seattle neighborhood greenways presents to seattle parks foundation

Seattle Parks Foundation Board Sept 4, 2013 presentation, Cathy Tuttle & Gordon Padelford

Seattle Neighborhood Greenways www.SeattleGreenways.org

Play a leading role in the introduction of neighborhood

greenways as a new type of green connection between

the people of Seattle and their parks.

Recommendation #1 from Bands of Green 2011  

What is a neighborhood greenway?

Beautiful effective traffic control in neighborhoods

Curbs, pedestrian/bicycle signals needed to cross busy roads add cost to projects.

Vancouver BC greenways connect people to parks

Bioswales along greenways add beauty and high installation/maintenance costs.

Vancouver has over 100 miles and plans 200 miles of streets prioritized for people.

Portland has over 100 miles of family-friendly greenways.

Portland greenways also include trees, benches, and bioswales

Seattle September 2011

•Tepid interest by SDOT, Parks, Council,  transportation advocacy groups

•Three local greenways groups

•No funding for greenways

•No neighborhood greenways

Seattle September 2013

•Strong support by SDOT, Parks, Council, transportation advocacy groups

•23 local greenways groups

•$5 million in City investments

•7 miles of neighborhood greenways

2011

SeattleNeighborhoodGreenways

2012

SeattleNeighborhoodGreenways

17 groups

3. Learn from the localsSeattle Neighborhood Greenways @2012Clockwise from upper left: Rainier Beach, Columbia City, Lake City, Ballard

Crowd-sourced mapping taps local knowledge of landmarks and safest routes.

Money

Seattle Bicycle Master Plan Update 2013

85% of the greenways routes recommended in the 2013Seattle Bicycle Master Plan Updatecame directly from GIS maps submittedby local greenways groups.

MoneyCity of Seattle 2012-2013 Greenways Funding

$4,825,000

2012 $2,700,000• Council Direct Funding for Greenways 2012 $1,250,000• Large Project Grants (4) 2012 (approx.) $380,000• Greenwood Greenways Go to School 2012 (approx.)

$495,000

2013 $2,125,000• Mayor’s Safe Routes to School Projects (3) 2013 $800,000• Council Direct Funding to Ballard Greenway 2013 $1,275,000• Council Direct Funding to Delridge Greenway 2013 $625,000

(another $5 million has been invested in street access, comfort, and safety improvements based on SNG recommendations)

Seattle Neighborhood Greenways www.SeattleGreenways.org

Celebration! Wallingford Greenway opening

3. Learn from the locals

Education: Livable Streets Mayoral Forum

Advocacy: Memorial Walks

Major Goals 2013-2014

• Complete crowd-sourced greenway maps with REI funding

• Solidify and grow membership base of 1000+ people in 23 neighborhood groups using Bullitt Foundation funding

• Build Board, raise $250,000, create 501(c)(3), continue relationship with Seattle Parks Foundation

• Monitor and advocate to prioritize public investments in safe, green street infrastructure

Tupper Greenway Park creates two quiet street ends.

Vancouver traffic is calmed by many tiny pocket parks in the street right-of-way

Community volunteers maintain hundreds of planting strip gardens like these

Two greenways are connected through an engineered pocket park

Vancouver street calms traffic, creates beautiful public space, and diverts storm water in the right-of-way