[nfbwatlk] Fw: footprints May: Is your community resilient?
Jacob Struiksma
lawnmower84 at hotmail.com
Wed May 6 07:14:54 UTC 2009
----- Original Message -----
From: Feet First
To: jacobstruiksma at gmail.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 6:18 PM
Subject: footprints May: Is your community resilient?
May 2009
A monthly e-newsletter, brought to you by:
Feet First
Dear Friend of Feet First,
Healthy walkable neighborhoods are integral to community resilience. Feet First supports connections between people, diversity of land use and the diversity between transportation systems.
Feet First supports resilience through legislation. We are pleased to have worked as a part of the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition on the Safe Routes to School bill. The bill strengthens the state’s Safe Routes to School program by placing it directly into statute, providing greater legitimacy and visibility to both underscore the importance of active transportation. To that end, tomorrow we celebrate our first of four Walk & Roll events at Sanislo Elementary school in Seattle (find out more about the event below).
Feet First supports resilience through proper planning. Emerging throughout cities in Washington are active transportation plans: City of Kirkland’s More People, More Places, More Often and the City of Tukwila’s Walk and Roll Plan. And now, the City of Seattle’s first pedestrian master plan is due out later this week. Over the last year Feet First played an integral part in crafting the plan. It will be ready for your review this week through June 15th. Be sure to take a look and give your feedback.
Feet First inspires resilience in neighborhoods by supporting peoples’ vision. Last month, Feet First headed up to Aurora and 130th Street to be a part of a Crosswalk Action. This action highlighted the neighborhood’s need for a direct crosswalk to stores. Through the Aurora Action Task Force, the neighbors are getting their wish as necessary physical improvements come later this year.
With more walkable communities, we will not be the same as we were; we will become more connected to the natural world and ultimately healthier. Get involved in Feet First—become a member, attend our upcoming social or volunteer.
Thanks for your support,
Lisa Quinn
Executive Director
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your footprint
Sanislo celebrates Safe Routes to School Month this May
As part of the Go! Project for Safe Routes to School, families at Sanislo Elementary school will be walking & rolling to school in great numbers throughout the month of May. This is the culminating event of a comprehensive safe routes program that Feet First has conducted with 3 area schools over the past 2 years. Read more for details about Walk & Roll Wednesdays and the Go! Project.
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your help needed
Train to be a Walking Ambassador, Wednesday, May 20
Learn to lead walking tours of areas covered by the Feet First Building Walkable Communities Map Series. These maps contain interesting facts about the local architecture, history and the business community. Tours are often built around these maps, but other tours could be created based on interest. Feet First staff and the lead volunteer from last year's walking tour will share tips on how to lead a walking tour.
The Building Walkable Communities map series is available for the following areas: Uptown Seattle, Central District, West Seattle, North Beacon Hill, Ballard,University District, Burien (Spanish Speaking preferred).
For more information and to sign up for training please contact info at feetfirst.info
When: Wednesday, May 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Feet First Office, 314 1st Avenue South, Seattle 98104
Live in Delridge? Come help us create a wayfinding system to encourage walking
Feet First is working with community groups in Delridge to install on-the-ground wayfinding signs. Signs and kiosks will point the way to important destinations along safe and scenic routes for walkers. This project will extend the West Seattle Trails system from the Southwest District to Delridge covering the entire peninsula.
You can help by:
- discussing with neighbors what the signs should point to
- walking with neighbors to discuss good sign locations
- walking trails to make sure they are still suitable
- determining appropriate names for local trails
- designing content for their neighborhood kiosk
- assisting in creating art pieces to beautify the kiosks
- telling your neighbors about the project and coming to local meetings
If you would like to help or would like more information about this project, please contact Seth by calling: 652-2310 or emailing: seth at feetfirst.info
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story from the sole
Erik's story
Welcoming a new child into the world thrills most any parent, and Erik is no exception. Already a stepfather to two, Erik has enjoyed his role as a father and looked forward to expanding his family. One of the few drawbacks to a growing family, however, is the stretched demand on time. It can be especially difficult for a young father, such as Erik, to strike a satisfying work-life balance. Living in a more economically depressed region of the United States often means Erik holds down a number of jobs at once to make ends meet.
A natural consequence of splitting so much of his time between work opportunities is that he has little personal time (or energy) once he makes it home at the end of the day. Though unhappy with the situation, for years Erik simply tolerated the impact it had on his quality family time. Once his son was born, Erik decided he really needed to carve out time to bond with and appreciate his newest child. When a box of gifts arrived from his elder sister, Erik discovered a strap-on baby carrier. He immediately put it on and slipped his son inside. He realized with this simple device he could experience that quality time he was looking to have.
In the early weeks and months after the birth of his son and the receipt of the baby carrier, Erik has enjoyed many hours of walking around his neighborhood with his son strapped to his chest. He likes these strolls best for their opportunity for time alone with his baby. Though he doesn’t always have as much time as he’d like for his father-son walks, he’s happy with every minute he can find.
