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Seattle Parks presents 2025 annual report: underspend, capital carryforwards and progress on restrooms, pools and turf
Summary
Seattle Parks and Recreation told the Park District Board that the 2025 annual report shows strong delivery on many service goals, about $263 million spent of a $344 million budget leaving carryforwards for capital work; staff highlighted pool repairs, restroom upgrades, turf conversions and childcare enrollment growth while promising follow-up memos on specific sites.
At a June 16 Seattle Park District Board meeting, Seattle Parks and Recreation presented its 2025 annual report and a year-end financial overview showing the department spent about $263 million of an adopted $344 million budget, leaving carryforward funds for ongoing capital projects.
Interim Superintendent Michelle Finnegan and staff said the department delivered at or above service goals for most operating investments, spent roughly $93 million on capital projects in 2025 and left approximately $218 million in carryforward for multi-year work. Staff described the 2025 report as the halfway point of the district’s Cycle Two investments and noted that the department maintains a detailed CIP carryforward memo as part of its annual budget process.
Staff described several near-term capital priorities: roof repairs and structural fixes at Medgar Evers Pool, underground piping repairs at Queen Anne Pool, replacement of the Rainier Beach cultural stage roof that was damaged in late 2024, and continued delivery on a broad slate of turf replacements and infield conversions. For 2025 specifically, the department said it completed three synthetic turf replacements toward a target of 8–10 by 2028 and completed four of seven planned infield conversions.
On restrooms, staff said 12 of the Cycle Two target of 27 renovations were complete and that the department has worked to strengthen daily maintenance and monitoring after a 2025 City Auditor report. Staff described new cleaning standards, deployment of hot-pressure-washing equipment across maintenance districts, expanded inspections and new design standards focused on vandal-resistant materials and operational safety.
Parks staff reported serving about 1,100 children in licensed childcare during the school year and roughly 1,000 in summer camps in 2025; staff also said Parks became an authorized provider for the city childcare assistance program in 2025. The department said it plans to carry forward a portion of its participatory-budgeting allocation (about $2.1 million of roughly $6 million) and to pilot restroom attendance and maintenance approaches at Cal Anderson Park and an interim site at Freeway Park.
During the presentation boardmembers asked detailed follow-ups on specific projects. Boardmember Saka requested a written update on the Fairmont Park Playfield turf conversion; staff said Woodland Park and Garfield projects are underway and promised a written update the next day on Fairmont. Boardmember Strauss asked about Discovery Park visitor center flood repairs; staff said permitting and materials are being assembled with construction expected in early 2027.
Public comment earlier in the meeting included a call from resident Peter Brian Vogel to prioritize capital improvements on an aging bicycle facility, which he described as an active safety hazard due to poor drainage, vegetation overgrowth and crumbling asphalt.
Staff closed by noting the department will continue community engagement on outstanding items — notably the racquet-sports strategy — and will return to the Park Board and committees with memos and revised drafts as needed.
The Park District Board moved from this briefing to consider Resolution 79, a related budget reappropriation, which it later adopted.
