South Park residents look for their own way across the bridge | Community Spirit

Mayor Mike McGinn and other city officials are headed to South Park tonight to offer resources to a community dreading the loss of their bridge. But instead of relying on the government, residents are coming up with their own plan: a foot ferry.

“We don’t have any faith that they’re going to be able to build the bridge anytime soon,” says Bill Owens, a resident and owner of four South Park businesses. “(We’re) looking for a lifeline, something that will keep us hanging in there.”

Believing he has no other option, Owens has proposed a Duwamish foot ferry, which he says would carry six to twelve passengers and bicycles back and forth for things like lunch visits and shopping.

Owens estimates the start-up cost would be $15,000 to $20,000 and is applying for grants to cover that cost. An electric boat would cost less than a dollar a day to run, Owens says, and cause no pollution.  

Still, the project would require county permission, and King County director of communications Rochelle Ogershok says they are not actively pursuing this idea due to challenges like the construction of docks, purchasing and maintaining a boat, and an overall lengthy process.

“The idea of using a foot ferry is intriguing but it would be pretty difficult to implement,” says Rochelle Ogershok.

Over the past 18 years, Owens started Seattle Canine Outfitter, South Park Organics, South Park Vending and South Park Mail and Parcel. After a six month leave, he renewed a lease for his business in December based on the Environmental Impact Study of the bridge that suggested the replacement project was “shovel ready.”

When he found out the bridge would close after all, Owens says he “lost faith in our leaders.”

Dave Gering, director of the Duwamish Transportation Management Association, is not shy to say he blames the bridge closure on city and county government.  

“This is a disaster that has been 40 years in the making thanks to failed government leadership,” says Dave Gering, director of the Duwamish Transportation Management Association. “Historically (the city and county) have each spent more time blaming each other than thinking of what’s best for South Park.”

Still, Gering encourages community members to keep at it.

“Anybody who’s got a great idea for getting across the river, more power to them!” Gering says. “But the real solution is getting a new bridge built.”

And his message to South Park? “Hang in there, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”