Support the Beacon Hill and Ballard Neighborhood Greenways

With Seattle’s first neighborhood greenway -- the Wallingford Greenway -- now completed and in use, the City of Seattle will be hosting two open houses to discuss plans for implementing greenways in Beacon Hill and Ballard.  These open houses are a great opportunity to learn about the greenway plans and to provide your support to ensure that these projects move forward as high-quality neighborhood greenways, providing people of all ages and abilities safe, convenient, and comfortable opportunities to walk and bike.

As the City continues to design and implement new greenways (seven miles planned for 2012), the Wallingford Greenway serves as a useful case study to help you decide what makes you and your family feel most comfortable, and what might make it even better. We encourage you to ride or walk the Wallingford Neighborhood Greenway to get a sense for what you like and don’t like to provide input on the design elements of Seattle’s evolving neighborhood greenway network.

The Beacon Hill Greenway Open House: 

Planned Beacon Hill Neighborhood Greenway

On Thursday, July 19, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., the Seattle Department of Transportation will showcase their plans to install the Beacon Hill Neighborhood Greenway – a 2.8 mile greenway connecting from the I-90 Trail south to S Lucile Street. Destinations along the greenway include the Beacon Hill library, Jefferson Park, Maplewood Playfield, and several schools.  The Beacon Hill Greenway is one of several that were proposed in the Beacon BIKES Circulation Plan, which was initiated by the community and funded by a grant from the Department of Neighborhoods.

The greenway will start at the I-90 Trail & 18th Avenue S, continuing south along 18th Avenue S and crossing Beacon Ave S at Hanford Street.  South of Jefferson Park the greenway will cross 15th Avenue S at S Dakota Street and continue on 12th Avenue S to S Lucile Street.

The proposed project elements along the greenway route include:

  • Signs and pavement legends along the greenway
  • Stop signs to control traffic crossing the greenway
  • Median island with new marked crosswalks at LaFayette Avenue S & S Spokane Street
  • Median island with new marked crosswalks at Beacon Avenue S & S Hanford Street
  • Rechannelization and signal improvements at Beacon Avenue S & S Spokane Street
  • Widened sidewalk on S Dakota Street between 16th Avenue S & 14th Avenue S
  • Paved trail adjacent to Jefferson Park

If you are able to attend the open house, we recommend focusing on ensuring that all intersections along the Beacon Hill Greenway, such as S College St and S Spokane St, are designed to facilitate safe transitions for people walking and biking.

Meeting details:

Date: Thursday, July 19
Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Location: Jefferson Community Center, 3801 Beacon Ave S

The Ballard Greenway Open House:

Planned Ballard Neighborhood Greenway

On Thursday, July 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., the Seattle Department of Transportation will present plans for the Ballard Greenway– a 2.1 mile long greenway beginning at the Burke-Gilman Trail at Seaview Avenue NW, traveling along NW 58th and 57th Streets, and terminating at 4th Avenue NW.  The greenway will improve access for people walking and bicycling to destinations like the Ballard library, parks, schools, and the Burke-Gilman Trail.

The proposed project elements along the greenway route include:

  • Signs and pavement legends along the greenway
  • Stop signs to control traffic crossing the greenway at certain intersections
  • Widened sidewalk on Seaview Avenue NW to access the Burke-Gilman Trail
  • Median island at 24th Avenue NW and NW 58th Street
  • Diverter for eastbound traffic at 15th Avenue NW and NW 58th St (at St. Alphonsus School)
  • Additional bicycle parking at destinations along the route

Meeting details:

Date: Thursday, July 26
Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Location: Adams Elementary School cafeteria, 6110 28th Avenue NW

We encourage you to attend these open houses to support the projects as currently planned. Without your support for critical components of the neighborhood greenway projects – such as key arterial crossing improvements – our greenway designs are at risk of being modified and may result in the construction of a less-than-ideal facility. Please come and speak up for the safety, convenience, and comfort of the community – both young and old.

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