This issue of story from the sole has been submitted by Feet First supporter, Jarucia Jaycox Nirula. Submit your Story from the Sole by emailing michelle at feetfirst.info
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dearborn project update
As you may have read in the news recently, the developer Darrel Vange (TRF) for the Goodwill site at Dearborn and Rainier has pulled out from the project. Feet First supports the community action efforts of the Jackson Place Neighbors for Responsible Growth (JPNRG). JPNRG has worked with University of Washington graduate architecture students under the direction of Professor Michael Pyatok.
The JPNRG and UW team consider the original Dearborn project to be out of scale with the neighborhood and overly car-oriented. In response to the TRF proposal, the team came up with an alternate design. The major differences are:
a.. More residential space - A significantly larger percentage of the square footage is dedicated to residential use and more of the apartments will have 3-4 bedrooms, which extended families in the Asian community often need;
b.. Small streets preserved - many of the small streets within the Goodwill site that are to be vacated in the current Dearborn project are preserved in this alternate vision; and
c.. More Goodwill functions remain on site - Goodwill currently uses the site for more than just its store. In this alternate plan, more Goodwill functions such as warehouse space are retained on site.
The increased residential footprint will mean the most of the commercial space will be used for retail establishments serving the people who live in the site instead of bringing in shoppers in cars from around the
Seattle metro region.
The JPNRG and UW team started out with a vision of pedestrian-oriented streetscapes along the small inner streets put together by a landscape architect on the team. Some interior streets could be woonerfs, streets where pedestrian activities take precedence over those of the vehicle and vehicles traveling through travel at the speed of the pedestrian. The buildings were designed around these streetscapes with retail along the ground floor and plazas/entrances leading to the streets.
Feet First will continue to keep a pulse on the next steps and provide ongoing updates about the detailed financial plan for this alternative development and options for redevelopment.
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mark your calendar
PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE OF SOCIAL!
Feet First Social & Silent Auction: Monday, May 18
Every couple of months we bring folks together meet others who share our vision for a walkable region. Celebrate with us as we unveil the new mission and vision statements. Board members have generously donated some outstanding auction items--including a Mariner Fan Basket and much, much more. See more information about the social.
When: Monday, May 18, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Motore Coffee, 1904 9th Ave Seattle, 98101
See you there!
City of Seattle Launches Pedestrian Master Plan and features Mark Fenton: Tuesday, May 12
When: Tuesday, May 12, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Where: Sound Transit Union Station Board Room, 401 South Jackson Street, Seattle, 98104
The Seattle Department of Transportation (in partnership with Sound Transit) will host an event to celebrate the launch of Seattle's Pedestrian Master Plan. The event will feature Mark Fenton, former host of the PBS series "America's Walking." Mr. Fenton is an engaging and inspiring speaker, and his presentation will focus on the importance of walking for health, climate protection, and transportation. Contact mostwalkablecity at seattle.gov for more information.
May Wallingford Walks: Saturday, May 16
Craftsman, Bungalows and More - Led by Al Elliott - Take a walk through the neighborhood to see some of the more interesting home architecture. Wallingford was building just as the Craftsman style hit its peak. The Wallingford Bungalow is another special part of the neighborhood. We'll see some of the finer examples -- and a few other interesting homes. Learn more about this walk.
When: Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m.
Where: Tully's - N 45th St. and Meridian Ave N.
Link Light Rail Launches: Saturday, July 18
Link Light Rail is scheduled to launch with free rides during these weekend hours. Revenue service begins on a full schedule on Monday, July 20th, at 5:00 a.m. The hours of the Link light rail launch are officially:
Saturday, July 18 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. & Sunday, July 19 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Feet First is working with Public Health and community members to put together walks from different locations along the corridor. Special events are being planned. The Southeast Senior Center to Othello Station on Saturday, July 18th. The Senior Center is hosting a fundraiser pancake breakfast from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. for $5. Please call Ruth to reserve at 206-722-0317. Walks to the Othello Station originate at 4655 S Holly Street, Seattle 98118.
Summer Streets Begin in Ballard: Friday, May 15
Come to Ballard to experience a street transformed into a public place. For this event, 22nd Avenue is being opened up and connecting to Bergen Place Park creating one large park.
More information about this event...
When: Friday, May 15, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Where: 22nd Avenue at Bergen Place Park, Ballard
May is Bike to Work Month, and May 14 is Bike to work day
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YODIO
This month's Yodio is for Schmitz Park in West Seattle. Yodio combines a story recorded with your phone with pictures. Courtesy of Feet First volunteer James Winquist. Enjoy!
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Vote for Feet First
We have submitted an application showcasing how we have put our donated Adobe Software to good use with our mapping projects. We are eligible to win $1000 plus additional Adobe Software. Part of the process is the community voting.
Here are the details: You must have a registered account --really easy--in order to vote. Once registered, scroll down to the list of projects. Our project is called Neighborhood on Foot.
Thanks for your support.
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get involved
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Volunteer!
Feet First volunteer positions includes administration, map distributors, walking ambassador, GIS map maker and more. Do you have a skill you would like to share with Feet First? Let us know. You are only limited by your creativity.
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