A park sign signaling dogs are permitted to be off-leash.
Simon McGill/Getty ImagesAn unused flume property in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood will be transformed into an off-leash dog park and community space, with the expectation to open to the public in 2023.
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The announcement, made Wednesday by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), said the Seattle City Council Transportation & Utilities Committee voted to approve the transfer of land of the currently unused flume site in Georgetown to Seattle Parks & Recreation and SDOT.
The existing Georgetown Flume site will be converted to an off-leash dog park and trail connection for people biking, walking and rolling.
Seattle Department of Transportation
The eastern portion of the property will be owned and operated by the parks department as an off-leash area. Decided upon after neighbors expressed strong interest, construction will begin on the dog park in spring 2022 and is expected to be complete in winter 2022-2023.
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The western portion of the flume property will be transferred to SDOT, who will create a walking and biking path on the north side of E Marginal Way as part of the Georgetown to South Park Connection project. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2022 and open to the public in 2023.
“Creating an off-leash dog park in Georgetown and walking/biking trail that connects Georgetown and South Park has long been a goal of the Georgetown community, said Kate Kohler, Georgetown resident and co-chair of the Georgetown Open Space Committee in a blog post. "We are excited that this land transfer, in addition to the funding agreed to by Seattle City Light, Seattle Parks Department and SDOT, will allow these to become a reality in our neighborhood.”
Seattle City Light currently owns the site, located between Boeing and the Aero Motel. The Georgetown Flume transported water from the Duwamish River to the Georgetown Steam Plant until it closed in 1975.
Georgetown to South Park Connection route map and street layout details (design is not yet final).
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In return, Seattle City Light will be receiving a "street vacation," which allows property owners to petition the city council for use of the public right-of-way.
The Georgetown to South Park Connection was developed after being made a clear priority by locals in those neighborhoods. The project will connect the two areas and will create a smoother, safer path for people walking, biking and rolling in the area.
The flume property is currently closed to the public, but will reopen when construction work on the project is complete.