Lights turning on at playfields to discourage fireworks

Meghan Walker Ballard

The City will be turning on lights at ballfields around the city tonight and tomorrow night to discourage the use of fireworks.

Lights will come on at about 8:30pm tonight and tomorrow night at Loyal Heights Playfield (2101 NW 77th St) and Ballard Playfield (2644 NW 60th St), and will turn off at 10pm and 11pm respectively.

As a reminder, fireworks are illegal in the city of Seattle, and they’re especially damaging on artificial turf. Seattle Parks and Recreation says the replacement costs for a synthetic field is roughly $1.2 million.

Here’s a full list of the fields that will be lit up:

  • Bobby Morris at Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave
  • Delridge Playfield, 4458 Delridge Way SW
  • Garfield #1, E Cherry St & 23rd Ave
  • Genesee Upper and Lower Playfield, 4316 S Genesee St.
  • Georgetown Playfield, 750 S Homer St.
  • Hiawatha Playfield, 2700 California Ave. SW
  • Interbay Athletic Complex, 3027 17th Ave W
  • Jefferson Playfield, 4165 16th Ave. S
  • Lower Woodland Playfield #2 and #7, 5201 Green Lake Way North
  • Walt Hundley Playfield, 6920 34th Avenue SW
  • Washington Park Playfield, 2500 Lake Washington Blvd. E
  • West Seattle Stadium, 4432 35th Ave. SW
  • Mickey Merriam Athletic field complex, Magnuson #5 (Rugby), #6, #7, 7400 Sand Point Way N.E.
  • Miller Playfield, 330 19th Ave. E
  • Rainier Playfield, 3700 S Alaska St.
  • W Queen Anne Playfield, 150 W Blaine St.

In addition to the lights, all fields will be monitored by security from 9pm to 4am.

9 thoughts to “Lights turning on at playfields to discourage fireworks”

  1. This is too rich. So let me get this straight; fireworks are illegal and lights are going to be turned on to “discourage” their use. Umm, why the hell then aren’t we doing this same thing to heroin users? This city sends so many mixed messages and has become a total joke. Snohomish county and the Indians still have them and we will all hear them tomorrow. Funny how we worry about a little grass yet cater to heroin junkies and what they all bring. Beam me up Scotty

    1. Please explain how leaving ballfield lights on all night, every night would make any sense? The story and goal here is to protect the ballfields from firework damage one day out of the year.

      So whats your solution smart guy? Oh yeah, you want to simply not “cater to heroin junkies and what they all bring?” It sounds like you want the city to turn on every light in the city, every night to discourage and resolve the opioid addiction problem? Haha, yeah good luck with that troll!

      Yes Scottie, please beam him up!

  2. If the sprinklers come on several times a night it might discourage the homeless from from camping there ! these sprinklers need to hit all the benches at night too !

  3. Good intention with poor execution. Lights went out at 10:00 pm tonight (7/3), fireworks started at 10:01 pm.

    Actually planned on it happening, and brought a lawn chair to enjoy the show from everyone who realized this would be the case!

  4. I doubt lighting playfields will do much to deter those that choose to light explosive, shooting and flying fireworks within the city limits, especially in places like Ballard. It will just drive more of them into the streets, alleys and other open spaces. Since enforcement of the city-wide ban on such fireworks is non-existent I now leave town every 4th. Enjoy the noise folks. Your pets not so much.

  5. It seems like an empty gesture since they have to turn the lights off by 10:00 to appease the neighborhoods as per the rules set when the lights were installed. As soon as the lights go off the fireworks will start.

    I think it would be better to turn on the sprinklers at parks city wide from 10:00pm to 2:00am. It’s better to water at night anyway, win-win.

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