As a South Park homeowner I am writing to urge (the Port of Seattle) to move forward with the street-end improvements at 8th Avenue South.

After attending a public meeting on this issue and viewing the planning images and documents I am convinced that this small green space will add a great deal to the neighborhood's orientation to the Duwamish River, provide park space for residents and employees of local industry to relax, create wildlife habitat along Seattle's only river, and improve an area that is currently used only for illegal activity, if anything at all.

As we have seen with the County Line bar and other areas, if we get out there and use these heretofore underutilized spaces, the opportunities for petty criminals to get away with nefarious behavior are fewer. Frankly, I don't understand why anyone would think that such an improvement in access and lighting would bring an increase in illegal activity. I would expect just the opposite.

In the interest of safety, however, I would encourage a two-phase development of the site. The first phase establishes the site and creates the green space, but does not include the pathway to Riverside Street since that is currently undergoing heavy industrial use and creating a pathway into that area would, at present, be asking for trouble.

The second phase, initiated at such time as an agreement can be made with the city to convert the Riverside Street right of way to a public-friendly park site, would include installing the pathway - which would then lead not into industrial activity, but to an expanded green space. The complete package would be a green gem of park space that both the Port the city could brag about.

In addition, everything that the Port and City can do to help the residents and industry of South Park improve the streets, curbs, and sidewalks of that whole industrial sector would be much appreciated. It makes sense that if we can invest in green spaces to make the area more welcoming to foot traffic or the lunchtime crowd, the least we can do is improve the infrastructure that our industry needs to operate efficiently.

Joel Clement

South Park