City of Seattle’s Parks & Recreation (SPR) and Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) are teaming up to invest $900,000 for energy efficiency upgrades in three South Seattle community centers. The improvements will make the community centers more climate resilient and functional, and the Van Asselt, Jefferson, and Rainier Beach centers are leading the way.
Climate change impacts like extreme weather are hitting cities across the world, including Seattle. Our residents have seen floods and storms damage their homes, experienced unbearable heat, and waded through thick air pollution from wildfire smoke and greenhouse gas emissions. These events often hit low-income and communities of color first and worst, adding to the disproportionate burdens they already experience.
Seattle’s 26 community centers are important gathering places for neighbors to play and recreate, as well as stay safe during times of crisis. These upgrades not only reduce climate pollution and utility costs by being more energy efficient, but they also create more functional, welcoming, and safe spaces. The City pursues effective climate solutions that prepare our city for what’s to come while ensuring community members are comfortable.
Outside the Van Asselt Community Center.
The collaboration between SPR and OSE includes installing modern LED lighting, electric heat pump water heaters, and gym fans specially designed to circulate air in large spaces which help reduce temperatures and improve air quality. Van Asselt Community Center located near Beacon Hill has been transformed with new lighting and fans.
Similar upgrades to Jefferson and Rainier Beach community centers are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025. Rainier Beach Community Center also serves as a cooling center during extreme heat waves.
The $500,000 joint investment at Van Asselt and Jefferson community centers includes $310,000 from SPR and $190,000 from OSE using City of Seattle funding. Additionally, OSE contributed $400,000 in Green New Deal funding, funded by Seattle’s Payroll Expense Tax at the recommendation of Seattle’s Green New Deal Oversight Board, for efficiency and electrification work at multiple other community centers and facilities.
Outside the Jefferson and Rainier Beach community centers.
These upgrades are part of Seattle’s broader commitment to make investments that reduce pollution coming from City facilities and improve community climate resilience. Other community centers getting upgrades include Northgate, Montlake, High Point, and Bitter Lake. These projects build on completed upgrades in about a dozen community centers.
Climate-ready upgrades also help ensure community centers can serve as resilience hubs — trusted buildings that support communities in everyday life and before, during, and after an emergency. A community center can be a resilience hub, as well as a nonprofit, neighborhood, or faith-based organization. OSE looks forward to releasing the Citywide Climate Resilience Strategic Plan later this year.
OSE is planning to release the Municipal Buildings Decarbonization Plan this summer, which will provide a roadmap for making all City buildings emissions free. Be the first to hear about the plan and other climate change adaptation news by subscribing to OSE’s newsletter.