Landscape architect Mark Brands has already chosen a name for something he might not be alive to see. Sunset Boulevard; that's what he would call a new scenic drive that could stretch across Ballard's waterfront from the Ship Canal along Puget Sound to Golden Gardens.

But that all depends on what Ballard might look like 100 years from now and whether or not a major earthquake has wiped out many of the homes and businesses along the route, providing the "opportunity to open up Ballard's waterfront for more inviting public access," said Brands.

A tough reality to consider, but for the more than 20 teams of professionals and community activists led by the University of Washington's Department of Landscape Architecture at the Open Space Seattle 2100, it was just a slice of the immeasurable task to shape and sustain the city for the next century.

Nearing the end of a five-day event, and armed with Sharpies and poster board, groups clustered around tables and poured over maps of Seattle neighborhoods at the South Lake Union Armory last Friday. Seattle residents were invited to observe the teams in action and offer input about the future of each distinctive neighborhood.

"This is all about community input," said Vic Opperman with Sustainable Ballard.

The balance between development and open space will likely be even more delicate in the next 100 years as communities like Ballard continue to grow and thrive, said Brands, a member of one of two Ballard teams.

The groups looked at ways to increase multi-use open space in Ballard while also addressing community, ecology and transportation needs.

The group examined methods to use the resources and corridors native to Ballard more efficiently, such as concentrating transportation on 15th Avenue Northwest and getting water taxi access across the Ship Canal to downtown and Lake Union.

The idea is that transportation corridors also become green infrastructure passageways, said Elizabeth Powers, a University of Washington student working with the Ballard teams.

Getting the most use out of resources, such as creating multi-modes of transportation like walking, biking, trolleys and streetcars, were also a key theme among the groups.

The group suggested turning streets into habitat corridors with storm water treatment, smaller scale community spaces with native plants and creating more green connections between the neighborhoods, said Powers.

Preservation of the maritime industry, waterfront access, local energy production and even higher education-Ballard University-were other goals.

The team wants to make sure Ballard maintains its unique character-its Scandinavian history and maritime industry, said Powers.

"Keep Salmon Bay and Shilshole areas for industry, but perforated with public access points," she said. "Their vision was that these two things, culture and economy, can co-exist in 100 years and still sustain Ballard's history."

In the next 100 years the population is expected to double in the greater Ballard area to more than 140,000, said Opperman. Demographics will change too, she said. As the baby boomers get older, the population of retirees in Ballard will rise and that could mean a need for more urban cores.

"There are lots of things that can be accomplished in Ballard over the next few years. It's just so cool that so many people want to collaborate on ideas."

Local groups like the 14th Avenue Northwest Visioning Project, which formed to make the street safer, more eco-friendly and functional, is a good example of the goals attainable in the next few years, said Opperman.

A group consensus for Ballard's future focused on reclaiming its waterfront from private development while still maintaining its shipping and oil industries.

Brands envisioned something similar to Magazine Boulevard in New Orleans with vibrant mixed-use buildings, restaurants and coffee shops.

Ballard also needs more open parks available to the whole community, said Brands, noting that school fields could be utilized for the entire neighborhood.

Ballard's largest asset is the Puget Sound, and the Ship Canal, which are not being capitalized on like they could be, said Brands. He used Vancouver, British Columbia as an example of a city that showcases the waterfront that surrounds the city.

University of Washington student Tom Early and Ann Scheerer with Sustainable Ballard talked about making greener connections to Fremont other than the Burke Gilman Trail.

Early suggested narrowing neighborhood streets that aren't heavily used but also keeping them functional for vehicles and bikes.

Minor improvements like adding planting strips, pervious paving and natural drainage could "improve the appeal, not by adding more park space, but a park-like experience," he said.

" That alone would change the experience to a richer one, rather than curb, concrete, curb," said Early.

Team leader Yes Duffy talked about taking more responsibility at a local level.

"We envision an eco-model operating out of necessity and pragmatism for a sustainable future," he said. "As resources get scarcer and oil prices go up, we'll be forced to make decisions about how we waste things."

The ultimate question people should ask themselves is where do they really want to be in the next 100 years, and where do they want their kids to be, he said.

After the team's ideas are summarized, the students will produce a hard copy and electronic version to present to the City of Seattle, said Powers.

Citizens can formally nominate proposals to be considered for city funding through a new Capital Improvement Program. Powers hopes the program will help launch some of these projects.

"Our hope is that a whole variety of groups will decide to take the ideas forward," she said. "It's meant to be a catalyst for change."

For Brands, the key to making Sunset Boulevard a reality his children might someday be able enjoy, is about highlighting Ballard's visual resources.

"All streets, visually or physically, should lead to publicly held water," he said. "When you look out the window and you can recognize where you are you, I think you feel a real connection."