Alki Point is one of the places that makes Seattle special, featuring a public shoreline and city park with spectacular views of Puget Sound, adjacent to a marine reserve. People come from all over the region to storm-watch, bird-watch, whale-watch, and go tide-pooling; to walk, bike, skate, run or simply enjoy the view. Alki Point has provided respite and recreation for generations.

For nonprofit organizations and schools, Alki Point offers a unique opportunity to educate and inspire. From octopus to orcas, the site offers direct and easy access to a marine ecosystem – a front door to the Salish Sea.

School buses bring classrooms of students to explore and learn about the beach. In fall and winter, hundreds of people watch endangered southern resident orcas from shore, with binoculars shared by The Whale Trail. Resting seal pups are safeguarded by Seal Sitter Marine Mammal Stranding Network (SSMMSN), a NOAA-contracted response organization. Naturalists lead nighttime beach walks at minus tides. Alki Point sets the stage for lifelong connections to the sea.

Change for the Worse. In 2020, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) designated Alki Point a “Keep Moving Street.” Vehicle traffic was limited to local access only. Street Closed signs effectively kept most of the public away, creating a semi-private park for nearby residents.

In 2022, with strong encouragement from local homeowners, the closure became permanent, and Alki Point became a “Healthy Street.” As part of its final design, SDOT plans to remove 62 parking spaces from the west side of Beach Drive—a drastic change. Construction is planned to begin in Spring 2024.

Harmful Impacts. The loss of parking means that even fewer people will be able to visit Alki Point. Traffic will be pushed into nearby neighborhoods, where parking is already a problem, especially in summer and during special events. ADA parking spaces will only be on the east side of the street, away from benches, the beach and the view. The removal of parking on this scale contradicts SDOT's own guidelines for Healthy Streets.

Skewed Data. To gauge public opinion, SDOT relied heavily on a 2021 public survey. Only 2050 people participated, representing less than 3% of the West Seattle population. Of those, 58% of the respondents lived nearby. 

By design, the survey did not include an option to revert the street to its previous use. West Seattle never got to answer the question: Should Alki Point be converted to a Healthy Street?

We believe that the City has erred in closing these streets, and in removing the parking spaces along Beach Drive. This soul-nurturing view, and access to marine life, should not belong to a privileged few. Converting Alki Point to a “Healthy Street” has made it less accessible, less diverse, and less safe.

Further, we believe the analysis and decision-making process was seriously flawed, and insufficient for a change of this scale. For example, where are the studies showing the impact on nearby neighborhoods when the parking spaces are removed? How are the impacts of the Street Closed signs being measured? Where will school buses park?

Let your Voice be Heard. Please sign the petition and add your voice to ours. Let the City know that Alki Point matters to you and that everyone deserves access to it. Ask the City to halt this project until its impacts are fully considered. Help us spread the word!

Mayor Harrell, we appreciate and support your initiative to increase trust and restore confidence in local government’s ability to serve residents. We call on you to halt the conversion of Alki Point until its impacts are fully evaluated, and the decision-making process is more robust and representative.  Restore access to Alki Point for all!