What is a park? Is it the grass, some trees, a path, a playground? Is it the tennis courts, and the occasional thwap of bright yellow balls? Is it a wading pool, open two days a week, 10 weeks a year? Is it just a set of amenities? Some fraction of our tax dollars?

These questions are important because on September 19, Seattle Public Schools (SPS), in collaboration with Seattle Parks and Recreation, proposed to turn most of Wallingford Playfield into an athletic complex for Lincoln High and Hamilton schools. You can read the details on the project site</a >. …