Ballard Commons Park is a sensitive subject for many Ballard business owners and residents. As the city continues to search for solutions to the homelessness and drug abuse epidemic affecting so many in Seattle, there are things that the citizens can do to keep the city's focus on our neighborhood. The Ballard Alliance is also working closely with local law enforcement and city departments to help ease the amount of nefarious activity in the Ballard Commons park.

It is critical that business owners and residents of Ballard report and document unsafe activity to ensure that the city continues to increase its efforts to make Ballard Commons Park a safe place for all.  Here are some things that you can do to help shine a light on the challenges our neighborhood faces at the park:

• If you see or are experiencing a dangerous situation, call 9-1-1 immediately
• Do not confront individuals on your own
• The police will arrive as soon as possible (and patrol the area around Ballard Commons regularly) but keep in mind that the Seattle Police Department (SPD) says that unless the individuals and the activities you are reporting are violating the law, the police can not take any enforcement action
• Violations of the law include: drinking alcohol in public park, smoking, doing drugs, camping, assaulting, damaging property and harassing. If you see this activity in the park, please call the police

If you are witness to activity that is not an emergency issue, but still of concern, please contact the SPD North Precinct non-emergency line: 206-684-0850

Here are other specific departments and services within the city to report things of concern that are non-emergency in nature. While the process takes time, the more the City hears from businesses and residents like you within the Ballard community, it will increase the City's prioritization of our issues and concerns. Please consider taking the following additional steps:

Report Illegal camping with the Customer Service Bureau
206-684-2489

Use REQUEST A CITY SERVICE to file a variety of different complaints/requests/notifications (everything from reporting abandoned vehicles to ADA requests).

Download the City of Seattle's FIND IT - FIX IT app on your mobile device and use this reporting mechanism.

Parks Department (specifically for Ballard)
206-684-4958

Also, the North Precinct Advisory Council holds monthly meetings that address different topics and is open to the public. The meetings are on a Summer hiatus and will resume in September.  

The Ballard Alliance will continue to work toward making Ballard cleaner, healthier and safer. If you have specific concerns or ideas please contact us at [email protected] or 206-784-9705.