Starting this morning, Tues, 11/18/25

YOUR ACTION NEEDED TO PROTECT NORTH SEATAC PARK

Hello, tree protectors!

The year is quickly coming to a close and we’ve been waiting since June to hear the Port of Seattle’s response to the City of SeaTac’s offer to buy North SeaTac Park so that it can be permanently protected from industrial development.

There’s a Port meeting today and another on December 9. Your outreach to Commissioners, starting this morning and through the end of the year will help Commissioners remember: We want our park saved!

Scroll down for a sample message and info and options for sending comments by email or delivering them in real time - remotely and in person. Additional background information is at the bottom of the newsletter.

Can you send an email today, 11/18, by 9AM? Or even sign up by then to deliver your comments at today’s noon meeting? If not, no worries! Your outreach to Commissioners tomorrow as well as today - and in coming weeks - is still critically important. We know that many of you have been doing this for a long time. Thank you - and let’s not stop!

Sample Comment

Dear Commission President Hasegawa, Vice President Calkins, and Commissioners Cho, Felleman, and Mohammed,

Since 2021, thousands of community members have signed petitions addressed to you, sent you letters and emails, called you, and testified to you at Port meetings – all urging you to protect North SeaTac Park.

A combined 5,000+ community members, including multiple elected officials, have signed two petitions asking the Port to save the park and preserve community trees around the airport. You can see public signers and comments for the 2021 petition here and for the current petition here.

In 2023, Representative Smith and Senator Cantwell included an amendment in federal legislation to establish that the Port can either keep the park in recreational use for 10 years - or can sell it below market value to the City of SeaTac so that the City can keep it as a park in perpetuity.

In May of this year, the City of SeaTac offered to Buy North SeaTac Park from the Port in consideration of creation of a $20 million fund that the city would create to preserve the park in perpetuity.

The public deserves to know now: what is your plan save the park for our community? We need your commitment. Without your quick action, the park is at risk. Thank you in advance for your timely action and your response to my outreach.

Sincerely, (your name and city of residence)

How To Send and Deliver Your Comments

For Port of Seattle meetings on 11/18/25 and 12/9/25

Info from: Public Comments at Port Commission Meetings (Note at 5:20 a.m. EST: this Port website appears to be down with an internal server error. The info below was checked for accuracy!)

1. Testify to the Port Commission from home by remote connection

   Send an email no later than 9AM to: Commission-public-records@Portseattle.org with your request to testify in the subject line. Instructions will be sent to you.

2. Provide written comments for inclusion in the meeting

   Send your comments in an email address to the address provided in #1, above, also no later than 9AM. Include the phrase: ‘Public Comment for (date) Commission Meeting’ in your subject line.

3. Provide “late” written comments after the meeting

   Follow the procedure in #3 - no later than the day following the meeting

4. Speak in person at meeting location. Meeting starts at noon

   (For 11/18 only: Sign up in person at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Conference Center 17801 International Boulevard, SeaTac, Mezzanine Level.) The meeting starts at noon and its recommended to arrive a little early to get your name on the speaker’s list. Speakers are allowed 2 minutes. Reading prepared comments is fine!

5. If you’re not able to get your comments in by the deadlines given in 1-5 above, (or even if you do) email the Commissioners directly:

Email addresses: hasegawa.t@portseattle.org, calkins.r@portseattle.org, cho.s@portseattle.org, felleman.f@portseattle.org, Mohamed.h@portseattle.org, commission-public-records@portseattle.org

Salutations: Dear President Hasegawa, Vice President Calkins, Commissioner Cho, Commissioner Felleman, and Commissioner Mohamed

Background Information

In June, the Defenders reported on the “City of SeaTac’s Proposal to Buy North SeaTac Park” from the Port of Seattle for purposes of keeping it in park use in perpetuity.

Months later, the Port does not appear to have publicly responded to the City’s offer. Large portions of the park remain in near-term danger of being paved over for warehouses, parking lots, roads, and other industrial airport structures.

Readers may remember that the Port owns the park and that the park is zoned for aviation commercial use. As recently as 2020, the Port recommended industrially developing the 55 acres of the park. You can see this on page 15 of the Port’s 2020 Real Estate Strategic Plan. The Port can start removing the forest from this area as this North SeaTac agreements map shows, with only 180 days notice.

Since 2021, thousands of us have asked Port Commissioners to save the park by sending letters and emails, making calls, signing petitions, and testifying at Port meetings. A combined 5,000+ community members, including multiple elected officials, signed two petitions asking the Port to save the park and preserve community trees. (2021 petition here and current petition here).

In 2023, Representative Adam Smith and Senator Maria Cantwell included an amendment in federal legislation to make it clear that the Port can either keep the park in recreational use for 10 years - or can sell it below market value to the City of SeaTac so that the City can keep it as a park in perpetuity.

By now, a firm commitment from the Port and a plan should be in place. The public deserves to know now: what are Commissioners doing to save the park?