Seattle to clean up stretch of Interurban Trail filled with encampments, trash
The City of Seattle will be cleaning up a section of the Interurban Trail on Wednesday and Thursday after receiving complaints and concerns from community members.
Viewers contacted KIRO 7 last week saying part of the scenic route is now filled with trash and homeless encampments.
The city is focusing on cleaning a stretch from North 110th to North 128th streets in the Bitter Lake area.
Signs were posted along the trail stating there will be a cleanup. The notices from the city say that all personal property needs to be removed from the stretch of trail before 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Neighbors told KIRO 7 that people have changed their walking patterns to avoid the area. Almost all of them said every time they are on the trail they see new tents, with some taking up significant space.
People who live in the area said the stretch of trail has been an issue for the last year.
“I’ve been emailing the city about it. It’s definitely gotten worst. It started with one tent and grew exponentially. I go into the cemetery and I see more people walking in there. You know, people like my mom who live close by, she would come down here because she doesn’t have to worry about traffic. She doesn’t come down here anymore and you know, that’s very sad,” said Bitter Lake resident Sheila LaRussa.
KIRO 7 reporter Breseida Holguin talked with several other people who had also reached out to the city. All of them said they feel like their concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
