Green Lake Park is a hub for outdoor activity all year round, attracting thousands of visitors each week who come to enjoy this incredible green space. However, as the sun sets, the park becomes significantly less accessible and safe due to the lack of adequate lighting. This poses a serious concern for the community, particularly for those who wish to utilize the park during the early morning hours or after work in the evenings.

The absence of sufficient lighting creates hazards for joggers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike, not to mention it discourages people from visiting during these otherwise lovely times. Lighting would reduce the risks of physical hazards like uneven pavement, help deter crime, and ensure the all park-goers feel safe.



Adding streetlights around the loop would not only enhance safety, but also increase the usability of the park across more hours of the day, encouraging a more active and healthier community.



We are urging the Parks and Recreation Department to produce an environmental impact statement, the first step in making a lit-up loop a reality.



Join us in making Green Lake Park a safer and more welcoming place for everyone. Please sign this petition to show your support for enhanced lighting around this beloved community space.

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FAQs

What are we hoping to achieve with this petition?

The goal of this petition is to ask Seattle Parks and Recreation to initiate an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for this project. This process is required by the National Environmental Policy Act and will involve plenty of professional and community engagement. This is the first step towards a shovel-ready project. After the EIS, we will work with the City to identify funding sources.

How would lights affect wildlife and neighbors living along the lake?

We can’t say right now how wildlife and adjacent neighbors would be impacted by lights along the Green Lake loop, but answering this question is the main goal of the EIS. We are looking to be good stewards of our environment, while meeting the safety needs of our community.

Would the lights be on all night?

Not necessarily! This will be ultimately be decided by the public, but we envision extending park hours with lighting, not 24 hour/day sunshine.

What would the lights look like?

We envision human-scale street lamps that only illuminate the path, similar to what’s shown in the concept art. But we want to deliver a project that meets community needs, so the City will host design reviews with the public before any decisions are made. The goal is to create welcoming path for all users, not flood the park with stadium lighting.

The current situation seems to work for some people. Is this really necessary?

Anecdotally, we see a dramatic drop in utilization of the park on dark evenings compared daylight hours. Even cold and rainy days see an abundance of visitors compared to 5pm in December. While it’s true the park isn’t empty — we see you hardcore headlamp runners out there! — we believe there is huge latent demand within our community. We believe making the park more accessible for casual joggers, young kids, and folks on an after-work stroll with lighting will ultimately make the park more welcoming for everybody.

Should I still sign this petition if I have reservations?

Of course! We’re trying to show the City that there’s interest in this project, not committing to building it tomorrow. Even if you’re hesitant about illuminating the path, signing the petition is asking the City to do their due diligence and answer your questions.

I want to get involved. How can I?

Keep an eye on this webpage. We'll send updates and opportunities for folks to get involved!