New push to lure more people to Westlake, Occidental parks
Seattle Times
The Seattle Parks Department together with some downtown advocates and nonprofit groups are trying to turn around Westlake and Occidental Parks with more events and activities to make the public spaces more safe and welcoming.
Over the past few weeks, Westlake Park in downtown Seattle has played host to a World Cup soccer viewing, noontime yoga classes, pingpong matches and a barbershop quartet.
The revolving program of events and activities is part of a strategy by the city and some downtown organizations to energize and turn around urban park spaces that over the past few years often have felt more menacing than welcoming.
