FOLLOWUP: Police at Alki on second night of early closure

| Safety | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

We don’t know how the first night of early Alki Beach Park closure went last night – except that no major incidents were reported – but tonight police are out in force. We drove the beach from 63rd/Alki to Seacrest and back between 9:55 and 10:20 pm, and saw groups of officers on foot, on bikes (photo above), and in vehicles. Some were staged at Don Armeni Boat Ramp. While the beach was still moderately busy at 10:15 pm, officers have since told dispatchers they’re “clearing the beach” now.

Seattle Parks announced Friday that Alki would be closed at 10 pm nightly through Monday, in hopes of deterring problems from violence to fireworks. Its northern counterpart Golden Gardens, meantime, is being closed at 10 pm nightly for nine months, also to tamp down on trouble..

Allie July 3, 2021 (11:26 pm)

Well fireworks are lighting the sky as we speak so… sadly the early closure won’t do much to deter the problem crowd(s) that comes much later. Tired of my house shaking.

alki_2008 July 4, 2021 (12:47 am)

Yep. Fireworks have been going up for the past hour. Clearing the beach doesn’t prevent people from coming back and setting off their noisemakers, which can lead to pets being spooked, dogs barking, and PTSD sufferers suffering. But it’s like this every year, and even on various nights throughout the year.

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy July 3, 2021 (11:35 pm)

In the summer I do think 10 is early to clear a beach. But with the context of how long it takes to clear folks. It seems late. I live somewhere that has noise problems year round (my coworkers can’t understand the background screams during my conference calls. What’s sad is I don’t even notice them anymore).But what urban living quirks I experience are not even on the scale of Alki in the summer.

Bill July 3, 2021 (11:49 pm)

Anything fun and positive going on at Alki this weekend?

WSB July 3, 2021 (11:57 pm)

There were two positive events earlier today, as previewed. Then there was salsa dancing, didn’t know they’d started up again so that wasn’t on our calendar; they folded up at 10. Nothing on the calendar for tomorrow on Alki so far …

Chris July 4, 2021 (12:33 am)

Someone has been going in apparent circles since 11pm setting off loud boomer fireworks causing dogs to bark in North Admiral area. Perhaps closed Alki has sent them up in the neighborhood?

Alki resident July 4, 2021 (12:43 am)

Awesome to see the police presence tonight! Thank you SPD.

Sweetie Bee July 4, 2021 (8:58 am)

I, for one, appreciate this a lot. Two year years ago it was 3 straight months of late night fireworks. Last year was about 1 month. I think I actually slept through the night last night. A first in years here, so thanks!!

R2 July 4, 2021 (11:51 am)

Meanwhile, the park in our normally quiet neighborhood had carloads of people coming by to set off huge fireworks into the wee hours.

John July 4, 2021 (4:35 pm)

I noticed the SPD presence this morning, early in the day.
Makes me wonder about the scheduling of officers?
The morning and early afternoon personalities of Alki Beach crowds are dramatically different from those after the sun starts setting.
SPD had closed, with blocking squad cars, the entrance and exits to the Alki Lighthouse stretch where the “street closed” signs so often discussed on WSB are.