Showing posts with label parks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parks. Show all posts

Shoreline Parks Board to review PROSA plan at meeting Thursday

Wednesday, December 6, 2023


Shoreline Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services / Tree Board Regular Meeting Thursday, December 7, 2023 7pm to consider PROSA Plan Adoption Recommendation

Hybrid format: 

To provide public comment remotely, email Lori Henrich at lhenrich@shorelinewa.gov by 6:30pm on the night of the meeting with 'Sign-up to provide oral testimony remotely' in the subject line. (Note: In person public commenters will sign up in person the night of the meeting)

20231207 PRCS_Tree Board Agenda Packet includes all documents for the meeting plus information on attending the meeting and submitting comments.


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Work party in Five Acre Woods on Saturday, December 2, 2023

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Five Acre Woods
Photo courtesy LFP Stewardship Foundation
Five Acre Woods Volunteer Work Party 
in Lake Forest Park
Saturday December 2, 2023 from 9am - 12noon


Restoration volunteers continue at your local forest park, Five Acre Woods. This new hidden gem of a park is really coming along! 

Work includes removal of invasive plants like ivy, blackberry and bamboo, trail building and maintenance, and planting trees and native plants. 

Come dressed for all weather – rain or shine. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for uneven terrain and mountain beaver holes. 

We will have a limited number of tools available so please bring your garden shears, loppers, folding hand saws or metal rakes but leave your power tools at home.  

Don’t forget your gloves — some people are sensitive to ivy sap.


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Green Shoreline Day - volunteer in a Shoreline Park


Green Shoreline Day, Saturday December 2, 2023 in parks throughout the City.

This is the first year for this event. The volunteers who shepherd each park will have up to 100 native plants that need to get into the ground on this day.

One potential problem of having all the events on the same day: there are people who routinely volunteer at more than one park. They will have to choose and some parks will be short-handed. Brugger's Bog is one location that struggles for volunteers. Northcrest could use some help, too.

Map of park locations

Details and sign up at each park link. Most events are 10am - 1pm but may vary by location.

Darnell Park

12/02/2023
Darnell Park

Echo Lake Loves Native Plants
12/02/2023
Echo Lake Park

Shoreline Park
12/02/2023
Shoreline Park

Brugger's Bog
12/02/2023
Bruggers Bog

Help Us Plant Native Trees!
12/02/2023
Richmond Beach Saltwater Park

Northcrest Park
12/02/2023
Northcrest Park

Hamlin Forest Restoration Site 
12/02/2023
Hamlin Park

North City Park
12/02/2023
North City Park

Tree Planting Celebration
12/02/2023
Boeing Creek Park

Winter planting
12/02/2023
Twin Ponds Park

Join us! Weekly Sunday Work Party
12/03/2023
Twin Ponds Park


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State land agencies announce 2024 Discover Pass free days

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

 
A Discover Pass is not required to park on state-managed lands for 12 days next year

OLYMPIA — Nov. 20, 2023 — The Washington State Discover Pass Program has designated the Discover Pass free days for 2024. 

On these days, visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park a vehicle at a Washington state park or on lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

The 2024 Discover Pass free days are:
  • Monday, Jan. 1 - First Day Hikes and New Year’s Day
  • Monday, Jan. 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Saturday, March 9 - Billy Frank Junior’s Birthday
  • Tuesday, March 19 - State Parks’ 111th Birthday
  • Monday, April 22 - Earth Day
  • Saturday, June 8 - National Get Outdoors Day
  • Sunday, June 9 - Free Fishing Day
  • Wednesday, June 19 - Juneteenth
  • Saturday, Sept. 28 - National Public Lands Day
  • Thursday, Oct. 10 - World Mental Health Day
  • Monday, Nov. 11 - Veterans Day
  • Friday, Nov. 29 - Autumn Day
More on the free days

New Year’s Day, the first free day of 2024, provides people the opportunity to participate in Washington State Parks’ annual First Day Hikes event. 

