Green Lake Inner Loop will detour to Outer Loop for boathouse construction

From Seattle Parks.

A short section of the Green Lake Inner Loop Path near the Aqua Theater will be rerouted to the Outer Loop path for about a year starting today.

Seattle Parks is replacing the existing boathouse with a new 10,800 square-foot boathouse that will allow for additional boating instruction and storage. It will also be able to offer accessible rowing to the public, which is pretty great.

It's interesting to see Parks already taking advantage of the new outer loop bike route, showing yet another benefit of having more than one safe walking and biking option. Hopefully city staff will observe whether the outer loop gets too crowded and will be prepared to widen the path if needed. This stretch of West Green Lake Way N was completely closed to car traffic in 2020 and much of 2021.

SDOT is currently constructing the final section of the Outer Loop path, including a section along the edge of Aurora Ave N. The new section should be open for use by December.

More details from Parks:

The Green Lake Park Inner Loop path, near the Small Craft Center, will be detoured starting Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Demolition of the existing facility and building of the new Green Lake Community Boathouse will require the path to be detoured around the construction area. Additionally, the parking lot behind the Aqua Theater will be closed and used for construction staging. The contractor and Seattle Parks and Recreation will work to minimize the impact to the path during construction. Thank you in advance to the community for following the signs and detour route below when visiting the park.

We anticipate the new 10,800 SF boathouse will open in fall 2023. The new facility will increase capacity for programs through a combination of expanded and more efficient boat storage and additional instructional space. It will be fully accessible, which makes possible the launch of Seattle's first public adaptive rowing program and expansion of a paracanoing program. Seattle Parks and Recreation's Specialized Programs will also be able to expand their work with individuals of differing physical and cognitive abilities.

Additionally, the new facility will provide restrooms, locker facilities, and areas for off-water instruction and a community meeting space. The new boathouse will better engage with Green Lake Park and the heavily used adjacent walking trail. The project will also renovate the existing public restrooms adjacent to the trail that serve all park users.

Community volunteers, in partnership with Green Lake Rowing Advisory Council, Associated Recreation Council, and Seattle Canoe and Kayak Club, advocated for the project and raised funding from both public and private sources. This project is being funded in part by private donations and grants from the Land & Water Conservation Fund, Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, King County, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and Seattle Parks and Recreation's Major Projects Challenge Fund.

To stay up to date on the progress of the Green Lake Community Boathouse at the Small Craft Center visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/green-lake-small-craft-center-redevelopment.