2001 NW CANOE PLACE, SEATTLE, WA

Salmon Bay Park Stewards (SBPS) was founded in 2018 by Katie Roberts and Sylvia Koodrich. These two local working mothers wanted to partner with as many neighbors as possible to ensure Salmon Bay Park would remain a beautiful and vibrant space that is well maintained and welcoming to all. Within the first several months, based on input from people from across the Ballard community, this group facilitated conversations about developing a neighborhood block watch network and hosted a series of inaugural community-building events in the park itself, including: a neighborhood picnic, an outdoor movie night, a landscaping and clean-up party, a Halloween parade, and a winter celebration featuring Ballard High School's vocal jazz choir. The group was instrumental in garnering neighborhood support to replace and add park benches in 2019 through the Your Voice, Your Choice competition and partnered with the Seattle Police Department to conduct a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) evaluation which will pave the way for further safety-focused improvements on the park grounds

Since the group’s founding, Katie and Sylvia have reflected a great deal on their initial partnership with SPD in light of the ongoing national dialogue around the police system and, in particular, how police brutality disproportionately harms people who identify as BIPOC. Their original partnership with SPD was established in response to a reported youth sexual assault that took place in the park. Considering the potential negative impact this relationship could have on neighbors who identify as BIPOC, they are committed to thinking differently about how to support citizen concerns about safety. With a commitment to be as constructive, people-centered, and inclusive as possible going forward, the group is now focusing all its energy on building community among park visitors and spearheading collaborative park maintenance projects.

The group also partners with the city to provide disaster preparedness trainings and is excited to continue hosting fun, outdoor events for all thanks to your help and generosity! 

Learn more

Seattle Parks web page for Salmon Bay Park
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