A New Playground for South Park Youth
The freshly opened South Park Sport Court, inaugurated last Saturday, marks the third installation by the Kraken’s One Roof Foundation across the Seattle area. Designed to address a long‑standing shortage of recreational space, the court brings ball hockey, basketball and futsal under one roof for the neighborhood’s youth, many of whom have limited access to green areas.
Beyond the playing surfaces, the venue is adorned with a vibrant mural that celebrates community resilience and environmental justice, while the surrounding park renovation includes a refurbished community center, a soccer field and a dog park, creating a multi‑use hub for residents of all ages.
The project forms part of a $17.5 million overhaul that has already seen two similar courts erected in Tacoma and Bryn Mawr‑Skyway. Plans are underway for a fourth court on the Muckleshoot Indian reservation and a fifth in Northgate, slated for summer opening, expanding the foundation’s reach.
Kraken owner Samantha Holloway attended the ribbon‑cutting ceremony, thanking the community for its dedication and emphasizing the court’s role in fostering healthy lifestyles. Long‑time resident Henry Linehan, who watched the festivities with his son, expressed hope that the new space will let his child enjoy ball hockey safely.
Local partners such as the Duwamish River Community Coalition have pledged support, launching initiatives aimed at the neighborhood’s immigrant and refugee families, while the foundation has also supplied air filters to curb asthma episodes and donated ball‑hockey sticks for community‑center loan programs.