Lake to Bay Loop

Location: Lake Union to Elliott Bay

Since 2007, Seattle Parks Foundation has been spearheading the movement to reconnect Lake Union to Elliot Bay along the Lake to Bay Loop.  Originally imagined as the Potlatch Trail, this 3.2 mile figure 8 pedestrian route between Lake Union and Elliott Bay creates a vital and safe connection to some of Seattle’s civic treasures – Lake Union Park, Seattle Center, the Olympic Sculpture Park and Myrtle Edwards Park. While only separated by a mile, these attractions for residents and tourists have remained divided by Highway 99 and the “Mercer Mess.” The Lake to Bay Loop reconnects these neighborhoods with a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists.

Working with partners Seattle Center Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Uptown Alliance, Seattle Art Museum, Great City, Pacific Science Center, Vulcan, Feet First, FOLK Park, Center for Wooden Boats, Cascade Bicycle Club, KCTS9, Cushing Terrell, Belltown Business Association, Amazon.com, Space Needle, Lake Union Opportunity Alliance, Lake Union Community Council, Cascade Bicycle Club, Museum of History and Industry, South Lake Union Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Center and the City of Seattle, we created a unified vision for the trail and are successfully advocating for its implementation.

Recently the city allocated $150,000 for Lake to Bay’s design, wayfinding and other early implementation elements.  The design and early elements will be completed by Spring 2012.  The first large capital project – the Thomas Street Pedestrian Overpass, which will provide a new essential connection from Lower Queen Anne and the Seattle Center to the waterfront – is currently underway and will be complete by 2012.

For more information please visit the Lake to Bay website at http://www.lake2bay.org/ or contact Program Director Becca Aue.