Street end project on hold until at least fall

The project to renew the East Prospect Street end in Madison Park is on hold due to concern from surrounding neighbors. 

The Madison Park Community Council originally planned to clean up the East Prospect street end with the help of programs such as Seattle Public Utilities’ reLeaf Project and the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Shoreline Street Ends program. 

Gene Brandzel, the former president of the Madison Park Community Council (MPCC), suggested rehabilitating the street ends in the neighborhood.

“[Brandzel] took it upon himself really, and then we as a board got in on it,” current MPCC president Maurice Cooper explained.

Despite support from within the council and the City of Seattle, the project was postponed because of the feedback from locals.

“There were several people that spoke out about the project, but they all seem to be ready for us to proceed if we abide by their wishes,” Brandzel said. “One of those wishes was to not work during the summer.”

The project may start again in fall, but it largely depends on the terms the local neighbors directly affected by the project can agree on with the community council.

“I expect that a new look will be taken after Labor Day as to whether to proceed or not,” he said.

More visibility

Had the project proceeded, East Prospect Street would have been the second street end in Madison Park to be renovated. The first one was the East McGilvra street end.

Cooper said that he thinks there is a perception that opening up street ends will bring more people to the neighborhood, which could result in safety concerns, but that the contrary is true.

Street ends tend to be hidden among shrubbery and trees, with a view of the water at the end of the path. The isolated paths are cited as a safety concern by Brandzel and Seattle reLeaf project manager Katie Gibbons. 

“By making it more visible…it is less attractive to people who are going to be doing things down there like drugs,” Brandzel said. “If it was more open, there isn’t as many places to hide.”

Gibbons said that reLeaf Project’s Tree Ambassador Program aims to engage neighborhoods in renewing residential landscapes overgrown with invasive species. By removing invasive species such as English ivy and rehabilitating the street ends, it makes the areas friendlier for neighbors — not only for safety issues but habitat and aesthetic issues, as well. 

Neighborhood officials agreed that cleaning up the street ends would make them more aesthetically pleasing. 

“What we do is we’re just going to make it more attractive for more people to come,” Brandzel said. “We want it to look more available and we want it to look nice.” 

No neighborhood costs

The clearing process of the project would be done at no cost to Madison Park due to the support from programs such as Seattle reLeaf Project and the Shoreline Street Ends Program.

The Shoreline Street Ends Program is an initiative of the Seattle Department of Transportation to provide the public with access to waterfront sites by further developing and improving street ends. 

“The city’s programs provide you with tools and a container to throw the cuttings in,” Brandzel explained. “They bring, actually, a trailer with tools.” 

SDOT was unavailable to comment by press time.

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