Summer Parkways 2016 kicks off with what is shaping up to be one of the biggest open streets events in recent Seattle history. Head down to Rainier Valley from 12:30 to 4:30 Saturday afternoon for car-free community fun.
Teaming up with the long-running Rainier Valley Heritage Parade in Columbia City and the Big Day of Play, Summer Parkways will connect Rainier Playfield and Othello Park partially via residential streets and partially right down the middle of a car-free Rainier Ave.
Both ends of the route will be packed with activities (seriously, see the *partial* list below) from food trucks to trampolines to a car show (hey, if its an open streets event then even Seattle Bike Blog can get into a car show).
The Parkways team has learned from last year’s events in the Central District and Ballard and say they have a better traffic control plan this time around (both events had issues with people driving on the route and volunteers who had a rough time trying to stop them).
But perhaps the biggest change for the Rainier Valley event is the amount of community partnership building that went into the planning, thanks in large part to Rainier Valley Greenways organizer and Seattle Bike Advisory Board member Phyllis Porter. And it shows in the number of organizations on board to participate.
Because while open streets are on the surface about bicycling (and walking), they’re actually about community. When car traffic is diverted from a street, the people who live, work and play there can fill the space and have fun together. A bike is just one fun way to experience it.
Meet at Othello Park at noon to ride at 12:45 with Mayor Ed Murray and other community members.
Get more details on the event page. You can also sign up to volunteer. From SDOT: (more…)