Revealed: Only seven ‘community members’ asked Seattle to expand PARK(ing) Day!

It appears the Seattle Department of Transportation vastly overstated claims that they expanded PARK(ing) Day to accommodate increased demand.

Every PARK(ing) Day, the city transforms dozens of parking spots into pop-up parklets that feature everything from a life-sized Jenga game to a bike that blends smoothies.

Related: I’m embarrassed by Seattle Department of Transportation

In an email to MyNorthwest.com, SDOT spokesperson Norm Mah explained that SDOT “…decided to expand PARK(ing) Day to a second day in response to requests from community groups for an extended program.”

How significant was that response? Not much. In fact, it was so little, I had to ask Mah three times to provide details on how much community input they received to justify doubling the PARK(ing) Day event.

First, Mah answered without providing specifics as to the community feedback demanding the added day. He stated, “The feedback suggested the need for an expanded event.”

I then asked how much more feedback he received. His answer? “More.” That’s it.

At that point, it became clear to me they didn’t really receive meaningful feedback to justify this expanded event. I tried one more time, asking for a number of the “more” feedback SDOT received. That number? Seven.

Mah wrote:

Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and Cascade Bike Club have been active in working with the department to expand the scope of the PARK(ing) Day program. In addition, seven community members communicated directly with the project program manager advocating for expansion of the project.

So, according to Mah, despite claiming PARK(ing) Day has been an “overwhelming success” only two groups and seven community members asked for expanding the project.

There is no meaningful community push to expand PARK(ing) Day. This appears to be an event super-serving a small advocacy group and SDOT employees that think the idea is cute.

Now, there probably was a reason to include it on a weekend, instead of on a weekday when most people are working. I’ve advocated for that because I think it makes sense to do it on a weekend instead of a weekday, taking parking away from people trying to get to work, meetings, job interviews, or doctor’s appointments. It’s a cute idea and family friendly. Plus, we can live without 50 or so parking spots for a weekend.

But instead of being honest about the reasons behind the expansion, SDOT gives off the impression that there was a major community push when there seems to be none. Then they seemed to purposefully withhold information when asked about it. Why? What’s the point of misleading the public?

This is only a story because they turned it into one. Their desperation to push a pet project seems to blind them to their duty to, at the very least, be honest to the public that pays their salaries.

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