Scene in Edmonds: A closer look at Hwy 104 crosswalk
Posted: October 12, 2014 1341
The current intersection is hazardous with no provision for pedestrians to cross between City Park and the attractions south of SR 104.
Photographer Larry Vogel decided to take a closer look at the area where the crosswalk is planned across Highway 104, connecting the Point Edwards/Wildlife Habitat area with rest of downtown Edmonds.
While taking photos in the area, Vogel says he ran into Point Edwards resident Gene Horton, who told him he believes the walkway would greatly benefit those living in Point Edwards.
“Right now we’re separated from the rest of Edmonds and pretty much need to drive to go anywhere,” Horton said. “A crosswalk with a traffic control signal would open up downtown Edmonds for us. We could shop at the IGA, and walk to cafes and stores. I think it would be a great asset.”
The Willow Creek Fish Hatchery and Wildlife Habitat and Native Plant Demonstration Gardens are difficult for the public to access. The proposed crosswalk project is designed to address this.The public path to the west of the Point Edwards condos is one of the attractions that would be made more accessible to the public with the new crosswalk. The path winds by freshwater ponds that provide habitat for waterfowl, and offers view of Puget Sound, the Edmonds Marsh, the Marina.Public viewpoints adjacent to the Point Edwards condos provide sweeping sound and mountain views, tables and chairs, and even public binoculars.
Thank you, Ron. I hope my photos serve in some small way to help inform the ongoing discussion on the Pine Street/SR 104 crosswalk.
With this discussion beginning to ramp up, I thought it would be helpful to all concerned to see what is over there. I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that yesterday was the first time in the 23 years I’ve lived in Edmonds, that I’d visited the Willow Creek Fish Hatchery, the Wildlife Habitat/Native Plant Demo Garden, or walked the public path behind the Point Edwards complex. I’m guessing I’m not alone in this.
So I grabbed my camera, parked by the hatchery, and started walking, hoping to get some images to share with others who are grappling with the questions raised by the proposed crosswalk. Along the way I was privileged to meet Mr. Gene Horton, who gave me his view (as reported above) of the project from the perspective of one Point Edwards resident.
Again, it is my hope that these images and Mr. Horton’s comments will be folded into the larger discussion of the proposed crosswalk, and ultimately contribute to reaching the best decision for the city and citizens of Edmonds on how or if to proceed with this undertaking.
No need to be embarrassed, Larry; I suspect that the vast majority of Edmonds residents are in the same situation. Probably because there’s no reason to drive there if you’re not a resident of Point Edwards or the adjacent area of Woodway. I know the area because I was a resident of that nearby area for 22 years. I also was a member of the Washington Tea Party, the group that successfully opposed King County’s placement of a waste water treatment plant, Brightwater, on the Point Edwards site. Perhaps you saw the plaque honoring that group on a pedestal near the lookout with the binoculars.
For the past 4-5 years I have been photographing birds and other wildlife at the Edmonds marsh and the Willow Creek fish hatchery, along Pine St. and the Pt. Edwards walkway, and at the retention pond at the end of the walkway. While most of the condo residents recognize me as a “regular” and are very friendly, I have caught a few photographing me as I photograph the birds.
I don’t know what they hope to document by taking photos of me, but public crosswalks, sidewalks, and walkways run both ways. I am certain my posting photographs of the wild life in the vicinity of the condos on websites such as this one has given the condos a lot of free publicity. https://www.pnwphotos.com/forum/showthread.php?9587-Wldlife-of-Edmonds-WA-2014
The downhill slope of SR 104, with its heavy commute and weekender traffic is no place to put a crosswalk and pedestrian stoplight. With adequate land on both sides of the highway, build a pedestrian overpass for realistic solution that will assure public safety between downtown and waterside attractions.
So, just curious how all of you Tea Party activists and Republican residents of Point Edwards feel about asking the City or other government entity to provide you with a sidewalk since you are so isolated up there on your view property?
Why don’t you let “market forces” provide you with such amentities? Just sayin!
