Bitter Lake Playfield Public Restroom and Play Area Renovation

Spring 2024

The contractor L.W. Sundstrom will be replacing the old light poles at Bitter Lake Tennis/Pickleball Courts in March. This work will require us to close the courts for approximately two weeks. Access allowed only to courts #2, #3 and #4 on weekends and daily after 4 p.m.

Seattle Parks and Recreation began construction for the renovation of the Bitter Lake Public Restroom in June 2023 and anticipates starting the play area construction in October.  The contractor will begin with the removal of existing equipment and surfacing. SPR and contractor, L.W. Sundstrom, will continue to work to minimize the construction impact on the park, however, the play area will close from October 2023 until Summer 2024. We anticipate opening the new public restrooms in March of 2024 and the play area in June of 2024. Additionally, as part of this project, we will be adding new light poles for the recently added energy-efficient lights at the Bitter Lake Tennis/Pickleball courts.

View the Play Area renderings here.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in the public process. Seattle Parks and Recreation appreciates the community's participation in designing the new play area for Bitter Lake. The design team from Hoshide Wanzer Architects and Berger Partnership incorporated community input into a preferred schematic design and gathered additional feedback on the swings, spinners, and multi-generational fitness and sensory equipment at the park on September 18, 2021, and collected additional feedback in the September 2021 online survey. See the design rendering here.

This project will replace the play area equipment and renovate the existing public restroom with the goal of bringing these amenities up to current safety and accessibility standards. Accessibility for all is a value of Seattle Parks and Recreation. The restroom renovation will likely include individually accessed, all-gender toilet facilities, and the play area will include new play equipment that is accessible to children of all abilities. In addition, the project will make other site accessibility improvements that meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).