Seattle Parks and Recreation (also known as the Department of Parks and Recreation or DPR) is the department of government of the city of Seattle, Washington, responsible for maintaining the city's parks, open space, and community centers.
The total area of the properties maintained by the department is over 6,200 acres (25 km2), which makes up approximately 11% of the total area of Seattle. Of those 6,200 acres (25 km2), 4,600 acres (19 km2) are developed.
As of 2007, the department managed 450 parks, 485 buildings, and 22 miles (35 km) of boulevards. Facilities include 185 athletic fields, 122 children's playgrounds, four golf courses, 151 outdoor tennis courts and an indoor tennis center, 26 community centers, two outdoor and eight indoor swimming pools, as well as viewpoints, fishing piers, boat ramps, the Volunteer Park conservatory, the Washington Park Arboretum, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Woodland Park Zoo.
The department's 2007 operating budget was US$117 million. Its largest park is Discovery Park in Magnolia, and its oldest park Denny Park in South Lake Union.
Seattle Parks and Recreation is run by a superintendent and advised by a volunteer Board of Park Commissioners.
Read more about Seattle Parks And Recreation: Continued Development of The System
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