “SeattleParks” on Twitter or “Seattle Parks and Recreation” on Facebook.
The Laurelhurst Blog contacted Christina copying several others Parks employees on the email and said:
We have some questions about your 1/24 Parkways post:
- Is this the only communication to the public about this? What if someone doesn't read Parkways? Neighbors are just finding out about this.
- It appears that Parks is keeping this quiet as no one knows about this and just wants to quickly and quietly remove the firepit.
- Who made the decision?
- Were any neighbors contacted or the Laurelhurst Community Club?
- When will the firepit be removed?
- You said - "Over the past 5 years, we have seen an increase in more aggressive fires and unattended fires" - what is the evidence of this - can you please let us know how to access this information
- You said "neighbors have complained each summer about the smoke and the use of the pit" - what is the evidence of this - can you please let us know how to access this information
- You said "we want to be responsive to the community’s concerns as well as the health and safety concerns noticed by our staff" - where are these concerns documented?
- What are the "health concerns?
- When are staff at the park? Our Blog staff is there throughout the day and have only seen Parks personnel cleaning the bathrooms and picking up trash at the garbage cans around the park. The Blog Staff has on occasion seen garbage around the pit. There seems to be 1-2 calls to the Fire Department over the last 2 years.
- If people have "fond memories" why would you ask them to share pictures on Twitter? It seems contradictory
Christopher Williams, Superintendent of Parks, mistakenly replied all to the email, but didn't remove the Laurelhurst Blog on the email and he said: Let’s huddle today CW."
Rachel, Parks spokesperson responded:
Thanks for reaching out. Both community members and staff who have worked at Laurelhurst community center have expressed concerns over the years of the dangerous activity that happens at the fire pit. In response to these concerns, we proposed the removal of the fire pit, but first wanted to hear from community about this change.
We have shared this information on our blog, on our website (both Laurelhurst park page and Laurelhurst CC page), on twitter, and Facebook. We met with the Advisory Council at Laurelhurst Community Center on Feb 3, and at a Community Club meeting on Monday (2/11).
Rachel is incorrect, the information is not on the LCC website, the last time the Laurelhurst Blog checked, and LCC told the Laurelhurst Blog that they just found out the decision the same day as their recent LCC meeting which occurred on Monday, February 10.
The Laurelhurst Blog found a post on Park's Twitter and Facebook, but not until 3 days after their Parkways post.
The Laurelhurst Blog sent another email to Rachel saying:
LCC learned about the removal just before their Monday meeting. Neighbors don't read any of the social media you have put this very important news on. The Advisory Council is comprised of members that are your staff and a few neighbors and neighbors don't attend that meeting.
Why didn't you contact us to publish the info? There is no info on the LCC site - at least on their first page. There are many more ways you could have gotten the word out - sent an email out through LCC's Constant Contact resource, but none have been done, only information published on your Parks site, of which very few people read.
Also why hasn't Cara, Laurelhurst Community Club Recreation Coordinator, sent out information?
Rachel responded:
We are still continuing to hear out community on this proposed changed and do not yet have a date for removal.
Today the Laurelhurst Blog sent another email:
We are following up as we have not received a response. We look forward to hearing from you with specifics in response to our questions.
Rachel responded today saying:
We have no timeline for removal, and please direct folks to email us with any concerns. The best place to do that is pks_info@seattle.gov.
The Laurelhurst Blog responded:
We are directing ourselves to you with our concerns! Please answer our questions. Thank you.
And no response has been received again.
Comments on the Parks Department Facebook page said:
I saw people using it for the first time last summer and it was so idyllic. Neighbors having a little evening fire making s'mores. Sad to see it go.
This is outrageous. Utter failure of leadership starting with Jenny Durkin.
It's always sad that a few can spoil it for hundreds of others
The Laurelhurst Blog also contacted Cara, Laurelhurst Community Center Recreation Coordinator, who said;
Rachel, the Seattle Parks and Recreation Communications Manager, will be able to answer your questions regarding the fire pit.Mike Wayte, a long time Laurelhurst resident has started an on-line petition saying:
A vocal minority has the parks department closing down the fire pit in Laurelhurst Park. Please sign this petition to save the fire pit!In 2007, the fire pit was in jeapordy of being removed, and LCC supported the recommendation of some neighbors to remove it. Seattle Parks' Royal Alley-Barnes presented her plan at an LCC meeting for the removal and recommendation of replacement with a portable unit. LCC suggested that the Community Center Advisory group have an opportunity to weigh in on this decision.
A group of neighbors were very vocal against removal of the fire pit asked for a formal public process to weigh in on the final decision. The group said that there was lack of public input and that there a certain uniqueness of the urban fire pit as well as a decades-long history and tradition of the fire pit.
In response to whether arks Public Involvement Policy, LCC stated, at the time, that Parks formal public involvement policy applies to proposals to 1) acquire property, 2) initiate funded capital projects or 3) make changes to a park or facility, LCC added that it's unclear whether the policy applies to the situation of removing and/or replacing the fire pit.
LCC also added, at the time, that citizens certainly have the right to ask for additional public process. But whether a public meeting is held is up to the Parks Superintendent.
The Laurelhurst Blog has received many emails from neighbors against the removal of the fire pit. Here are some of the comments:
We have lived in the neighborhood for decades and have just learned about Parks' decision. Why wasn't the community notified via an on-line communication that neighbors read, such as this Blog, or LCC. We don't know anyone that reads "Parkways." Parks seems to have made this decision and is doing their best to not let anyone know. Doesn't Parks represent the neighborhood and its interests?
We are very disappointed with Parks that they would act alone without any communication to the neighborhood to close this gathering spot which has been used for generations. Where is the evidence that Parks is referring to in their Parkways post?
We have used the firepit through many generations of our family and were surprised to hear that suddenly it is being removed. Seems it would be due diligence to provide statistics on all that Parks is saying about its concerns - health, etc. We have never heard of these types of concerns over the many, many years we have lived in the neighborhood.
It really seems that Parks is acting completely on their own and keeping all the information under the radar so that no one finds out, regardless of whether neighbors agree with the decision or not.
It is really upsetting that Seattle Parks and Recreation that serves and promotes community has made their own decision with no neighbor input and on top of that, has not used any social media that people actually read to get the word out widely.
Can there not be a public input process on this important decision? It appears that Parks has made the decision completely by themselves without publishing any specific information that they refer to in their Parkways post. Does it really exist or is it just lip service and a PR spin?
Other neighbors said:
We are glad to see that the firepit will be removed. In the summers mostly, groups hang out there till quite late, after the Park has formally closed. We have never heard of any safety issues ever or unattended fires, but we will be glad that it will be quiet in the park.
I walk the park every day and have seen garbage around the firepit and always pick it up. The debris from the fire is never outside the firepit and we don't have concerns about fires that are not put out. But it seems that sometimes there are groups who may not be managing themselves well at the fire pit. So maybe it is a good idea to remove it.
Parks Department contacts:
Rachel Schulkin: Rachel.Schulkin@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8020
Christopher Williams, Superintendent: Christopher.Williams@seattle.gov
Cara Brown: Cara.Brown@seatte.govGeneral
Parks general email: pks_info@seatte.govAssociated Recreation Council (ARC): www.seattle.gov/Parks/Arc
To sign Mike's petition go here.
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Please contact the Laurelhurst blog at laurelhurstblogger@gmail.com with comments or information you receive from Parks Department representatives.
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