City to stitch a loop around Lake Union

It's no Green Lake path. It's not even the downtown waterfront sidewalk.

What the walking trail around Lake Union is, well, is very much a work in progress.

The idea has been around for decades: Connect an existing assortment of unmarked paths, sidewalks and roadway shoulders to form an uninterrupted loop around the busy lake.

Now the city is ready to go forward. It's about to hire a consultant to develop a cohesive 6.2-mile urban route — one that could be a boon to walkers, joggers and bicyclists but likely would reduce parking and slow car traffic, especially in the Eastlake neighborhood.

While high-speed bicycle commuters generally get around Lake Union via Westlake Avenue North and Eastlake Avenue East, the city's preliminary route would offer a calmer space closer to the shoreline for less-hurried bicyclists and walkers.

Users of the trail would pass by a series of both existing and planned pocket parks along the shoreline.

But it's "never going to be Green Lake," says David Graves, a planner for the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation. "This is a much more urban trail experience. There's nothing wrong with that. I think it's an asset in and of itself."

The city is sponsoring a naming contest for the trail and is accepting suggestions from the public through Feb. 18.

In late spring, the city plans to hold meetings about its tentative route so users, property owners and others may voice their desires and concerns. The city has set aside $1 million for the first phase of work this fall, which includes putting up signs and extending certain sidewalks.

But it could be years before work is completed on some gaps, especially at a break in Fairview Avenue East where walkers now must trek uphill and detour through a series of alleyways to get back onto the street.

"We don't have an answer today of how to navigate that missing stretch," said Woody Wheeler, program director of the Seattle Parks Foundation, which last spring offered ideas to the city for knitting together what's being called for now the Lake Union Loop Trail.

The foundation and city planners want to address these gaps:

• As Fairview Avenue East approaches the South Lake Union area, a long stretch of the trail includes a paved walkway on the water side of restaurants, yacht dealerships and moorages. But it's barely visible from the street and needs signs.

• The sidewalk on Westlake Avenue North hugs the shoreline before ending about an eighth of a mile short of the Fremont Bridge. The city could extend the sidewalk, but it would cut parking for houseboat owners.

• There's also no sidewalk east of Gas Works Park on North Northlake Way, forcing joggers onto the Burke-Gilman Trail with bicyclists. Planners suggest moving the road away from the shoreline to make room for a wide pedestrian walkway, but that too would eat into existing parking space.

• Cyclists on the Burke-Gilman who want to get onto the University Bridge must pedal onto Northeast 40th Street at the intersection of Seventh Avenue Northeast. There's no sidewalk or bike lane, and cars routinely park on the unpaved shoulder near Peace Park.

• In the Eastlake neighborhood, joggers take the unpaved shoulder of Fairview Avenue East. But that road stops abruptly at East Hamlin Street and forces users to detour.

Any trail fixes that would eliminate parking are sure to rile some Eastlake residents, who now must park on unpaved shoulders and other rights-of-way.

"If you tried to take their parking space, they'd go ballistic, including me," said Stan Lorenson, a houseboat resident who walks his dog down the middle of Fairview Avenue East.

Still, he likes the idea of giving the now-fragmented path a name. He suggests paying tribute to the Duwamish people who once lived around the body of water they called "Tenas Chuck," or "Little Water."

The city will award the winner a bike from REI — but it may be awhile before that rider can circle the lake without having to weave, switch and stop.

Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103