Funding included in voter-approved capital levies must be used for the designated capital improvements to schools and school facilities. The funds cannot be used for operating costs. 

The Lincoln High School Athletic Field project is funded by the voter-approved Buildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics V capital levy (BTA V). It is a forward-thinking investment in our students and community, helping e

Transparency is a key element of this project. We will provide clear documentation of community feedback. This will help SPS and SPR make informed decisions that reflect the needs of the entire community, not just specific interest groups. We will also ensure that any public meetings and engagements are approved by SPR leadership to maintain alignment with the overall process.

Lincoln High School is the only high school in the district without an athletic field, which limits opportunities for Lincoln’s students.

For many students, after-school sports such as soccer, football, and track are a big part of their high school experience. The lack of facilities requires Lincoln students to travel to distant fields, disproportionately affecting students without access to reliable transportation.

Without a field, Lincoln students are limited to physical education (PE) within the gymnasium or at Wallingford Playfield, which is largely unusable during the winter months due to rain, snow, and lack of lighting.

The new Lincoln High School Practice Field would provide an athletics practice “home field” for students, giving them a state-of-the-art, full-size turf field for soccer and football, restrooms, and storage for athletic equipment.

A location closer to Lincoln reduces transportation and allows more flexibility for student schedules.

The track upgrades will provide a “home field” for Lincoln’s extensive track program. This will allow track practice to take place after school instead of needing to adjust schedules to fit in around use of another school’s use of their track facility. It also reduces the need to take buses to Ingraham for practice.

Lincoln High School varsity football and varsity soccer practice and play at Memorial Stadium, which is three miles away from campus.

Junior varsity teams and others use fields at Lower Woodland and sites around the area. Track athletes are currently bused to Ingraham High School, about five miles away from Lincoln.

Memorial Stadium will be unavailable from summer 2025 through summer 2027, as it undergoes a complete renovation, so varsity teams will be unable to use the field.

Lincoln will continue to use Lower Woodland facilities for Junior Varsity (JV) sports and sports other than soccer and football.

Because Lower Woodland is booked to capacity, it cannot accommodate additional needs.

When Lincoln High School was renovated, converting the parking lot into a field was considered, but ultimately, the current layout was chosen to meet the overall needs of the school’s infrastructure, including the parking required by City code.

Our design team conducted a study to determine if converting the parking lot or building over it would be feasible. The space available would not support a full-size or half-size athletic field.

The roof of Lincoln High School is not designed to support a full-size field that can accommodate student needs.

In the initial planning of the Lincoln High School renovation, architects and engineers did explore combining a parking lot and garage with a rooftop field. Steep costs and significant risks made this option unfeasible.

Other schools use their fields for practice and games, and many are booked to capacity. Any additional use by Lincoln students would displace other programs.

Transportation is a costly financial expense for athletics and Lincoln High School. A field near Lincoln will significantly cut costs.

Early morning and late evening commutes could be eliminated with a nearby practice “home field” for students and families.

Locating the track and field at Woodland Park will keep both facilities within the same park but not adjacent.

While we are studying locations at Woodland Park to potentially site the athletic field, we do not anticipate that there will be space for both a track and field.

We are planning for upgrades to the track at Lower Woodland #7, but that field is not large enough to also include the new athletic field. In addition, upgrading the existing field would displace any athletic activities that currently take place on the field.

Memorial Stadium will be unavailable from summer 2025 through summer 2027, as it undergoes a complete renovation, so varsity teams will be unable to use the field.

During this time, Lincoln students will need access to a field. More broadly, a “home field” for Lincoln High School brings many benefits to students at Lincoln and nearby Hamilton International Middle School.

Not only does a practice “home field” expand access and equity for students, but by limiting student commutes, we can reduce the number of buses, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint. Most importantly, students will not be required to travel long distances early mornings and late evenings.

The proposed field is intended to be a permanent practice space for Lincoln High School students — they will not return to the new Memorial Stadium for practice once it’s complete. 

This field is intended to serve a wide range of students, including those participating in various sports like soccer, football, and other field-based activities.

We are committed to ensuring equitable access for all Lincoln students, in line with Title IX requirements.

Wherever it is located, the field will be available to the broader community, offering a resource for everyone in the neighborhood.

Equity is a priority in the planning of this project. The field will not be reserved solely for football or boys’ teams.

The field will be available for multiple sports, including girls’ teams and other athletic programs. The scheduling of the field will follow Seattle Public Schools’ commitment to Title IX, ensuring that all students, regardless of gender, have fair access to athletic resources.

SPR is a close partner to SPS in identifying potential locations and logistics of building this new practice field. Both are committed to selecting the best option for students and communities.

SPR and SPS will continue to collaborate during design and construction after the field location is determined.

Seattle Parks and Recreation will own any facilities built at Woodland Park. The track and field will be added to the interlocal agreement between SPS and Seattle Parks and Recreation. This agreement provides SPS students with athletic facilities and allows those facilities to be used by the larger community outside of set school use.

Yes. The Lincoln High School Practice Field can provide space for both the school and the broader community, ensuring the selected space remains a vibrant hub of activity.

Seattle Parks & Recreation (SPR) will maintain important elements and character of the space selected and will work to ensure all can continue to enjoy. The field will also become part of SPR’s inventory of fields available for scheduling.

The final decision will be made jointly between Seattle Parks & Recreation (SPR) and SPS, guided and informed by community input. It’s important for our communities to be heard — that’s why we’re looking for input and feedback.

The Parks Department and Seattle Public Schools are aware of the long-standing use of Lower Woodland for Metro League Cross Country meets. While resurfacing the dirt track will improve conditions for track athletes and the public, care will be taken to ensure the cross country course remains safe and accessible. 

Planners will consult with Seattle Parks representatives to ensure the track design avoids obstacles, such as curbs or fences, that could interfere with the course.

Yes, the plan is to surface the track in a way that ensures smooth transitions for cross country runners. Feedback from coaches and the running community will be essential in designing the track to minimize hazards and maintain access to the XC course.

The goal is to make the space functional for both track and cross country.

The selected location will eventually include precise LED lighting, restrooms, and storage for equipment in addition to the synthetic turf field.

The field will include a minimal amount of seating.

A clear design process will be shared once a decision on location is made.

The field lighting will be hyper directional and designed not to spillover into surrounding homes and areas. SPS will use highly efficient LED lighting to minimize use of electricity.

We are aware of the environmental concerns surrounding turf, especially regarding heat islands and microplastics.

To mitigate these issues, the project will use cork infill to reduce heat gain, as well as other environmentally responsible design elements. Our environmental review process will be transparent, and we welcome community feedback as we strive to balance athletic needs with environmental responsibility.

The turf will be made of synthetic materials, which are being carefully evaluated.The current SPS & SPR standard is 2.25” dual fiber (a mix of monofilament & slit-film polyethylene) with a sand/granular cork infill over a 1” supplemental resilient pad.

Disclosures about potential risks will be provided to families to ensure transparency and safety.

SPR standards call for light green turf and the lighter colors available for various markings. Cork infill also mitigates heat gain due to its lighter color.

This project will include efforts to align with climate initiatives, including increasing green spaces in other areas of the park.