Collaboratively Envisioning the Future of a Divisive Highway

Reconnect South Park | SEATTLE, WA

The Reconnect South Park Initiative is a community-led effort in Seattle’s Duwamish Valley to address the divisive impact of State Route 99 on the South Park neighborhood. Built in the late 1950s, SR-99 disrupted local connectivity, harmed the economy and environment, and contributed to serious public health concerns. This project aims to transform this segment of highway into a space that supports community cohesion, economic opportunity, and environmental health.

Through extensive community engagement and technical analysis, the initiative explores alternatives such as enhancing pedestrian and bicycle access, redesigning SR-99 into a neighborhood boulevard, rerouting the highway to reclaim land, and partially undergrounding it to restore neighborhood connections.

Led by the Reconnect South Park Coalition—a collaboration of local residents, businesses, and organizations—the project emphasizes inclusive planning and equitable development. Objectives include assessing SR-99’s current impacts, developing a Community Vision Plan that reflects shared goals, and collaborating with public agencies to implement infrastructure improvements that align with long-term prosperity and equity. The project is currently advancing through phases of engagement, analysis, and planning to create a more connected, healthy, and thriving South Park neighborhood.

Client
City of Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development

Services
Planning, Community Engagement