Transforming Streets into Parks

Gemenskap Park

Seattle, WA

Reorganizing Public Space

This is the third interdepartmental project in Seattle converting streets to public space where land is at a premium. One of the few boulevards in Seattle, this former trolley street in the Ballard neighborhood will become a 52-foot wide park providing improved safety, green stormwater treatment, multi-use path for biking and neighborhood greenway connections. 

Neighbors Talking to Neighbors

Community meetings were structured to support dialogue in small groups. Through iterative conversations, neighbors convinced each other that reduced parking and minimal programming would provide flexibility and sociability.

Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Utilizing existing drainage inlets, the innovative stormwater design captures and filters street runoff from each block. This strategy serves as a catalyst for future street redevelopment that could result in a full mile of street runoff to be filtered before entering the Ship Canal, and support increased access to nature as the neighborhood continues to develop.