New upgrades at Log Cabin aim to improve air quality, increase comfort & promote climate resilience

The Log Cabin at Steve Cox Memorial Park is a community cornerstone and home of King County Parks’ longtime White Center Teen Program, offering generations of teenagers a safe, encouraging place to enjoy free fitness and sports programs, art and performance opportunities, and more. Now, it’s also an example of how to improve air quality and increase climate resilience.

“This is exciting because not only will we be transitioning to more heat pumps, which is better for energy-efficiency -- and also more comfortable for everybody in the space -- but we'll also be getting better air quality,” King County Parks Recreation Coordinator Darlene Sellers said.

The center is a special space with unique challenges for energy-efficiency. Built in 1940 as a Works Progress Administration project, the gym and main office were designed without any mechanical ventilation. This meant for years, staff needed to use creative techniques to try to keep teens warm on cold days and cool on hot ones, and to increase airflow in the gym – such as running the natural gas heater while also keeping a few windows open.

“Some times of the year, it's a little awkward, but at least we're not wasting that much energy,” Sellers said. “But some other times of the year, it's a little concerning to be spending all that money on heating the building -- with the windows open.”

New upgrades were achieved thanks to an intentional approach by King County Parks, ambitious targets in the County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan, and fast work to quickly deploy a grant the King County Executive Climate Office (ECO) received from the Department of Ecology, supported by Washington state Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funding. The grant helped cover the costs of weatherization improvements in homes, childcare facilities, adult family homes, and community centers near airports – including the Log Cabin.

Grant funding covered the costs of integrating mechanical equipment into the 85-year-old building and adding heat pump technology to provide year-round heating and cooling while reducing emissions. These improvements built on other work by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks at the Log Cabin, including upgrading to LED lighting and installing solar panels – all in line with commitments to reduce emissions and save energy across its portfolio of buildings.

“This project really supports the County's goals to reduce carbon emissions, increase energy efficiency, and provide healthy spaces for people to be recreating in,” said David Broustis, Energy Manager for the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

While upgrades were necessary, staff also wanted to ensure the historic nature of the building was honored and the look and feel of the space was preserved.

“So many people have put so much care into this building over the years,” Sellers said.

Crews began and finished the work in less than three months. The hope is that the project will reduce energy and fossil fuel use while bringing 1,880 cubic feet per minute of fresh air into the gym, 200 cubic feet per minute of fresh air into the staff office, and additional outside air into the downstairs kitchen space. But what that truly means for the community is a better, healthier experience while enjoying recreation.

“We want to make sure all of our kids have access to safe, affordable recreation, and upgrades like this take the mission so much farther,” Sellers said. “There's still so much work to do and this is just the beginning, but at least it's a step in the right direction of improving the health and well-being of all of our families here in White Center."

To learn more about similar projects by King County, including air purifier distribution by Public Health of Seattle – King County, click here.