The planned parklet will be on the west side of 6th Ave. S., between S. Weller St. and S. King St. (Courtesy of CID-BIA)
The Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) has announced plans for a Chinatown-ID parklet program in 2014. Neighborhood community leaders are launching a Kickstarter fundraising campaign to build a public parklet on 6th Avenue South at South Weller Street.
“As a historic district, we are thrilled to be leading the way for this cutting-edge public space program,” said Don Blakeney, executive director of the Chinatown-ID BIA. “This is a perfect opportunity to take completely dead space and program it in a way that invites people to enjoy the neighborhood while bringing life to our streets and sidewalks.”
Neighborhood businesses are supporting the planning and activation of the neighborhood’s parklet. “Visitors and residents in the neighborhood need a greater amount of open, public space,” said I-Miun Liu, owner of Oasis Bubble Tea and the Eastern Café. “My staff and I are excited about activating this space for the benefit of the community. We hope to bring live music and other performances once the parklet is complete.”
The Chinatown-ID’s parklet was designed by Nicolas Morin of Barker Landscape Architects to reflect the simple architectural elements of the buildings around it.
In the past year alone, the Chinatown-International District has seen a number of public space improvements, including the installation of translated street signs, new murals on the columns along South King Street below I-5, and the implementation of the Clear Alley Program to support the programming and revitalization of the neighborhood’s historic alleys.
In addition to the parklet, next year the neighborhood will see the completion of streetcar and the expansion of Hing Hay Park. (end)
To learn more about the Chinatown-International District’s Parklet and to view the Kickstarter page, go to http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/112999802/seattles-chinatown-international-district-parklet?ref=category.