Union Bay Nature Trail
Want to complete U District's only nature trail?
The Opportunity
An abundance of nature lies just beside the U District along the shores of Union Bay, ideal for bird watching, forest bathing, and waterfront activities. But there are three gaps on this five-mile trail.
Once completed, the recreational trail would stretch from U Village and Laurelhurst in the north to Madison Park in the south, providing fantastic views of Union Bay along the way.
Steps to make it happen begin with determining public interest, then negotiating with UW for permission to make changes on their underutilized land. With their permission, we can raise funds from the city and state to upgrade sections of the existing trail:
- Add path along Ravenna Creek connecting U Village to Canal Road
- Divide Walla Walla Road for a protected walking and biking path
- Connect Montlake Lid overpass to Arboretum trail for bikes
- Repair submerged sections of Arboretum waterfront trail
1. Connect Union Bay to U Village
The Goal
To connect the missing link on the Union Bay nature trail for pedestrians and bikers.
The Problem
An abundance of nature lies just beside the U District along the shores of Union Bay, ideal for bird watching, forest hiking, and waterfront activities. But just one small section of this five-mile trail is missing.
An abundance of nature lies just beside the U District along the shores of Union Bay, ideal for bird watching, forest hiking, and waterfront activities. But just one small section of this five-mile trail is missing.
Once completed, the recreational pedestrian trail would stretch from Laurelhurst in North Seattle, all the way to Madison Park to the South as one continuous nature walk, free from vehicular traffic. The one remaining piece to prioritize for pedestrians is a low-traffic road behind Husky Stadium, on the University of Washington campus.
The Solution
The proposal is to divide the road in the middle, supporting pedestrians and cyclists on one side, and cars on the other. This would remove a dangerous blind turn and provide a safe space to enjoy fantastic views of Union Bay, as well as the Japanese Garden, the Arboretum, a new Montlake lid, UW's Waterfront Activity Center, light rail, and U Village. Steps to make it happen:
The proposal is to divide the road in the middle, supporting pedestrians and cyclists on one side, and cars on the other. This would remove a dangerous blind turn and provide a safe space to enjoy fantastic views of Union Bay, as well as the Japanese Garden, the Arboretum, a new Montlake lid, UW's Waterfront Activity Center, light rail, and U Village. Steps to make it happen:
- Determine public interest in completing this nature trail
- Negotiate with UW to update the short section of roadway
- Promote this natural gem in the U District.
Full Overview of the Proposal
Complete the Union Bay Nature Trail
Sign the online petition to complete the Union Bay Trail for pedestrians and bicyclists. The list of names and anonymous supporters will be presented to SDOT & UW to demonstrate broad support for this issue.
Supporters
"This is such a fabulous idea!! ... We should maximize this public space for people to experience the waterfront and nature in this area, and make safe and enjoyable connections for pedestrians and cyclists using this area."
— Rebecca
12+ Signers and counting...
Valerie Bentivegna
Cory Crocker
Derek Dexheimer
Eric Fisk
Rebecca Lavigne
David Leddel
Anthony Marcheselli
Jacob Moran
Plus 4 anonymous supporters!