Seattle authorities are introducing new security measures in two popular waterfront parks — Golden Gardens and Magnuson. This summer, from May through September, private security guards will patrol the parks at night as part of a pilot program. At the same time, a reduced summer schedule will be in effect: Golden Gardens and Alki Beach will close at 10:30 p.m. instead of 11:30 p.m.
Under the plan, guards will be on duty from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday through Sunday, monitoring parking lots, entrances and boat ramps. Their primary role will be to observe and call the police if they suspect illegal activity. A similar reduction in hours — from 24-hour access to a 4 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. schedule — will apply to the Don Armeni and Eddie Vine boat ramps.
These steps respond to years of safety issues and public-order problems in the parks. In August last year, a shooting at Golden Gardens left someone seriously injured, and residents have long complained about noisy nighttime parties with loud music and street racing. The city had already made the reduced summer schedule permanent earlier and installed speed bumps on approaches to Alki Beach to combat reckless driving.
Based on: Seattle’s Golden Gardens Park to see summer security patrols, early hours