SDOT crews have recently finished work on the Pavement to Parks project at the intersection of 17th Ave NW and NW Dock Pl in Ballard. The project repurposes excess intersection space to
improve safety for users of the 17th Ave NW Greenway while also providing a new public open space for the Ballard community.
SDOT worked with Groundswell NW and local residents on a community-driven process to determine how this intersection would be improved with a short-term, adaptable treatment. The Pavement to Parks space includes planters, large boulders for play and seating, and a kiosk that will feature project information and local artwork. Like all Pavement to Parks projects, the 17th Ave NW & NW Dock Pl space is an “interim” improvement testing the use of open space before longer-term street modifications can be made. Groundswell NW has been awarded an $86,000 Neighborhood Park and Street Fund (NPSF) grant to bring additional amenities and more permanent treatments to this space. In the meantime, SDOT will be evaluating the project to see how it’s being used and how it’s serving the adjacent greenway.
Pavement to Parks projects are a part of SDOT’s new Adaptive Streets Program, which uses low-cost, quick, and adaptable treatments to enhance streets and public spaces before permanent changes are made. Four more Pavement to Parks projects are slated for completion this year, along with 15 other “tactical projects” to improve pedestrian safety using similar treatments.
To learn more about the Adaptive Streets Program, visit http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/adaptivestreets.htm or email susan.mclaughlin@seattle.gov.