Seattle has such a beautiful skyline and taking photos at spots around the city is a special tradition.
The city has 16 designated viewpoints that the Parks Department tries to maintain, but said it has become a struggle to keep up.
The city says there is added value in having these viewpoints, other than giving people beautiful photos. People share those photos on social media and encourage people to come and visit. It’s also a quality-of-life issue with residents who relax and take in the scenery during their day.
City staff says they have a serious maintenance problem with trying to trim all the trees. At a recent briefing, staff members estimated there are 280,000 trees in city parks that must be maintained.
Some of the work is dangerous, sometimes the trees are on steep slopes and it can be difficult for crews to get to them. Also, they have to be careful how they trim the trees and use techniques that maintain the health of the tree. They can’t just cut the top off so everyone can have a good view.
The Parks Department has an advisory council working on the issue. The goal is to come up with suggestions and a possible plan they can forward to the Parks Superintendent in late October or early November.
Meetings are set for Oct. 10 and Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. at Parks and Recreation Headquarters.
