Last year, Southeast Seattle neighbors complained about a lack of civic coordination when Rainier Avenue South was closed twice in as many weeks for street fairs between Columbia City and Hillman City.
The 16th Annual Rainier Valley Heritage Parade took place on Sat., Aug. 16. Then, on Sun., Aug. 31, the City closed the busy street again as part of Mayor Nickels’ Car-Free Day Initiative.
This year, thanks to Rainier Chamber Executive Director Susan Davis, the events will be combined into one day-long celebration scheduled for Sat., Aug. 8, when Rainier Avenue South will be closed from South Orcas to South Alaska streets for most of the day.
Susan called the City after last year’s events to suggest that they coordinate. “It doesn’t make sense to close the street twice in two weeks,” she said.
In addition to the August closure of Rainier Avenue South, from May through September, Bicycle Sundays will be held every weekend along Lake Washington Boulevard. Seward Park’s upper road is also being closed to cars on Wednesdays from 10 am to 3 pm.
The Rainier Valley Heritage Parade is a longtime community favorite. Photo/Daniel Gross.
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Bogota, Colombia closes major roads every Sunday for bikes, walkers, rollerskaters, etc. People or all ages go out and get fresh air away from the cars.
If you have not had the pleasure of car-free Sundays, it really is great.
Lake Washington Blvd was originally built for bicycles, anyway, and bikes are better for the pavement!
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