Background
Most of the children who attend Bailey Gatzert Elementary School live within walking distance, but the path to school is challenging. Bailey Gatzert is surrounded by high-speed arterials, and the First Hill streetcar runs around the edges of the school, creating confusion and hazards. Central Seattle Greenways has partnered with the school community to help students and their families get to school safely.
Walking school bus
With support from CSG and SDOT, Gatzert parents lead walking school bus routes to help students get to school safely, on time, and ready to learn. The routes vary from year to year, depending on the availability of parents to lead and the homes of students who want to participate. One thing that remains consistent is that kids who join the walking school bus get to school on time and have fun along the way!
Re-envisioning the neighborhood
It’s not just students and their families who have trouble navigating the local streets. The fast and chaotic traffic poses a hazard for people of all ages, especially elders, walking through the area. Gaps in bike infrastructure make the area harrowing for people biking. And people driving are often frustrated by backups and the confusing grid. Particularly, the areas where Boren, Yesler, and 12th Ave intersect are both frustrating and dangerous — crossing guards have even been hit by vehicles there. Clearly, we can do better.
However, it’s important that the communities who live in this area and who have strong historical and cultural ties to these overlapping neighborhoods are involved in any redesign. CSG is engaging community members to begin to imagine their ideal neighborhood, and from those conversations we are identifying shared values and priorities to inform future planning. We have led community walks to explore the different aspects of the area on foot, and are hosting a community vision workshop on Sunday, Oct 29, 2023 to bring folks together to describe a neighborhood that works for everyone and brings them joy.
Join the workshop!
If you live, work, play, study, or worship in the area, we invite you to join us for this free workshop. It’s Sunday, October 29, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. on the first floor of Washington Hall. Please register here!
Learn more
If you would like to contribute to this effort or learn more, please email us at centralseattlegreenways@gmail.com.
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