Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Newsletter

A vintage black and white photo of people carrying a banner that reads "The 1993 Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Pride Parade March"

Seattle Histories Pride Edition

In celebration of Pride Month, we are running a special edition of our Seattle Histories Storytelling Project to highlight the deep-rooted LGBTQ+ history of our city. Read about community-centered organizations like Lifelong Thrift and Rain Country Dance Association, the fight to include bisexual and trans in Seattle Pride’s name, and individual stories about battling social stigmas.

Check out all the stories on the Front Porch Blog.

Other City News

Visit Freeway Park for In Bloom Festival June 24: Celebrate the bounty of the summer landscape in Freeway Park for a day of live music, free treats, and the chance to learn about local resources & stewardship opportunities centered around sustainability.  View a complete list of In Bloom festival activities.

City Hall Park Restored and Reopened to the Public: After nearly two years of restoration, City Hall Park will now welcome visitors to this iconic downtown location with enhanced amenities and ongoing activities. Learn more about the restoration efforts and events happening in the park all summer long.

Spruce Street Mini Park Reopened to Public: The Central District Park now offers new play equipment, ADA improvements, enhanced seating options, new pathways, and a beautiful community-inspired mural. Read more about restoration efforts and an anticipated community ribbon cutting event.

Turn Your Healthy Street into a Play Street This Summer: Want to make your block a community gathering place this summer? Any existing Healthy Street in Seattle can become a one-block, pedestrian-only Play Street with no fees or permits required. Learn about how it works and what kind of events you can host.  


In The Community

A black and white photo of a gay bar with text that says "Shelly's Leg is a Gay Bar"

It’s Queer to be (Pioneer) Square

It’s Pride season, which is a time to reflect not just on where the LGBTQ+ community is heading, but where it’s been. Librarians in the Central Library History department have been working with HistoryLink and local storyteller Rosette Royale to create opportunities for community to reflect on local LGBTQ+ history. Take a self-guided walking tour of Pioneer Square’s most historically important locations to the LGBTQ+ community, complete with a listen-as-you-walk podcast and map, which you can take yourself and your loved ones.

Learn more about the tour on the Seattle Public Library blog.


An aerial shot of a building with colorful accents, solar panels, and rooftop gardens.

Application Process Begins for Pride Place, ‘Affordable, Affirmative Housing for LGBTQIA+ Seniors'

On Thursday, June 15, the application process for new Broadway affordable senior housing development Pride Place opened to interested residents. Move-ins are expected to begin in September. Developer Community Roots Housing says it is working with community partner GenPride to put the final touches on the building this summer. The building is utilizing “affirmative marketing” to reach out to underrepresented communities and help make the new building a home for the LGBTQIA+ senior community.

Read the full story in the Capitol Hill Blog.


A rooftop community garden with buildings and the Space Needle visible in the background.

Rooted in Green: Seattle Celebrates 50 Years of Community Gardens 

In honor of the P-Patch Community Garden Program, VOA News covers the diverse and sometimes quirky variety of community gardens across the city. From its origins at Picardo Farm P-Patch in Wedgwood, to micro-gardens like Troll’s Knoll, and Rooftop spaces like Upgarden, this video is a fun look at one of America’s largest and most unique community garden programs. 

Watch on VOA News.

Share Your Feedback

Share Your Ideas on the Rainier Community Center Play Area: Seattle Parks and Recreation invites you to help shape the future of the Rainier Community Center play area and provide input on how to reflect the community’s history and culture within the renovated play space. Check out a list of upcoming community feedback events.

Provide Feedback on Transportation Needs for Small Business Workers: Seattle Department of Transportation is exploring options to reduce costs for small businesses to offer their employees free transit benefits. Small business owners, managers, and employees are invited to share information on their transit needs. Take the short survey by June 30.

Public Feedback Wanted on Initiative Aimed at Ending Traffic-Related Fatalities: Seattle Department of Transportation has recently published a draft review of their Vision Zero initiative to better understand a recent rise in serious injuries and deaths on Seattle streets. Take a short survey to help identify opportunities to reduce traffic-related harm.