Parks Department Rink Proposal - We need your support

Comment

Comment by Steve W on September 29, 2010 at 7:12pm

As far as I know, yes.

Comment by KS on September 29, 2010 at 4:24pm

Sent.

Has our whole membership been spammed yet? Not everyone keeps up on these posts.

Comment by vp on September 28, 2010 at 12:26pm

Added another email to Ms. Brooks inbox

Comment by Dave Alefaio on September 27, 2010 at 1:35pm

I'll be out to play with you guys this fall. In the meantime, I sent our dear friend Ms. Brooks an email.

Dave

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Ms. Brooks,

I am a life long Seattle resident, who has forever been in the minority as far as recreational sports as I have played street/floor hockey in this city for over 30 years. Adequate facilities for hockey have always been hard to come by in Seattle as the options for indoor play were always limited to gyms where concern for the floor was not of the utmost importance (Queen Anne, Alki, old Lincoln HS in Wallingford, and Ingraham have been used on occsasion), and the outdoor game can be tricky as an even surface and an enclosed court work best. The floor hockey leagues in the gyms that I mentioned above have been out of existence for over ten years leaving a hockey player who wishes to find a game only one option, which is to play with the Seattle Street Hockey (SSH) group.

I only occasionally play with SSH, mostly due to personal time constraints, but when I have, I found the group to be well organized, friendly, family oriented, and most of all, dedicated to the sport. If you were to go to the playground at Adams Elementary, any or all 52 Saturdays of the year, you would find a game of street hockey. I feel that the kind of dedication and desire to play hockey every single week should be rewarded by the city investing in a permanent place to play street hockey in this city. The weekly SSH game attracts a broad cross section of people with many transplants from places where hockey is king, young folks, some of us who are getting up there, ethnic diversity, men, and women all participating at the fast pace and with the high level of energy that the game requires.

Hockey in general is a sport one becomes good at because of a combination of physical dexterity and strength, teamwork, and competitive nature. SSH members possess these tangible assets which make them good hockey players, but they also have the passion and respect for the game that makes them good ambassadors for the sport within this city. I know of novice players who have dropped in at SSH games, and have been coached up so that they understand the game and can participate at a level that makes them want to come back each week. A new facility for hockey would no doubt bring new hockey players into our game.

Practically every other recreational sport has facilities at their disposal within Seattle. Basketball, football, soccer, tennis, golf, lawn bowling, baseball/softball, pickleball, dodgeball, kickball, volleyball, skateboarding, track all have been provided for by the city. Some of these sports' facilities require high levels of maintenance, and are under utilized to a degree that will never exist with street hockey. I'm confident that if a hockey facility is built, that it will be one of the most used, and definitely most loved patch of playground in the city.

I love Seattle, and I love hockey. Hopefully, you can help us build something that will make both communities, the city of Seattle and Seattle Street Hockey stronger.

Thank you for your time,

Dave Alefaio

(206)713-9503

Comment by jeff on September 27, 2010 at 7:06am

message to Sandy Brooks sent!

Comment by Alan on September 26, 2010 at 7:41pm

I sent an email to Sandy Brooks

Comment by Bryan C. on September 25, 2010 at 1:42pm

Hi Ms. Brooks,



I am one of the people who play street hockey on Saturdays with the Seattle Street Hockey (SSH) group. I travel from South Seattle to the Ballard neighborhood to play street hockey on a make shift hockey rink. We use junk we find around the play ground to keep the ball from leaving the school yard. Needless to say it doesn't work most of the time. I have personally invested $350 to purchase kid's play dasher boards (walls). This only covers about 1/6th of the area needed to be covered.



The SSH group are men and woman representing a slice of the Seattle area population. As an African American, I am happy to say that this is a diverse group open to all of Seattle's economic and social classes. If you have a stick you can play!



I first became interested in hockey as a kid growing up in the Central District and South Seattle. I was introduced to floor hockey in the Seattle Parks Department Recreation league (early 80's). As an adult, home owner and tax payer, I am hoping for a legitimate place to continue playing.



This sport is in keeping with the Northwest spirit of outdoor fun and exercise. I hope Seattle Parks and Recreation recognizes the lack of space offered to the citizens who want to participate in such recreation.



Thank you for your consideration.

Comment by jeremy boyle on September 25, 2010 at 1:44am

I'm emailing Sandy later today on behalf of Everett Street Hockey supporting you!!!! I will include Pics of the rink here to prove that this is much needed in the Seattle Area. I'm headed up there this morning to do some maintenance so I can get it ready for Sunday.

Comment by Steve W on September 24, 2010 at 10:09pm

I emailed Sandy Brooks 9/24

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