Rainier Valley Neighborhood Greenway
Updated: May 22, 2024
What's Happening Now?
We are excited to announce that construction is underway on the S Walden St & John Muir Elementary Neighborhood Greenway Connection to the Rainier Valley Neighborhood Greenway.
This connection on S Della St between Cheasty Blvd S and 27th Ave S continuing onto S Walden St until it reaches 34th Ave S and S Horton St will include stop signs at each residential street intersecting the greenway and new speed humps along the route.
Last week, the new stop sign and asphalt curb bulb were installed at S Della St and Cheasty Blvd S, along with new speed humps along the route. Next steps for construction will include an additional painted curb bulb, pavement markings, and new wayfinding signage.
This extension connects John Muir Elementary to the broader bicycle network and other community destinations through the existing Neighborhood Greenway and Healthy Street running on nearby streets. We will be installing the Neighborhood Greenway starting this spring and finishing in 2024.
What To Expect During Construction?
There will be “no parking” signs along this street due to construction of speed humps and staging. Please move your vehicles during the “no parking” timeframes, otherwise they will be towed.
Photo of newly installed speed humps by John Muir Elementary School
Current Project Map
The S Walden St & John Muir Elementary Neighborhood Greenway provides safer, calmer neighborhood connections for people walking, biking, and rolling. This neighborhood greenway connects John Muir Elementary to the broader neighborhood greenway network and other community destinations. It is also one of several projects planned inside the John Muir Home Zone.
Project Background
The Rainier Valley Neighborhood Greenway is a route over six miles long stretching from Mount Baker to Rainier Beach. The route includes small improvements like crosswalks, curb ramps, speed humps, stop signs, and pavement repairs that go a long way to make walking and biking around the neighborhood easier.
Since 2014, we've been gathering community input on the greenway route to select streets that aren't too steep and connect people to neighborhood destinations like light rail, parks, grocery stores, schools, and more.
Map of the North Section Route of the Greenway:
More about neighborhood greenways
Neighborhood greenways are safer, calmer residential streets for you, your family, and neighbors. We make people walking and biking the priority.
Neighborhood greenways can include:
- 20 mph speed limit signs
- Speed humps to calm traffic
- Stop signs for side streets crossing the greenway signs and pavement markings to help people find their way
- Easier crossings of busy streets with crosswalks,
- Flashing beacons, or traffic signals
Once built, neighborhood greenways can:
- Create safe pathways for students to walk to school
- Strengthen communities around safer streets
- Create neighborhood placemaking
- Connect you and your neighbors to popular destinations such as schools, parks, business districts, and the city-wide bicycle network
- Provide alternative options of getting around your neighborhood by walking or biking
Visit our neighborhood greenways home page or a language to learn more about neighborhood greenways.
Art along the route
In coordination with the Office of Arts & Culture, we commissioned 7 emerging public artists to create temporary art installations along the Rainier Valley Neighborhood Greenway as part of Art Interruptions 2018. Look for the art between Rainier Beach Playfield and Othello Park. View the specific art locations.
Example of public art along the neighborhood greenway
Schedule
- Spring 2024: Construction begins on S Walden St & John Muir Elementary Neighborhood Greenway Connection
- 2018/2019: Curb ramps installed along microsurfaced streets
- Late summer 2017 to summer 2018: Neighborhood greenway construction - phase 1
- Spring/Summer 2017: Filled potholes and patched streets to prepare for microsurfacing; and tree pruning along whole neighborhood greenway route
- July 2023: Neighborhood Greenway construction begins, North Section
Materials
Construction materials
- S Walden St NGW & John Muir Home Zone Flyer (May 2024)
- S Walden St & John Muir Elementary Mailer (October 2023)
- Start of Construction Mailer (October 2017)
- Construction update Fact Sheet, North Section (October 2017)
- Construction update Fact Sheet, Central Section (October 2017)
- Construction update Fact Sheet, South Section (October 2017)
Design materials
- Final Route mailer (March 2017)
- Final Route North Section (July 2016)
- Final Route Center Section (July 2016)
- Final Route South Section (July 2016)
- Draft Most Promising Route Alignment Change Letter (December 15, 2015)
- Draft Most Promising Route Alignment Change Letter (December 7, 2015 )
- Draft Most Promising Route Alignment Change Letter (December 3, 2015)
- Draft Most Promising Route Alignment Change Letter (November 2015)
- Open House #2 Summary Meeting (September 2015)
- Hillman Collaboratory Open House #2 Presentation (September 2015)
- Hillman Collaboratory Open House #2 Boards (September 2015)
- Open House Comment Sheet (September 2015)
- North End Meeting Announcement (September 2015)
- Mid-Section Meeting Announcement (September 2015)
Note: *The original version of this flier was updated after it was mailed to reflect the latest proposed improvements at Rainier Ave S & S Mead St. - 2015 South End Meeting Announcement (September 2015)
- Meeting Announcement (July 2015)
- Open House Presentation (November 2014)
- North End Meeting Announcement (November 2014)
- Mid-Section Meeting Announcement (November 2014)
- South End Meeting Announcement (November 2014)