Seattle’s Department of Transportation (SDOT) has launched a Play Streets Program. A play street closes a neighborhood street to traffic for a short time period so that kids and community members can have space for recreation. The frequency depends upon the location, such as a school which might use a street for recess, or a neighborhood group might choose an evening to encourage everyone on the block to come out and play.
Similar to notification of a block party, organizing a play street requires written notice to neighbors. The SDOT site provides invitations and door hanger notices which can be printed out and distributed.
Play Streets is a pilot program (experimental) which ends on May 31, 2015. At that time SDOT will evaluate and determine whether a permanent Play Streets Program can be implemented in Seattle.