seattle neighborhood greenways presents to seattle parks foundation
DESCRIPTION
Two years ago Bands of Green report and SNG presented a vision in Seattle. Two years later, staff and politicians in the City of Seattle have fully embraced the idea of greenways, with 7 miles completed and investments actually far in excess of $5 million for safe green streets construction that were recommended by local greenways groups all over the city. How did we do it? The fact is, in most cities close to 30% of land mass is devoted to cars – land is our most valuable resource and we’ve given most of it over to parking and moving cars. Greenways take back just a bit of that land and remake streets as places for people. We’re all about walking and biking and safe streets, but we believe in more than just slowing traffic. Streets can be places for gardens, trees, furniture, storm water retention.TRANSCRIPT
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