Seattle Parks presents 2024 annual report; board adopts Resolution 74 to carry forward unspent 2024 Park District funds

At a June 24 special meeting, Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent AP Diaz presented highlights from the department’s 2024 annual report and financial review to the Seattle Park District Board. After briefing and discussion, the board adopted Resolution 74 to carry forward unspent 2024 operating appropriations for Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and Seattle Center into 2025.

Diaz told the board the presentation focused on park district funding and efforts “to address the city's general fund shortfall and overall pressures of escalating costs.” The department reported an adopted 2024 budget across all funds of about $321,000,000 and said the Park District provided nearly $51,000,000 of capital appropriation in 2024. SPR staff said the department ended 2024 about $8,000,000 under its revised operating budget, largely because of a citywide hiring freeze; $1,600,000 lapsed from the general fund and $700,000 was related to vehicle purchases planned in 2024.

Resolution 74 requests that the Park District carry forward the funds necessary to complete those planned 2024 vehicle purchases, which SPR said will arrive in 2025, and to carry forward roughly $1,300,000 for Seattle Center to support waterfront maintenance and operations. Seattle Center managers Tiffany Malake (Waterfront Park Operations Manager) and Dematrice Winston (Deputy Director) were present to answer questions about the carry-forward request. The board adopted Resolution 74 by a 6–0 roll-call vote.

The presentation also summarized operational accomplishments and capital commitments in 2024. SPR reported it served more than 31,000 youth attendees across teen life centers after expanded hours; community learning centers provided about 4,800 hours of programming serving nearly 3,300 students and leveraged approximately $1,500,000 in non-SPR funding from partners including Seattle Public Schools and King County’s Best Starts for Kids. The park ranger program doubled with the graduation of 13 new rangers in May 2024 and expanded citywide operations. On capital goals tied to the Park District’s six-year financial plan (cycle 2), SPR reported commitments such as renovating 27 restrooms by the end of 2028 (4 completed as of Dec. 31, 2024) and upgrading 33 play areas by 2028 (12 completed as of Dec. 31, 2024).

SPR staff also described larger capital accomplishments and initiatives: 89 capital project completions in 2024 at various scales; continued work on the Central Waterfront project (noted at $22,300,000 in prior materials); decarbonization efforts that include converting gas equipment to heat pumps and using a General Contractor/Construction Manager procurement approach for some projects; and the Park Community Fund’s community-led selection process that drew more than 240 project ideas and engaged roughly 2,900 people, resulting in 15 selected projects.

After the vote, Superintendent Diaz thanked the board and Seattle Center staff, saying the park district funding “is vital to our identity as a city.” The meeting record shows the board then adjourned.