Video: De-paving party at Highland Park Improvement Club

ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:12 PM: Until 3 pm, you are still welcome – actually, we’d say encouraged! – to join the volunteers busy right now with something you just don’t see that often, captured for posterity in our 15-second Instagram video clip above: De-paving! The historic, nearing-a-century-old Highland Park Improvement Club is greening its grounds (with help from Sustainable Seattle) and taking out old asphalt to (un)pave the way for that; HPIC’s Rhonda Smith told us more about the rendering shown in our preview the other day, with not just a reconfiguration but also new planting planned next month. A donated catered lunch is on the way and work will continue today until 3 pm – just go stop by at 12th/Holden. As Blair Johnson quipped, as is done during so many volunteer work parties, they’re removing invasives – just that in this case, it’s invasive asphalt.

(P.S. We’ll be adding photos later tonight.)

ADDED 7:42 PM: As promised:

They were starting toward the south side and moving north – lots of square footage to de-pave!

A trailer filled up with pieces of removed asphalt:

The de-paved area won’t all be greenery and dirt – see the plan here. Part of the HPIC lot already had been “de-paved” for a raingarden, and this is a continuation of the theme.

4 Replies to "Video: De-paving party at Highland Park Improvement Club"

  • HC March 22, 2014 (3:09 pm)

    Thank you neighbors for doing such a wonderful job today. We have a great neighborhood.

  • HP mom March 22, 2014 (3:35 pm)

    So grateful to live in a neighborhood with such awesome community spirit! Thank you to all who worked so hard today to help brighten our little corner of the world.

  • Kay K March 22, 2014 (3:50 pm)

    Congratulations everyone, you really kicked its Asphalt!

  • M Flash March 22, 2014 (4:59 pm)

    Right-on Kay, Like a swarm of bee’s flipping the old Asphalt off the planet! With help from Portland’s Depave!

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