A first look at Seattle's new Green Lake Community Center and Pool

The Green Lake Community Center has been a staple in the greater North Seattle community since 1928.

Unfortunately, the building and pool have finally reached the end of their usable life.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is working with the Green Lake Advisory Council and the greater North Seattle community on the replacement of the facility and has revealed renderings of what the new space may look like.

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According to SPR, the new community center and pool facility will reside within the footprint of the current building and parking lot.

Parking will shift to the east of the new building and use the existing driveway, while the new parking lot will include large planted islands that clean stormwater and have large trees that provide shade on hot days.

The new community center building will be designed with easy mobility in mind. SPR is planning on making the west side of the building spill out to an outdoor “porch” that faces the lake, the trail, and the swimming beach.

On the east side of the building, the front door will align with the existing row of sycamore trees, connecting the heart of the neighborhood to the lake and building.

The east side of the building will also house the gym, pool, and spa.

In the north of the building, a destination “adventure playground” will be erected, mimicking the natural ecology of the lake.

In the south of the building, outdoor amenities such as a full-size and half-size basketball court, outdoor exercise equipment, ping-pong tables, and bocce ball courts will be added. The SPR is planning to include accessible restrooms along the south wall of the building.

The project has a current budget of $1,000,000 which will be used for site analysis and design work provided by the Real Estate Excise Taxes. The remaining dollars to complete the design and construct the new center and pool have not yet been identified, according to the SPR.