Seattle Public Schools will host a community meeting Saturday to present two options for a new athletic field at Lower Woodland Park, funded by $5 million in voter-approved levy dollars for Lincoln High School.
Earlier this week, Fremont Neighbor shared a post from Wallyhood examining the two field options, which generated a lively discussion on Facebook. That piece largely represented the perspective of park users who favor Option C. This article is meant to give a fuller picture ahead of Saturday’s meeting, including the perspective of school families pushing for faster action.
Lincoln is the only high school in Seattle Public Schools without an athletic field or track. Four years after voters approved the funding, the district has not finalized a plan or construction timeline. The field was originally planned for Wallingford Playfield, adjacent to Lincoln High School. Community opposition led to that plan being dropped, moving the project to Lower Woodland Park, where it has faced a new round of debate over design and placement.
Two options are on the table. Option A would replace the existing Soccer Field #2 along Green Lake Way with a larger synthetic turf complex, requiring tree removal, regrading and new fencing. Option C would make a smaller upgrade to Soccer Field #2 for football use while adding a new field near N 50th Street and Aurora Avenue N. You can read more about the options on the SPS website.
Both options have organized support. A coalition called Build Lincoln Field, a coalition of parents and families that says it has more than 1,000 supporters, is pushing the district to move forward quickly, pointing to years of delays and inadequate practice facilities for student athletes. A group called Friends of Lower Woodland Park favors Option C, arguing it better serves the broader park community while still meeting Lincoln’s needs.
The meeting is Saturday, April 25, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Hamilton International Middle School, 1610 N 41st St.
Livestream, Broadcast, & On-Demand Videos
- YouTube: www.youtube.com/@seattlepublicschoolstv
- SPS Website: www.seattleschools.org/broadcast
- Vimeo: www.vimeo.com/seattlepublicschoolstv
- Comcast (channels 319 & 26) Wave (695 & 26) Century Link (8508 & 8008)
Full project details, frequently asked questions and ways to submit feedback are available on the SPS Lincoln Athletic Field project page. Additional perspectives are available at BuildLincolnField.com and through recent coverage on Wallyhood.org.
Disclosure: The editor is the parent of future Lincoln High School students. Fremont Neighbor will continue to follow this story as it develops.
Leave a Reply