Introducing the City’s new Stay Healthy Blocks Program!
When Seattle rolled out the first Stay Healthy Streets in mid April, neighbors all over the city reached out, asking how to make a Stay Healthy Street in their neighborhood. The decrease in traffic was increasing speeding and other unsafe driver behaviors, and people wanted outdoor space to recreate outside of their homes and to get to essential jobs and services. But the City initially focused the program only on existing neighborhood greenways, a network of residential streets that already prioritizes people walking and biking and discourages vehicle traffic.
Now, with the new Stay Healthy Blocks program, neighbors can create their own Stay Healthy Street. The permit is flexible and community members can close the street entirely for a special event, like a block party or play street, that they would take down at the end of the day. Alternatively, you can set up signs and other implementations so that it does not fully block the street and allows for local vehicle access — similar to existing city-run Stay Healthy Streets. If you set up in this way, you can apply for multiple blocks in a row and for an extended period of time (up to several weeks!).
If you need funding for supplies to construct your Stay Healthy Block, check out SDOT’s emergency COVID-19 grant program, for grants of up to $1,000 . Seattle Neighborhood Greenways also has a stash of signs and volunteer-made A-frames (or volunteer support for building your own signage!), with resources prioritized for low-income neighborhoods or communities of color. We also have supplies and funding for projects to beautify your Stay Healthy Street or Stay Healthy Block through painting projects or other artwork. Reach out to your local Seattle Neighborhood Greenways neighborhood group at info@seattlegreenways.org. We’re excited about this opportunity for people to create the streets they want for their neighborhoods!
