posted 06/10/08 11:20 PM
Views: 182 | Comments : 9 | All the Hill

Enjoy Volunteer Park Car-Free

By Andrew Taylor
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COMMUNITY MEETING
Regarding Proposal to Provide Opportunities at
Volunteer Park
to Enjoy the Park Car-free

Seattle Parks and Recreation invites you to a community meeting to discuss “It’s a Walk in the Park,” a proposal to increase opportunities for everyone to have car-free use of our parks one weekday and one weekend day each week July through September. This would expand current car-free locations to include Volunteer Park.

This proposal is part of the City’s campaign to Give Your Car the Summer Off, a component of the Climate Action Now initiative.

Please join us at this meeting to learn about the proposal and provide input to help Parks understand the needs of participants and neighbors.

Meeting Information
Montlake Community Center
Multi-Purpose Room
1618 East Calhoun Street
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
6:30-8:30 pm

If you are unable to attend the meeting or have additional comments, we encourage you to send comments to Karen Tsao, by email to karen.tsao@seattle.gov or by post to 100 Dexter Avenue N, Seattle, WA 98109

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What's the goal?
While I think it's great to encourage people to drive less, I'm not sure how impactful making Volunteer Park car-free for a day or two a week really is.

It's not like car-traffic IN the park is a huge blocker from people enjoying the park. Is it? Maybe it is for some people. What do we actually accomplish by making the park car-free?

I guess I should go to the meeting to find out... :)
Comment by pffft
June 11, 2008
( 0 votes ) Recommend this
parked with the engine running and the radio on.
maybe the cruisers who just sit in their cars down by the path / tennis courts will actually have to get out.
Comment by mattw
June 11, 2008
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spit shine
What about all those dudes who need a place to detail their cars?
Comment by linder seattle
June 11, 2008
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RE: spit shine
Seriously, I do see dudes parked in the park with their engine hoods up, working on their cars. Am I a total rube to think there must be some need for an open area for people to work on their cars? It's kind of elaborate if these mechanics have ulterior motives.
Comment by jseattle
June 11, 2008
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Tp put it in context
They're only proposing "one weekday and one weekend day each week ", not a total all summer long ban! That should not inconvenience all the people who need the asphalt in the parks too much.
Comment by Andrew Taylor
June 11, 2008
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Weddings in the park
On a more serious note, there are many weddings on weekends during the summer in Volunteer Park (either at the museum and/or near the dahlias).

Restricting parking that impacts long-planned weddings and then creates massive parking hassles around the park really doesn't sound like something that is going to improve the climate to say the least.

Oh, and J, yes you are a total rube. And yes those are ulterior motives.
Comment by linder seattle
June 11, 2008
( 0 votes ) Recommend this
"working" on your car in the park
By the way, not that many laws are enforced in the park (except unleashed dogs - a debate for another day) working on your car on a city street is actually illegal (unless your car is so disabled it needs work to operate):

SMC 11.72.355 Servicing vehicles in street.

No person shall park a vehicle in any street or alley to service such
vehicle by supplying such vehicle with gasoline, oil or water; or by
changing or renewing the tires thereof; or by washing the same; or by
repairing the same in any manner which leaves the vehicle on the
street or alley in an inoperable condition: Provided, however, that
necessary service may be rendered to a vehicle so disabled that the
same cannot be operated under its own power or without damage or
injury thereto.

http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/code1.htm
Comment by linder seattle
June 11, 2008
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I confess!
I washed my car in the street! I'm a criminal. To whom should I surrender?
Comment by Andrew Taylor
June 11, 2008
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You should just beg forgiveness from mother nature.
The washing the car thing in the street is a real issue and it creates a lot of really nasty runoff. If you use biodegradable, frienly detergents, it's a bit better. But you still get a lot of oil/gas into the water.

(Excuse me while I go hug a tree).
Comment by pffft
June 11, 2008
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