SEATTLE — With cuts to Seattle park programs and job layoffs already on the horizon, Monday's fire at Camp Long added insult to injury just months after workers were blindsided by Mayor Bruce Harrell's proposed budget for 2025-2026.
Naturalist Nicolasa Hernandez described the fire, which has been ruled arson, as a "gut punch."
"Unfortunately, my office is at Camp Long and it burned down last night," she told councilmembers during a budget hearing at Seattle City Council chambers. "After the outpouring of community support last night, it's clear now more than ever just how important our environment learning centers are to people in the city."
Hernandez, and a handful of others, spoke at Tuesday's meeting to address concerns over proposed cuts at Discovery Park, Carkeek Park and to citywide programs like Environmental Education, which was offered at Camp Long.
"The city has three environmental learning centers. One just burned down last night and the other two are set to be eliminated," Hernandez said as her allotted time ran out.
Another park employee, Becca Reilly, who works at Discovery Park, questioned council members on how the plan fits into the city's longstanding identity as an environmental leader.
"How can Seattle pride itself on being a green city, a leader among other cities, when it's actively defunding our naturalists, education specialists and closing our environmental learning centers?"
When announcing the budget proposal in September, Mayor Harrell's office said the city would end operation of the visitor centers at Carkeek and Discovery Park beginning January 2026. In 2025, parks and recreation will explore "alternative service delivery models," according to a news release.
It's unclear how or if Monday's fire will impact budget discussions, which begin in council committee meetings on Wednesday.