King County Approves Plan To Take Over Seattle's City Hall Park

KING COUNTY, WA — The Metropolitan King County Council on Tuesday approved legislation to move ahead with plans to take over Seattle's City Hall Park, which sits directly adjacent to the King County Courthouse, the county seat of government.

Seattle emptied and closed the park for renovations in August amid mounting political pressure and increasing safety concerns in the area, including jurors and those who work in and around the courthouse. After a fatal stabbing in June, nearly three dozen judges signed a letter asking the city to shutter the park.

Since the park's closure, King County councilmembers Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Reagan Dunn have led an effort for the county to acquire the park from Seattle. The council on Tuesday voted 7-2 in favor of legislation to explore options for doing so, and directing the executive's office to consider future uses for the property.

"Today, the Council took a step forward in fulfilling our responsibility to ensure that local government is accessible to all residents of King County," Kohl-Welles wrote in a statement. "Through having Executive Constantine explore future uses for the park, I am optimistic that the King County civic campus, including the park, will be more accessible, welcome, and safe for Courthouse employees, jurors, and others seeking access to justice and county services. Further, the many challenges faced by our unhoused neighbors will be better served."

The legislation requires the executive's office to assemble a report detailing options for the future of the park by mid-January.