Welcome back party in Chinatown-ID draws crowd to Hing Hay Park – KIRO 7 News Seattle

SEATTLE – Seattle’s Chinatown-International District was on Saturday as part of the city’s “Welcome Back” initiative aimed at revitalizing the Emerald City after the pandemic.

This is especially important in the CID, a community deeply affected by the hatred of Asia that unfortunately accompanied COVID-19.

That’s why they say what happened on Saturday was so meaningful. That it is also a confirmation that the neighborhood and the people there are not going anywhere – that they are resilient.

From break dancing to dance classes, from singing to martial arts, even a COVID-19 recording.

“Get vaccinated,” Jaquan Price said to no one. The CID resident said he wanted a vaccine.

“Actually, yes,” said Price. “I want to be vaccinated because I do coaches and things like that. And I work with children. “

All of this in Hing Hay Park on a fine Saturday in July to say the Chinatown-International District is back.

“At that moment, I feel like a joy shared,” said Jenny Ku of the Seattle Arts and Culture Bureau as she surveyed the scene.

She and her colleagues booked the entertainment.

“It says we’re here and we’re alive. And it also means: ‘Come and share an experience.’ “

A shared experience that is particularly significant there given the violence the Asian community has experienced and the business losses caused by the virus.

The impact was clearly felt by the small businesses that are the economic engine of the CID.

“The combination of arts and culture and small businesses really celebrates what makes this neighborhood and Seattle so special,” said Laura Clise, founder and CEO of Internationalist.

And it seems to hit the mark. A couple drove up from Pierce County for bubble tea. They stayed because of the celebration.

“A stroke of luck, absolutely,” said Kevin Canosa. “We just walk through the neighborhood, got bubble tea and say, ‘Oh, this is a good event.’ We are here for good music. So we’ll see what’s going on. I’m glad we stopped by. “

Many people felt the same way, no doubt.

Four blocks away, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan was there for a special reveal – a mural that had been tagged so many times that they had to paint over it.

© 2021 Cox Media Group