SEATTLE — New summer hours are now in effect at a pair of popular Seattle summer spots, with Golden Gardens and Alki Beach closing an hour earlier.
Park hours for both beaches has now shifted to 4 a.m.-10:30 p.m., with closing time moved back from 11:30 p.m. The later hours will return after September 4.
As for why the city opted to shorten the beaches’ hours, safety concerns were the top reason.
This program will act as a pilot to test out the new hours. And while closing time will officially be 10:30 p.m., parks staff and Seattle Police Department officers will start the shutdown process at 10 p.m.
“The shortened hours will assist in addressing dangerous and/or illegal behavior typical of summer evening uses at these two parks in response to public input and nearby community complaints,” Seattle’s Department of Parks and Recreation said in a news release.
The public is being encouraged to provide input while hours are shortened this summer to determine the viability of the program long-term. You can submit that input here.