It’s 2026 and Capitol Hill’s Seven Hills Park is still closed — Meeting planned for February

Seven Hills on a sunnier day (Image: City of Seattle)

A new year, a new city council, and a new mayor did not bring a new start on public safety for Capitol Hill’s Seven Hills Park.

The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department has quietly extended the closure of the fenced-off 16th Ave public space through the end of February.

A parks spokesperson tells CHS the extended closure will give the city another chance to meet with neighbors and park users.

“We are meeting again with community in February to validate what we’ve heard and get feedback on some proposed activation or park updates,” the spokesperson said.

More information on the planned meeting will be announced soon.

Seattle Parks is currently planning to keep Seven Hills closed through February 26th.

CHS reported here on a community meeting held by the city in November to gather feedback as Seven Hills Park remained fenced-off and the city consider changes there and at the Broadway Hill Park and Tashkent Park spaces

Seven Hills Park has been shuttered and fenced-off since September after “bouts of negative park activity” and as parks officials say Broadway Hill Park and Tashkent Park have also been the source of frequent calls for the Seattle Police Department.

The fences haven’t necessarily stopped the calls. Last week, an early morning fight near the closed park ended in gunfire but no injuries or arrests.

Parks officials say the model of partnerships with a strong core community group in the Cal Anderson Park Alliance and events and clean-ups sponsored by area businesses and organizations like Capitol Hill development and real estate firm Hunters Capital have helped improve safety conditions around the neighborhood’s large central park.

Ideas raised during the Seven Hills community session included increased maintenance, forming volunteer and “friends of” groups, and, one attendee suggested, “replacing all the dirt” in Seven Hills after years of camping and drug use.

For now, Seven Hills Park remains fenced.

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