@Janet – As Mr. Wambolt wrote, “I also was a member of the Washington Tea Party, the group that successfully opposed King County’s placement of a waste water treatment plant, Brightwater, on the Point Edwards site.
That “Washington Tea Party” opposed a wastewater treatment plant in Edmonds and was not part of the national “Tea Party” that is active today.
“Before there was a broader, national “tea party” movement centered around taxes and government spending, there was the Washington Tea Party in Edmonds. King County should not be making decisions for people who live in Snohomish County, it said”.
My wife and I enjoy walking through Pt Edwards on public streets. We usually run across 104 to do so – not safe. A crosswalk (or overpass) is a good idea.
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Larry; you done good!!!
Ditto Mr. Wambolts sentiments… 🙂
Thank you, Ron. I hope my photos serve in some small way to help inform the ongoing discussion on the Pine Street/SR 104 crosswalk.
With this discussion beginning to ramp up, I thought it would be helpful to all concerned to see what is over there. I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that yesterday was the first time in the 23 years I’ve lived in Edmonds, that I’d visited the Willow Creek Fish Hatchery, the Wildlife Habitat/Native Plant Demo Garden, or walked the public path behind the Point Edwards complex. I’m guessing I’m not alone in this.
So I grabbed my camera, parked by the hatchery, and started walking, hoping to get some images to share with others who are grappling with the questions raised by the proposed crosswalk. Along the way I was privileged to meet Mr. Gene Horton, who gave me his view (as reported above) of the project from the perspective of one Point Edwards resident.
Again, it is my hope that these images and Mr. Horton’s comments will be folded into the larger discussion of the proposed crosswalk, and ultimately contribute to reaching the best decision for the city and citizens of Edmonds on how or if to proceed with this undertaking.
No need to be embarrassed, Larry; I suspect that the vast majority of Edmonds residents are in the same situation. Probably because there’s no reason to drive there if you’re not a resident of Point Edwards or the adjacent area of Woodway. I know the area because I was a resident of that nearby area for 22 years. I also was a member of the Washington Tea Party, the group that successfully opposed King County’s placement of a waste water treatment plant, Brightwater, on the Point Edwards site. Perhaps you saw the plaque honoring that group on a pedestal near the lookout with the binoculars.
For the past 4-5 years I have been photographing birds and other wildlife at the Edmonds marsh and the Willow Creek fish hatchery, along Pine St. and the Pt. Edwards walkway, and at the retention pond at the end of the walkway. While most of the condo residents recognize me as a “regular” and are very friendly, I have caught a few photographing me as I photograph the birds.
I don’t know what they hope to document by taking photos of me, but public crosswalks, sidewalks, and walkways run both ways. I am certain my posting photographs of the wild life in the vicinity of the condos on websites such as this one has given the condos a lot of free publicity.
https://www.pnwphotos.com/forum/showthread.php?9587-Wldlife-of-Edmonds-WA-2014
The downhill slope of SR 104, with its heavy commute and weekender traffic is no place to put a crosswalk and pedestrian stoplight. With adequate land on both sides of the highway, build a pedestrian overpass for realistic solution that will assure public safety between downtown and waterside attractions.
So, just curious how all of you Tea Party activists and Republican residents of Point Edwards feel about asking the City or other government entity to provide you with a sidewalk since you are so isolated up there on your view property?
Why don’t you let “market forces” provide you with such amentities? Just sayin!
@Janet – As Mr. Wambolt wrote, “I also was a member of the Washington Tea Party, the group that successfully opposed King County’s placement of a waste water treatment plant, Brightwater, on the Point Edwards site.
That “Washington Tea Party” opposed a wastewater treatment plant in Edmonds and was not part of the national “Tea Party” that is active today.
https://heraldnet.com/article/20110815/TWH01/110819890/-1/NEWS01
“Before there was a broader, national “tea party” movement centered around taxes and government spending, there was the Washington Tea Party in Edmonds. King County should not be making decisions for people who live in Snohomish County, it said”.
My wife and I enjoy walking through Pt Edwards on public streets. We usually run across 104 to do so – not safe. A crosswalk (or overpass) is a good idea.