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.

Our preferred alternative is Wallingford Playfield after in-depth analysis showed it to be the best fit due to student needs, proximity to Lincoln High School, site layout, current use, and development needs. It will also benefit students at Hamilton International Middle School.

Alternative sites have not been eliminated from consideration, and we are continuing to evaluate options.

Update: We are now exploring the other locations suggested by community members including the school parking lot, Gasworks Park, Lower Woodland, and Woodland Park.

Update 2: SPS is now asking the community to respond to a suggestion to put a half-size synthetic turf field at Wallingford Playfield and to determine a location for a new full-size field at Woodland Park in partnership with the community and Seattle Parks.

• The entire community will be able to use this state-of-the-art field. The field will eventually include precise LED lighting to allow later use of the playfield.
• Other park amenities will also be maintained and potentially upgraded. By adding lighting, the community can safely use this space well into the evening.

Update: A half-size synthetic turf field would not have lights and SPS would be unlikely to upgrade any other park areas. The new field could be used by the community.

The field would include the addition of precise LED lighting, making the playfield safer for everybody, especially in the fall and winter months. We welcome additional feedback on making this space the best resource it can be. 

We are actively exploring all options at the considered locations to make this space the best resource for all — our students and communities. 

Update: If a half-size synthetic field is installed at Wallingford Playfield, there will not be lights. It is unlikely that other improvements would be made by SPS.

If Wallingford Playfield is chosen for the project, it will be unavailable for approximately 3–4 months during the late spring and summer of 2025.

Our goal is to take all measures to minimize the impact to the neighbors and the surrounding community.

The contractors will maintain working hours that align with the City of Seattle’s Noise Ordinance. During construction, notices will be sent to neighbors when work falls outside of those times.

Current playfield users will be rescheduled to other parks wherever possible during construction.

We understand the importance of maintaining and preserving significant trees at Wallingford Playfield. The Design Team will minimize significant tree removal wherever possible and will replace every tree removed with three additional trees.

A thorough parking analysis and traffic study will be completed, and any required improvements will be made.

The parking lot at Lincoln High School will be available for use during non-school hours.

The Design Team will ensure that all code requirements are met. This includes accessibility under the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Once the project is completed, as a public park, the Wallingford Playfield will always be open for community access and current elements will be retained. 

Scheduling of the playfield outside of school use hours will go through the Seattle Parks & Recreation (SPR) scheduling process.

We are seeking input for the best way to provide space for dog walking.

Wallingford Playfield does not currently include an off-leash area, so this project would not remove existing dog park space.

If the Lincoln High School Practice Field is located at Wallingford Playfield, it will cut down student travel and reduce our carbon footprint.

By placing the field within walking distance of both Lincoln High School and Hamilton International Middle School, we can drastically reduce the need for buses, cutting down on pollution and environmental impact.

The Wallingford Playfield’s proximity to schools and homes make this location better for families looking to cut down on travel and fuel use.

The Wallingford Playfield location would provide a vital resource for our students while reducing our carbon footprint. 

Yes. The playground area will remain either in its current location, or will be moved to a different location within the park.

Update: The playground and other park features would remain as they are if a half-size field were to be installed.

The Parks Department and SPS understand the potential impact on parking in the neighborhood if the field is installed.

Any time the field is used for non-school activities, the Lincoln High School parking will be available.

In addition, a parking study will be conducted to evaluate current usage and determine the best approach to managing parking. 

No, the installation of a turf athletic field will not remove these features. The playground, wading pool, picnic areas, and tennis courts are important elements of Wallingford Playfield and would remain.

To fit the field, there is potential for some of the park’s features to be moved. The goal is to preserve the park’s multi-generational and multi-use nature, ensuring that it continues to serve all members of the community while providing additional athletic facilities.

The project is being designed to ensure that the park continues to serve a diverse range of users. The field will be integrated into the existing layout without compromising access to other amenities.

The Parks Department and SPS are committed to balancing the needs of both the community and the students, ensuring that the park remains a vibrant space for all.

In our evaluation, we heard from multiple users that the current grass field is not adequate for their needs, primarily in the fall and winter months, where the field is essentially unusable due to weather-worn conditions. 

Turf fields require less maintenance and offer more consistent playing conditions, especially in Seattle’s rainy climate, which can render grass fields unusable for extended periods.

The project team is dedicated to maintaining Wallingford Playfield as a multi-use space that serves all community members.

We are committed to preserving the existing amenities, such as the playground, wading pool, picnic areas, and tennis courts.

Any potential relocations of these features will be done with community input, ensuring continued access for families and local daycares.

The field itself will be available for both organized sports and casual community use during non-school hours.

The Wallingford Playfield will continue to support a wide range of activities beyond organized sports.

The addition of a practice field is meant to complement, not replace, the current spaces that are used by the community for picnics, walking, playing with dogs, and other casual recreation.

Our goal is to ensure that the park remains a vibrant, multi-generational space where people of all ages can enjoy the outdoors.

Preserving the natural landscape, including trees and shaded areas, is a priority for this project.

If Wallingford Playfield is selected, we are committed to retaining significant trees and enhancing shaded areas, particularly around the playground and playfield.

We will also adhere to a 3:1 tree replacement ratio for any trees that need to be removed, ensuring that the park remains a green and welcoming space.

We are aware of the HUD restrictions governing the use of Wallingford Playfield, including the requirement that the land be used for recreational purposes. 

If Wallingford Playfield is selected, the project team will coordinate with HUD to ensure that any new features, such as restrooms, lighting, or storage facilities, comply with these guidelines.

If the project moves forward at Wallingford Playfield, SPS and Seattle Parks & Recreation (SPR) will work together to determine responsibility for the long-term maintenance of the field, including restrooms and storage facilities.

This will include a clear plan for covering the costs of utilities, maintenance, and ongoing care for the space to ensure it remains a community asset for years to come.

An environmental analysis will be completed prior to any work under the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA). Findings and final determination will be posted and available to the public.

While acquisition of new land was not considered for this project, we understand the importance of addressing gaps in park access. 

Wallingford Playfield serves a large residential community, and we are committed to maintaining the park’s accessibility. 

Should this project move forward, SPS and SPR will explore ways to supplement park access in the area, particularly for those affected by any changes to Wallingford Playfield.