A resident makes the case for improved pedestrian access to Carkeek Park at the March 25 Northwest District Council meeting.
Residents crowded the March 25 Northwest District Council meeting to make the case for more than a dozen projects that qualify for the Seattle Neighborhood Projects Fund.
The district council ranked the top five projects this week for the Seattle Department of Transportation to evaluate. The council also named two backup projects.
Four of these projects could affect the greater Ballard neighborhood.
One of the prioritized projects is to install a speed bump, stop sign or other traffic-control device to reduce speeds on Greenwood Avenue North between North 53rd Street and North 54th Street.
"All we're asking for is a stop sign at the very least," one neighbor said at the meeting.
Representatives of seven homes attended the meeting to support the construction of sidewalks on the 8700 block of First Avenue Northwest, another of the prioritized projects.
Neighbors said that stretch has become unsafe with an increase in vehicle traffic.
"It doesn't feel safe ever when I'm walking with my daughter to the store," said one woman.
Another of the five projects concerns pedestrian access to Carkeek Park along Carkeek Park Road. Residents are concerned that there is no safe way to get to the park on foot due to the path being overgrown with vegetation and the speed limit not being observed.
"I walk my dog to the park and I don't feel safe," said a resident. "I can't walk my grandson down to the park."
Measures to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety is one of the backup projects. These measures could include curb bulbs, medians and increased bicycle parking.
The Northwest District Council will hear back from the Department of Transportation in mid-June and make a final ranking based on its input.
Each year, the city makes approximately $1.3 million available for small-scale projects. Seattle's 13 district councils each prioritize their top five projects, which are submitted by residents.
Sixteen of the 160 projects submitted this year came from the northwest district. The Ballard district submitted the most with 40.
