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| Trail through Ballinger Commons abruptly closed with no warning Photo by Oliver Moffat |
The half mile section of trail runs through the Ballinger Commons apartments property owned by the King County Housing Authority (KCHA).
A news release posted on the city’s website, announced the trail “has been temporarily closed by the property’s owner until further notice.”
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| A hastily modified “Nature Trail” sign and yellow “CAUTION” tape mark the closure of the Interurban Trail on Ballinger Commons property. Photo by Oliver Moffat |
As a detour, pedestrians can use the sidewalk on the west side of Meridian Ave N (the east side has no sidewalk). Cyclists can use the bike lanes on Meridian.
Neighbors expressed surprise and frustration on social media sites with some users speculating about why the trail was closed.
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| A map showing the closed section of the Interurban Trail between N 195th Street and N 205th Street |
A spokesperson for the city of Shoreline said KCHA closed the trail without notifying the city. “We weren't notified ahead of time of the closure, so it was a surprise to us as well,” the spokesperson said in an emailed response to questions.
The city said they will work as quickly as possible to resolve KCHA’s concerns so the trail can be reopened.
An emailed request for comments to the KCHA was not returned.
I'd like to express my concern regarding the recent closure of a trail system, on the property of the King County Housing Authority. It's bewildering that the City of Shoreline is completely in the dark about the reasons behind this closure. The lack of communication between two government agencies on a matter that impacts our community is astounding. Such disconnection points to a serious need for better inter-agency collaboration to serve the public's interests effectively.
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