In early March, Seattle Parks and Recreation plans to install six-foot tall, rolling gates outside the two entrances to Hoa Mai Park in Little Saigon “to deter illicit activity in park,” said Seattle Parks and Recreation spokesperson Rachel Schulkin in an email to the International Examiner.
“Hoa Mai Park has been the target of vandalism and other unwanted activities, which is a severe safety concern,” according to the project description found in City records.
According to Schulkin, the gates will close from 7:30 p.m. to 7 a.m., which would appear to shut the park during hours in which the park is officially open. The Seattle Parks and Recreation web page for Hoa Mai Park lists its open hours as 4 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
The value of the fencing is $65,000 dollars, according to City records, funded through the City of Seattle Emergency Management Fund and Seattle Park District Fund.
The gates will be made of “decorative iron to match adjacent properties,” Schulkin said.
