Halloween in Seattle just got a little more communal. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is inviting locals to foster a sense of community and celebrate the spooky season by turning their streets into pedestrian-friendly party zones. From October 25 through November 3, Seattle's Trick-or-Streets program will enable residents to close down their street for Halloween or Día de Muertos festivities, according to a recent post on the SDOT blog.
The initiative, free of charge, is not new to Seattle but has expanded to allow for closing up to three consecutive blocks—provided they are residential without major traffic markings. With the clock ticking towards the October 21 application deadline, keen planners are encouraged not only to discuss with neighbors but to detail their event plans carefully when submitting. Reflective tape for visibility during night-time revelries is a must, reinforcing the communal pact, for ensuring the safety of all ghosts and goblins roaming after dusk.
Those interested won't be facing the red tape of bureaucracy alone; help is available. Should you want to bring Trick-or-Streets to your block, SDOT provides clear guidance. Residents can pick up necessary signs at no cost from the Seattle Municipal Tower, and for those wanting a digital route, applications for street closure permits can be made via the Seattle Services Portal. Simply entering "Trick or Street" or "Day of the Dead" in the "Project Name" field should suffice for making intentions clear to city officials.
One particular perk makes the process simpler for those on already-designated 'Healthy Streets': no additional permits are needed. These streets, used to maintain neighborhoods as havens for pedestrians and cyclists, require residents just to follow a set of guidelines. "Because your street already has barricades and “STREET CLOSED” signs, you do not need any additional permits to hold a Trick or Street on an existing Healthy Street," the SDOT blog states. This element of ease injects an added dose of celebration into the already vibrant community atmosphere.
For assistance, the door is open—interpretation services are on offer for free, and SDOT can be reached via [email protected].
