Golden Gardens Beach summer hours to start this weekend

Meghan Walker Ballard

This weekend, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) will start enforcing its summer hours at Golden Gardens Beach and Alki Beach.

Golden Gardens will be open 4 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. from. May 24 to September 22. That means it’s closing just one hour earlier than its normal hours—it currently closes at 11:30 p.m.

SPR says the shortened hours will help them in “addressing dangerous and/or illegal behavior typical of summer evening uses” at the two beaches.

The shortened hours are part of a pilot program SPR rolled out in 2022 in response to public input and nearby community complaints, the Parks department says. The Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners will review the pilot after the summer to determine the best operating hours for the public moving forward.

SPR says Seattle Police will assist their staff in closing down the beach each night, starting at 10 p.m.

The Parks department is collecting public feedback during this summer’s pilot: You can provide input via an online survey.

Golden Gardens and Alki Beach fire pits are also opening on May 24.

SPR says the fire pits are going to be open seven days a week on a first-come, first-served basis. They do not allow personal fire pits, and no propane fire pits or rings are allowed. Here are additional rules for the fire pits, from SPR:

  • Fires must be extinguished by 10 p.m.
  • Fires allowed 7 days a week starting Friday, May 24 through Sunday, September 22.
  • Staff will be on-site to manage and assist with putting out fires at 10 p.m.
  • Parking lot gates will be locked and the park will close at 10:30 p.m. for summer hours.
  • Please only burn clean (natural, bare, dry cord-wood) wood and douse your fire completely before leaving.
  • Light a fire ONLY in one of the installed fire containers
  • Use only clean, dry firewood
  • Please douse your fire with water, not sand
  • Fires are not allowed during air pollution alerts; we will post sign
  • Please don’t remove any materials from the park, beach or dunes
  • Please dispose of trash and ashes in the containers provided for each. (SMC 18.12.260)
  • Be considerate of others–please, no loud or amplified music! (SMC 18.12.170)
  • Remember, no alcohol or smoking are allowed, and parks are drug-free zones.

SPR staff will unlock the fire pits each day between 4 and 5 p.m. starting on Friday.