Building Community with Pizza and Board Games in Skyway

  Event    WHCA Event

By Devin Chicras

Dozens of neighbors came out to our first Community Social of 2026 and made new connections, got a little competitive, slammed 20 large pizzas and Crazy Corn’s freshest aguas frescas, and made it a day to remember.

Two people sit at a table playing a memory matching game.

West Hill Community Association is all about connecting neighbors. Our new quarterly Community Social series aims to do just that.

For our spring event, we teamed up with King County Parks’ Skyway Rec Aides team to host an afternoon full of board games and pizza at West Hill Community Center next to Dimmitt Middle School.

History Corner: The West Hill Community Center originally opened in 1998. The land was supplied by Renton School District, and the building was funded by King County Parks. Due to budget challenges, King County Parks adopted a longterm business plan to transition dozens of parks, trails, pools, and community centers in 2002. In 2004, King County Parks entered into a lease agreement with Boys and Girls Club to keep youth programming in the community. The Renway Club operated in the building until 2024.

To reactivate the building, King County Parks brought programming back in the summer of 2025, including the rec aides, sack lunches, teen activities, and the Youth Conservation Corps interns (these are the same folks that helped restore portions of Skyway Park, and designed the planting plans that neighbors helped execute at recent work parties). More programming is scheduled for summer 2026. At this time, the building is scheduled to transfer back to the Renton School District in March 2028.

WHCA Board Secretary Joel Bush greets guests.
Volunteer Shingo shows off aguas frescas from Skyway’s Crazy Corn.
Guests place food orders.
King County Urban Forest Manager Joanna Nelson de Flores shows off one of the free trees being given away.

Guests enjoyed free food, drinks, and snacks. King County Urban Forest Manager Joanna Nelson de Flores gave out free trees thanks to an amazing program supported by King County, Dare2Be Program, King Conservation District, and Dirt Corps. Neighbors in the 98178 zip code can still register for free trees through May 2, 2026 (or until supplies run out).

Guests playing Clue.
Guests playing Battleship.
Guest playing Candy Land.
Guests playing a card game.

The Skyway Rec Aides brought the fun, and helped facilitate games and crafts. For those who weren’t interested in a board game, there were also Legos, basketball, chalk, and pool.

Creating Shamrock crafts.
Building with Legos.
Blocking a shot in basketball.
Coloring in a horse.
Playing a game of pool.
Building Lego towers.
Family playing basketball.

We want to send out a BIG thanks to:
✨ King County Parks Skyway Rec Aides for partnering
✨Vana, Darlene, Michael, Santi, Ramere, Annabelle, Shingo, Todd, Mary G, Mary B, Randeep, and Isaac for helping out
✨King County Local Services’ Alan Painter Grant Program for the support
✨ King County DNRP, Dare2Be Project, King Conservation District, and Dirt Corps for providing FREE trees for neighbors
✨ and to every single one of you for making this community special. Thank you.

Three long tables with people sat around them, some are eating, some are playing games.

We’ll be releasing more details about our summer 2026 Community Social event soon, so be sure to stay connected!

Like having a more engaged, informed and vibrant community? You can make a huge impact by joining your neighbors in giving $5 or more a month to the leanest, hardest working all-volunteer nonprofit in the neighborhood.