A New Safe Route to School!
- July 1, 2014
Councilmember Mike O'Brien with students at the Wildcat Way ribbon-cutting ceremony
On June 20th, Seattle City Councilmember Mike O'Brien cut the ribbon on Wildcat Way, a new safe pathway for kids walking and biking to schools along the 17th Ave NW corridor.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured 300 sixth grade kids from Whitman School. Selena Carsiotis from Crown Hill and a leader of Ballard Greenways launched the pathway project and organized the ribbon-cutting event.
Ballard Greenways identified this trail connection of 17th Ave NW to Whitman School as a critical link between Whitman School and future neighborhood greenways. In fact, Ballard Greenways worked with Seattle Department of Transportation to fund a "Greenways Go To School" safe streets project in 2012 to serve children walking and biking to FIVE different neighborhood schools along 17th Ave NW.
Along with Mike O'Brien and Selena Carsiotis, participants at the ribbon cutting included parent Amy Brockhaus, Shannon Koller from Cascade Bicycle Club & members Ballard District Council, the Seattle Fire Department, and The Seattle Channel.
Next year Cascade Bicycle Club will organize bike trains to Whitman Middle School using this path. We all win with safe routes to school—walking, biking and driving! Let's make sure we fund construction of the 17th Ave neighborhood greenway in Mayor Ed Murray's 2015 budget.
Nice work Selena and Ballard Greenways!