One of the great things about Ballard is that it is one of those places where people still actually walk around. Even during the recent Great Rain, it was common to see people alone or in groups of two or three walking about all around the community. Ballard is a naturally fine place to walk, in part due to its relative geographic compactness and by virtue of having a vibrant downtown area. In the residential areas, the alleys behind many homes make for fascinating strolls. As Ballard continues to develop, I would suggest that maintaining this aspect of our identity is a good thing.

Walkability is the term that urban planners use to rate how easily it is for residents and visitors to get around without resorting to their cars. I like to think of it as being more than strictly walking and for the term to encompass the use of bicycles, wheelchairs, skateboards and even scooters. All of these forms of locomotion involve exercise which is good in itself but also helps to create a sense of community and neighborliness.

Truth is, the best way to experience Ballard is by walking, and there are many shortcuts and other advantages afforded to those who are able and choose to walk. One of my favorite places to walk is to venture across the Ballard Locks. In minutes you can be in Magnolia where you have a fantastic view of the entrance to the locks, Salmon Bay and the southwestern portion of Ballard. The grassy hillsides of Commodore Park there are a great place to enjoy this view and it is mere minutes from Ballard. This short trip across the locks also is a relatively short distance from the much larger Discovery Park, where you can access many miles of natural trails and some spectacular overlooks of Puget Sound. There is also a nice heron sanctuary very near to the locks. This little shortcut across the Locks over to Magnolia is far more convenient than hopping in a car and going across the Ballard Bridge.

Recent improvements to the Burke Gilman trail have made one of the classic Ballard walks even better. The improvements to the trail begin just beyond the Ballard Locks as you make your way towards Shilshole Marina. Walking away from the locks one is quickly rewarded by more glimpses of water, and soon the Olympic Mountains come into view if the weather is cooperating. There is a little used overlook just after you cross the railroad tracks going North that is a great place to stop and admire the view. Continuing along Seaview Avenue one can marvel at the many boats and then hike up the stairs in Golden Gate park to connect back up to 32th Ave. If you are lucky, you might encounter a devoted older gentleman who has apparently made it his calling to keep the rather steep trails here in fine condition. This route constitutes a big loop that begins and ends at the Locks.

Many of us like the practical side of walking into downtown Ballard Not only do you avoid having to compete for the increasingly hard to find parking spaces, but you also can often get to where you are going faster. No time is spent fumbling for keys or pushing buttons on the new parking stations. And I like how quickly I can get to my destination when I can travel diagonally across certain areas instead of being tied to the rectangular street grid. A great example of this are the nice diagonal trails that cut across the new Ballard Commons Park. And since Ballard Ave. goes in only one direction for cars at its Western end, it is actually more efficient to reach the Old Town on foot when approaching it from the West since you can walk in a direction that cars cannot.

The higher population densities coming to Ballard in the next few years will naturally encourage walking as parking will be at premium. I, for one, would like to see the town further its natural inclination towards walkability and to place special emphasis on Ballard as a great place to walk. We can all play a part, both by walking(!) and making it easy for others to walk. Store owners can provide a place for wet umbrellas, awnings to keep the rain off the sidewalks and perhaps hooks for dog walkers to park their dogs when shopping. Please be alert for walkers when driving - I have recently taken to wearing a flashing light on my backpack due to a near miss at a crosswalk on 24th Ave. that is especially dangerous due to cars going fast downhill. For those who own property, we can repair sidewalks that have been made been heaved up by tree roots. We can keep pathways free of leaves and errant branches at eye level that can surprise walkers at night. By the way, on a recent stroll to the water at the foot of 28th Ave. I saw where a beaver had cut down some branches for his own use - all that was left was a short stump! Now I know why the high school mascot is a beaver - they really do live here still. I considered that little urban discovery just another reason why Ballard is one of the great areas in Seattle to get out of our cars and walk.

Ballard resident Bob Bennett rarely complains about parking.