The Lake Union Trail Citizen Advisory Group began meeting in May and includes representatives from, among others, The Floating Homes Association, the Center for Wooden Boats, Seattle Bike Advisory Board, Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board, Lake Union Dry Dock, and the Eastlake Community Council. The main goal of the first meeting was to create guiding principles for the Lake Union Trail Project. Led by project manager, Terry Reckord of MacLeod Reckord, meeting attendees created the following five point list of guiding principles:
1. Create a safe corridor that accommodates a variety uses and provides a high quality experience.
2. Be a good neighbor to all the diverse users and communities around the Lake.
3. Create an identity for the loop that reflects the cultural and natural history of Lake Union and reflects the unique qualities of each adjoining neighborhood and community.
4. Make physical connections that link neighborhoods, local resources and the Lakefront.
5. Create opportunities for the larger community to engage in both the planning and long-term stewardship of the loop.
In addition to the May and June meetings, an open house was held on Tuesday, June seventeenth and many houseboaters were in attendance. It's our hope that, in addition to attending future open houses, Floating Homes Association members will communicate their concerns directly to the Board through amaliawalton@gmail.com , so we can make sure our voice is heard.
Our most recent communication with the city emphasized the need to protect parking all along the trail, use the Green Street plan that has already been created for the south end of Fairview Avenue and preserve wildlife habitat at street ends, especially the Edgar Street End. Trail Advisory Group meetings will resume in the fall and a walking tour for group participants is being planned.
Parks has announced another Loop Trail Master Plan Public Meeting September 11. Click here for details.