Summary

King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles released a statement Friday after Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a new agreement with King County that would keep Seattle in control of City Hall Park.

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King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles released the following statement Friday after Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a new agreement with King County that would keep Seattle in control of City Hall Park, an about-face after the King County Council had previously voted to trade 13 county-owned properties in exchange for the park property:

“I’m relieved that Seattle Mayor Harrell is proposing the City take action to revitalize the long-neglected City Hall Park adjacent to the King County Courthouse, which the City fenced off 14 months ago in August 2021. However, I am disappointed that our two bodies of government were unable to reach a resolution on transferring this land to the County in exchange for 13 surplus County properties that could have been used by Seattle Parks.

“Even when it wasn’t safe, our jurors, staff, judges, and the public seeking to access government services were the ones needing to traverse this park, as well as people living and working nearby. And throughout this process, the City did little to activate the park. We have been ready as a county to take that fence down and work with neighborhood organizations to make the park a vibrant, welcoming space that enriches our county’s campus.

“Though I may be frustrated by the process, I am optimistic that today’s announcement will lead to positive change. The mayor’s proposed investments are well appreciated. Moving forward and to ensure the park thrives, we should keep consistent and open dialogue between the City and County and ensure that the voices of the surrounding neighborhood are included in decision making. My hope is this partnership will transform this space and end an era for this park in which it was considered unsafe and even a blight. The downtown King County civic campus is a space that is meant to be safe and accessible for everyone and facilitate, not impede, the public from safely accessing justice at the courthouse. I’m hopeful that today’s decision will provide a path forward that ensures that reality.

“If not, I will continue to seek avenues for the County to officially own the park – which could be the first step toward its larger revitalization as a central piece of the County’s downtown campus, including the reopening of the beautiful historic Jefferson Avenue entrance to the courthouse.”