SEATTLE — A new community-centered project aims to tell the stories of people impacted by 2022 flooding in Seattle's South Park neighborhood and draw attention to concerns about environmental hazards and preparations for climate change.
"We really have a history of disengagement and disinvestment by policymakers," said Robin Schwartz, whose perspective was shared in the project and who serves as development and advocacy manager for the Duwamish River Community Coalition. "Folks that are right by the river but even folks further in from the river; we really are in the lowest-lying point in the whole city, in a basin, and I just think that that's probably one of my biggest concerns: what's next, what's gonna come next?"
The ArcGIS StoryMap references results of a research partnership involving the Duwamish River Community Coalition, the University of Washington and the City of Seattle, that gathered priorities from residents for work on climate response.
"We did a door to door survey with youth from the community in the fall of last year and really what we heard most about was people's concerns about climate change, their preparedness and the things that would help them be stronger and more resilient in the face of a disaster," said BJ Cummings, community engagement manager for UW's EDGE Center.
The survey asked people in Seattle's South Park and Georgetown neighborhoods about their top concerns. Among priorities were environmental impacts caused by poor air quality, extreme heat events, flooding and a lack of green space.
"It's important that not only are these concerns recognized, but prioritized by governmental entities who have decision-making power," said Jamie Hearns with the Duwamish River Community Coalition.
The project also asked residents what they hope to see included in city work on resilience hubs. Results showed desires for food, water, clothing, shelter, social services, internet, supplies and volunteer opportunities, to name a few.
While much of the work focused on environmental hazards, it also emphasized that environmental issues are interconnected with other important work. Community members stressed that as investments are made in South Park and Georgetown, they must not cause displacement of current residents. They called for more affordable housing, well-paying local jobs, and the protection of current green space while preparing for the future.