Ballinger Neighborhood Association holds first major event

Published 1:14 pm Thursday, August 14, 2008

Ballinger Neighborhood Association (BALNA) is gearing up to host its first major neighborhood event, the Ballinger Neighborhood Walk and Fitness Fair, on Saturday, Aug. 23. Kick off of the festivities is set for 10 a.m. at Brugger’s Bog Park, 19553 25th Ave. NE.

Those first to arrive will receive free pedometers to use on the 2.25-mile mapped course. The self-guided tour takes participants past historical Ballinger sites, scenic habitats and the Brightwater portal. Stopping along Ballinger Way, walkers will be able to use coupons from their passports to purchase food and drinks and perhaps do a little shopping. Meanwhile, back at the Bog, there’ll be art projects for kids and adults, children’s games and information booths. Returning walkers receive ribbons, and at 2 p.m. there’s a drawing for prizes donated by Ballinger businesses.

The Walk represents a three-year effort to put Ballinger Neighborhood on Shoreline’s map of active neighborhoods. Ballinger Neighborhood was created in 1999 following annexation of two unincorporated areas of northeast King County.

In recent years, significant retail development has grown up along Ballinger Way Northeast, the busy thoroughfare that bisects a mixed neighborhood of multi-unit complexes and traditional single-family dwellings. Today, Ballinger Neighborhood is evolving as an urban commuter community.

“At first we tried your typical monthly neighborhood meeting approach. We focused on topics such as Blockwatch, emergency preparedness and traffic safety. Important issues, to be sure,” said Londa Jacques, Ballinger Neighborhood representative. “A few folks did come once or twice, but we just weren’t generating enough enthusiasm to keep us going. When I’d tell people about our organization, I’d often get responses like, ‘Oh, we just rent,’ as if neighborhood associations were clubs exclusively for property owners.”

Then Nora Smith, Shoreline neighborhoods and public outreach coordinator, who serves as adviser to the 14 city neighborhood associations, suggested a different approach, one gaining momentum in other urban areas across the country. In January, BALNA began hosting Second Saturday Coffee Conversations at its local coffee house, Starbucks at Ballinger Village.

Among the folks who showed up for these morning chats were condominium and apartment dwellers, many of whom lived in secured buildings, isolated from other neighbors, according to Ballinger Neighborhood representative Larry Moss, also a condo resident.

“I got involved because I wanted to get to know my neighbors and have better communication in case of emergency,” Moss said.

Conversations now center on linking up walking buddies, lobbying for safe, ADA-accessible sidewalks to the retail core, establishing community gardens for those without yards, stewardship of the neighborhood’s two parks and two creeks, and developing new community activities such as a farmer’s market or an outdoor movie night— all ways to get neighbors in touch with other neighbors who share similar passions.

The association also sees Ballinger businesses as partners in the neighborhood’s future and hopes to partner with them to establish a stronger neighborhood identity, according to Jacques. When a letter seeking partners for the Walk went out to businesses, Shoes n Feet, Ballinger Realty and Prentice L. Co, D.D.S., PLLC / Shoreline Dental were among the first aboard.

Upcoming events include an entry in the Celebrate Shoreline Parade on Aug. 16, a Traffic Safety Public Open House on Sept. 9 and a Ballinger Creek restoration project in October. Additional information on these events is posted on the BALNA Web site, www.ballingerneighborhood.org.