Modernizing Seattle’s Burke-Gilman Trail
Let’s modernize the 50-year-old original segment of Seattle’s historic Burke-Gilman Trail from Gas Works Park to the city limits. Join us in advocating for a wider, drier, smoother, safer and ADA-compliant trail.
55th Anniversary of the Burke-Gilman Hike-In
This free public event is a celebration of the seminal event in the creation of the Burke-Gilman exactly 55 years after the original.
When: Saturday, September 12th @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
📍 Location: Matthews Beach Park, 5100 NE 93rd St, Seattle, WA 98115
Celebrate a Northwest Legacy
Join cyclists, walkers, families, and neighbors to honor the original 1971 “Hike‑In” — the grassroots action that helped create the Burke‑Gilman Trail we treasure today. You are encouraged to ride your bicycle or hike in with friends and family. Bus Route 75 stops on Sand Point Way adjacent to Matthews Beach.
Event Highlights
• Speakers 12-1 pm Merrill Hille and Sandy Wood two members of the two members of the original Burke-Gilman Trail Park Committee. Tyler Vasquez, Seattle Policy Manager for Cascade Bicycle Club, Michelle Finnegan, Interim Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation, and Seattle Parks Foundation.
• Live Music – 11 AM Best is a four-piece local rock group known for catchy riffs and nostalgic lyrics.
• Live Music – 1 PM Uncle Ron’s A Seattle based Grateful Dead live performance tribute band.
• Kids Activities & Music 10am to 2 pm including 1/3 mile hike for the kids to collect stamps and win a prize if all 4 stamps are collected.
• Food Trucks 10 am-3 pm • Community Tables
• Free Bicycle Corral
Come join us for an hour or the whole day.
Watch this space for additional details on the community groups that are going to be there.
Our Approach
Fix the Burke-Gilman mobilized the bicycling community to document issues with the trail using Seattle’s Find It/Fix It app. Then we engaged with the Seattle Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners to ensure these problems were addressed in an ongoing and consistent fashion. A group of 17 rode our bicycles to a board meeting in 2024 to thank them for the work that was done and to remind them that much more needed to be done.
Burke-Gilman 50 is our latest effort to modernize Seattle’s Burke-Gilman Trail especially the 50 year old segments from Gas Works to the Seattle City limits.
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Step One: Raising Awareness
We begin by educating the public about the trail’s history, importance, and urgent modernization needs to establish a strong community base.
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Step Two: Community Engagement
Next, we involve the community using 55th Anniversary of the Burke-Gilman Hike-In to provide community tabling, fund raising, a petition and speakers to engage the participants during a fun filled day.
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Step Three: Securing Funding
Finally, we collaborate with Seattle Parks and Recreation and Seattle Parks Foundation to secure the necessary funding for modernization of the trail. Our goal is to raise at least $50,000 to help kickstart the Seattle Parks and Recreation capital budget cycle in 2028.