Dear Community Member,

My name is Jesús Aguirre, and I am delighted to introduce myself as the Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation.

My family and I relocated to Seattle from Washington DC, and we are thrilled to make the Emerald City our new home.

In Washington DC, I had the opportunity to serve the city through my work in education, both in the local school district as well as serving as the State Superintendent of Education for the District of Columbia. I also managed DC’s department of parks and recreation for almost four years. I am excited to bring my experiences and perspective to help Seattle Parks and Recreation continue its excellent work and positive trajectory.

I have been focused on getting to know Seattle Parks and Recreation, our parks and facilities, and the city’s neighborhoods and people. One of my main priorities is to get to know you better – our stakeholders, customers and residents.

I’m hosting a Listening Tour this summer and fall, and I’d like to hear directly from you. I’m interested in hearing about your experiences – positive and negative, your desires for your park and recreation system and your ideas to make us even better. I’ve been working closely with Parks staff to set up several opportunities for me to connect with you directly.

See more at: http://parkways.seattle.gov/2015/07/21/superintendent-listening-tour/#s…

We’ve created an online survey, which I strongly encourage you to fill out: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SeattleParks.

Tweet with me.

We’ve set up a Twitter Chat where you can tweet your questions directly to me using the #ParkRecSupe hashtag.

Thursday, Sept. 24
12-1 p.m.
SeattleParks
See more at: http://parkways.seattle.gov/2015/07/21/superintendent-listening-tour/#s…

Come visit with me in person.

We’re hosting two large open houses – one south of the Ship Canal, and one north of the Ship Canal. These will be great opportunities for you to meet and talk with me personally, as well as to learn all about the great stuff Seattle Parks and Recreation does.

These Open Houses will feature staff from all over the department to share their work — from the employees who buy and build new parks to those who organize summer camps to our Park Rangers. We’ll also have free children’s activities, and food.


OPEN HOUSE #1:
Sept. 22, Tuesday
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Van Asselt Community Center,
2820 S Myrtle St. 98108

OPEN HOUSE #2:
Sept. 26, Saturday
2 – 4 p.m.
Northgate Community Center,
10510 5th Ave. NE 98125
- See more at: http://parkways.seattle.gov/2015/07/21/superintendent-listening-tour/#s…

Let’s discuss

I’ll also be hosting more intimate community discussions at your neighborhood community center. Stop by one of the following sessions to hear about my vision for the future of Seattle Parks and Recreation and to tell me your ideas. All meetings will be held from 6:30—8 p.m. at community centers unless noted. For community center addresses, please visit www.seattle.gov/parks/centers.asp

NORTHWEST
· Bitter Lake, Sept. 2
· Ballard, Oct. 14
· Magnolia, Oct. 15
· Loyal Heights, Oct. 27

NORTHEAST
· Laurelhurst, Oct. 20
· Meadowbrook, Nov. 3
· Ravenna-Eckstein, Nov. 14, 1-2:30 p.m.
· Magnuson, Nov. 19 (NOTE: This meeting will take place in the Officer’s Club in Building 30, 7448 63rd Ave. NE)

CENTRAL
· Belltown, Aug. 5
· Miller, Sept. 29
· Miller, Oct. 5, 5:30 p.m. (Special discussion with the City of Seattle LGBT Commission)
· Yesler, Oct. 13
· Montlake, Dec. 3
SOUTHWEST
· South Park, July 28
· Hiawatha, Aug. 11
· Alki, Aug. 19
· Delridge, Aug. 25
· High Point, Oct. 28

SOUTHEAST
· Rainier Beach, Aug. 26, 7-8:30 p.m.
· International District Chinatown, Sept. 1, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
· Rainier Community Center, Oct. 6
· Jefferson, Nov. 4

NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE LOCATIONS
· High Point, Aug. 18 (6400 Sylvan Way SW, Seattle, WA 98126)
· New Holly, Sept. 30 (7054 32nd Ave S, Seattle WA 98118)
- See more at: http://parkways.seattle.gov/2015/07/21/superintendent-listening-tour/#s…