New Year, New Habits: Ins & Outs of 2026
By Yordanos Tesfazion
IN:
Trying new recreational activities
Start 2026 off with a low-risk adventurous experience and get out of your comfort zone while still having fun. Visit Cheasty Trails and Bike Park with a mountain bike or use the pedestrian trail for a hike in the middle of Beacon Hill. Up north, the Burke-Gilman Trail is another option that crosses through Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, the University District, and View Ridge, as well as other cities right outside Seattle.
Check out the River City SkatePark in South Park for a skating session! The skatepark serves experienced and beginner skaters of all ages, and leaders occasionally host free events and lessons throughout the year.
Learning how to garden and grow produce
Knowing how to grow your own food is a valuable life skill and does not require much experience to get started. For beginner gardeners, community gardens are a great place to start. There are nearly 100 community gardens in Seattle, find one near you!
Our partners who run Magnuson Children’s Garden are committed to making their garden accessible and welcoming for all. They offer free stewardship events and garden classes, and helpful resources can be found on their website.
Take gardening a step further and learn about composting with our partners Restaurant 2 Garden, who primarily work from the Danny Woo Community Garden in Seattle’s Chinatown International District but also host educational and volunteering events.
Getting to know neighbors and community members
Casually engaging with your neighbors and community members provides more opportunities to make connections and learn how you can get involved in the neighborhood.
In the Seattle area, we have many partners who spend their spare time cultivating a sense of community and belonging in their neighborhoods. The Downtown Community Council holds weekly group walks that encourage residents to connect with each other as they explore hidden gems in the neighborhood. Capitol Hill Community Council has monthly meetings and plan activities such as happy hours and park cleanups. In Southeast Seattle, Rainier Beach Link2Lake plan and host a variety of events for the neighborhood. From summer events at the Rainier Beach Cultural Stage to their annual Rainier Beach Grill Off at the park, Rainier Beach Link2Lake’s events are accessible so all community members can join in on the fun.
Living sustainably
Sustainable living may seem overwhelming or unattainable, but making eco-friendly lifestyle choices can start with making minor adjustments in your day-to-day life. Try avoiding single-use products, unplugging devices that are not in use, and if possible, going car-free every now and then. Picking up skills such as sewing, donating and reselling clothes, and thrifting are also practical examples of conscious consumption.
This year, Seattle Parks Foundation is a recipient of the Buffalo Exchange Tokens for Bags program. At Buffalo Exchange’s Ballard location, customers receive a five-cent token (the cost to produce a bag) when they skip receiving a plastic bag for their vintage or used clothes, and that token can be donated to Seattle Parks Foundation. Give them a visit!
OUT:
Missing out on free events
Having fun does not always have to break the bank! Museums offer free admission on the first Thursday of each month. In the summer, Volunteer Park Trust hosts Summer Series at the Amphitheater in Capitol Hill, and Alki Beach Pride takes place every August in West Seattle. Communities across the city also plan free events for their neighborhoods, such as Hillman City Neighborhood Association’s What’s Good Block Party and Othello Park Alliance’s annual International Festival, both in South Seattle.
Excessive screen times
In a world that moves too fast to even register at times, screens provide a sense of escapism. Social media, video games, and streaming services are designed to keep people glued to their devices. Additionally, the decline in print media has pushed the population to depend on their screens for the news, which can also lead to doomscrolling. Humans now have unprecedented access to the outside world through screens, but those screens can also keep people experiencing the outside world.
Get outside and stay busy by making in-person plans that decenter screens! Take a class, learn new skills, join a club, visit local businesses, or give back to the community and become a regular at a volunteer site! Visit our Events Calendar for a list of volunteer opportunities around Seattle.
Tuning out from local issues
Paying attention to the needs of the community, Seattle, and King County in its entirety is just as important as staying informed on what is happening on the national and global stage! Neighborhood associations, advocacy organizations, and mutual aid groups offer numerous opportunities to work towards solutions for problems that may not always be on a ballot.
Seattle Parks Foundation’s network of partners confront community and regional concerns in neighborhoods and cities throughout King County. Learn about their projects and how to get involved!
Impulse purchases
While the dopamine rush temporarily justifies impulse purchases, there are other ways money can be spent to chase that feeling! This year, take note of how much money is saved whenever unnecessary spending is avoided, make a thoughtful purchase as a reward, and consider paying it forward by donating to a local organization!
A new year is another chance to start fresh, set goals, overcome challenges, and embrace the unknown. Whatever plans you have in place for 2026, we hope the beautiful parks and public spaces in our region are a part of them!