Three park and street improvements are coming to Ballard, thanks to a city program that allows residents to vote on projects to enhance the community. It’s called the Your Voice, Your Choice: Parks & Streets program, in which 51 projects around the city were chosen based on votes from residents. According to the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, 7,200 people voted in this year’s program.

The 51 projects came from a pool of more than 1,000 ideas submitted in February from residents around the city. Five-hundred city volunteers evaluated each submission, and city departments then worked to provide cost estimates for the proposals. The official vote started in June, allowing residents ages 11 and above to choose which projects should be funded.

The city’s budget for the 51 projects is $3 million, with a maximum of $285,000 allocated for each City Council District.

The projects chosen for Ballard include the following:

Crossing Improvements at 15th Ave NW and NW Market St (Cost: $35,000, Total Votes: 377)

SDOT will install two new poles and eight accessible pedestrian signal (APS) push buttons for the intersection with audio for the visually impaired. According to the project submission, it’s currently unsafe for visually impaired to cross the intersection to get to nearby bus stops.

Improvements on 8th and Leary (Cost: $90,000, Total Votes: 379)

The project includes the installation of a green box and green bike lane across the intersection of 8th and Leary. According to the submission, the project was suggested because, “the southbound bike lane gets cut off by the Metro bus and other large vehicles taking wide turns.” The improvement will also help bikers headed south on 8th Ave NW to safely cross Leary to get to the Burke Gilman Trail.

Improvements at Salmon Bay Park (Cost: $12,550, Total Votes: 307)

The city will replace existing benches and tables and install more along flat grass at West entrance to playground.

For a full map of the submitted projects and ideas, click here.

Photo courtesy Seattle.gov