Draft Northeast Seattle Trails (NEST) Network

Northeast Seattle Trails Project recently held their second steering committee meeting and wanted to update all of us on where they are at with the process. They have received input on a number of good walking routes from the community and have placed these on attached preliminary map and trail network (see below and click on the images to enlarge). They are beginning the next step, which is to evaluate these routes in the field to discover the preferred walking trails/routes. They are also in the process of organizing community walks to help identify good walking routes and areas that need improvement.

NEST is looking for volunteers to help with the field work. If you have the time and interest in helping us do this, please pick a route(s) or area to walk and use the attached walking survey tool to evaluate the trails/routes. Then return this to NEST along with any pictures you take while your out. The survey asks questions about the quality of the path, the crossings, ambiance, and local destinations. If we could get most of these back by July 10, that will help us compile the trails so we can begin to narrow the overall trail system.

To use the walking (audit) tool:

• Choose a route you want to walk that is either on the trail network, or is something you think should be on the trail network.
• Print out a few paper copies of the tool (if you don’t have access to a printer, let us NEST know and they will try to get copies to you).
• Read the survey over before you leave to have a sense of what you will be looking for.
• Go out and walk the route, enjoying yourself and taking notice of the trail’s condition and your experience.
• If the trail makes a dramatic change of conditions (goes from sidewalks to no sidewalks, quiet street to noisy arterial) then complete a survey for the section you have already walked.
• If your route takes you onto (what could be considered) another trail, such as from going along 55th, to being along the Burke Gilman, then complete a survey for the section you have already walked
• If you get to the end of your route, then complete a survey for the section you walked.

Also, if you are interested in helping organize walks this summer, please let NEST know, we are looking for volunteers to help with this as well.

Please visit http://www.feetfirst.info/content/trails-1/northeast-seattle-trails to take the NEST on-line survey and find out more information about the project.

(click on the images below to enlarge)