SEATTLE — Seattle Parks and Recreation announced that starting Wednesday, Seward Park’s swimming beach will be closed due to a lifeguard staffing shortage.
Park officials said it has been difficult to hire enough qualified people this summer and with residual staffing impacts from the pandemic, there aren’t enough lifeguards for all the planned swimming beaches.
Seattle Parks and Recreation had opened the beach on June 26.
The decision was based on “a combination of equity considerations, geographic distribution, and proximity to other open beaches, together with the ongoing challenges with parking access at Seward Park this year with the upper loop being closed to car traffic.”
Seattle Parks and Recreation will have seven swimming beaches this summer — Madrona, Magnuson, Matthews, Madison, Mount Baker, Pritchard and West Green Lake. The nearest beach with lifeguard staffing to Seward Park are Pritchard Island Beach and Mount Baker Beach.
Until Labor Day, the beaches will be open from noon to 7 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
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