Bell Street Park

In response to a community desire for more green open space for this growing, already dense Belltown Neighborhood, HEWITT in collaboration with SvR Design and the City transformed four-blocks of right-of-way into Seattle’s first-of-its-kind linear public street park and Woonerf corridor.

Location

Seattle, WA

TYPOLOGY

Civic

Client

City of Seattle

design PARTNERS

SvR

SIZE

4 blocks

ABOUT the project

By reclaiming vehicular travel lanes for pedestrian use, elevating the road to eliminate curbs for program flexibility, and mixing bicycles, pedestrian, and cars to create a shared space to slow traffic, the community gains a vibrant, green, and much needed safe open space.  What once was an often-avoided corridor has become an active center of the neighborhood.

Salvaged granite curbing was reused for seating perches; reduced parking gave new areas for people to gather, street trees were replaced for better sight lines, increased plating areas manage stormwater; and integrated public art and addition of pedestrian-scale lighting define the new park.

The project serves as a model for future woonerfs in Seattle and beyond.