Working toward a beautiful 14th Ave.

If you’ve ever driven down 14th Ave. in Ballard, you know that it’s not the most attractive street in the neighborhood. Cracked, uneven pavement with an ugly gravel median is pretty much what you get.

The neighbors along the mile-long stretch of road from Market to Ballard High are working to replace the unattractive with attractive. “We’re trying to turn this Avenue more into a Boulevard,” said Dawn Hemminger, a steering committee member who spoke with the Ballard News Tribune. As the group tries to build a good relationship with each other and the city, they are getting started on some minor projects. This fall they’re installing “rain gardens” at one intersection to keep rain water from running into Salmon Bay.