First Day Hikes is a national initiative led by America’s State Parks, encouraging people to ring in the new year surrounded by nature. Last year, more than 1,500 participants hiked, biked and snowshoed 2,652.67 trail miles at Washington state parks. Distance and rigor vary from park to park, but all hikes aim to create a fun experience for the whole family.

Billy Frank Jr. (1931-2014) was an environmental activist and former chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. His lifelong dedication to protecting endangered salmon and restoring justice for the Nisqually Tribe helped shape Washington's environmental laws and expand treaty rights for Native Americans nationwide.

Juneteenth has been celebrated in Black communities since June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas learned they were free. The news reached them two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth became an official federal holiday in 2021.

National Public Lands Day was established in 1994 and is held annually on the fourth Saturday in September. It celebrates the connection between people and green spaces in their communities – inspiring environmental stewardship and encouraging the use of open space for education, recreation and health benefits.

World Mental Health Day was designated as a free day to acknowledge the power of nature to restore mental health. Studies show time spent in nature boosts serotonin, dopamine and vitamin D and lowers blood pressure and cortisol levels, helping our bodies combat stress.

About the Discover Pass

State land free days align with 2011 legislation that created the Discover Pass, which costs $30 to $35 annually, or $10 to $11.50 for a one-day visit, depending on the point of purchase. 

The pass is required to park on state lands managed by Parks, DNR and WDFW. Purchasing a Discover Pass helps all three agencies preserve and conserve public lands for future generations. The Discover Pass legislation directed Parks to designate up to 12 free days when the pass would not be required to visit state-managed lands.

The free days do not apply to Sno-Parks. During the winter season, November through April, visitors to Sno-Parks will need a Sno-Park permit. These permits are available for purchase online or from vendors throughout the state. For more information about winter recreation permit requirements, visit our website.


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Ethereal fog

Friday, November 17, 2023

Photo by Toby Tobler

Fog was lovely and ethereal on Thursday as it settled in around Log Boom Park Thursday morning, November 16, 2023.


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Community Work Party at Twin Ponds North Saturday, November 11, 2023

Thursday, November 9, 2023


Community Work Party at Twin Ponds North
Saturday, November 11, 2023 from 9:30am - 12:30pm

On November 11th, from 9:30-12:30, the Washington Native Plant Urban Forest Stewards will be hosting a community work party, at Twin Ponds North.

We meet on the far NW side of the park, along 155th street, west of the parking lot.

Bring gloves, hand pruners, water, and a snack. We will have tools on site to help with the projects.

Please share this invitation with others, and if you have any questions, please contact us at northtwinpondsrestoration@gmail.com

We Welcome Everyone!

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Sno-Park permits now on sale

Thursday, November 2, 2023


OLYMPIA – Nov. 1, 2023 – Washington Sno-Park permits are now on sale. The State Parks Winter Recreation Program manages over 130 recreation sites, or Sno-Parks, across the state for recreators to enjoy during the winter season. Parking at these sites requires special permits.

Seasonal or daily Sno-Park permits can be purchased online or through a licensed vendor.

Snowmobilers also must register their snowmobile through the Washington Department of Licensing and receive a free Sno-park parking permit.

In addition to the seasonal permit, a special sticker is required to park at several high-use Sno-Parks, including Crystal Springs, Cabin Creek, Hyak, Lake Easton, Lake Wenatchee, Chiwawa, Nason Ridge, and Mount Spokane. The Special Groomed sticker helps pay for more frequent trail grooming, snow removal, sanitation and staffing at locations. The Special Groomed sticker is not required with a daily permit.

A Discover Pass is not required at Sno-Parks, and the Sno-Park permit is still required, even on the 12 days a year when the Discover Pass is not required for parking on state lands.

Washington State Sno-Parks provide access for a variety of winter recreation activities like cross-county skiing, snow shoeing, dog sledding, tubing and more. Some Sno-parks are also designated for use by motorized vehicles including snowmobiles. Sno-Park permits are required from December 1 through April 30.


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We still have sunny days

Monday, October 30, 2023

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

And here was one of them. A beautiful day at the UW Washington Park Arboreatum, as photographed by Steven H. Robinson.


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2022 Park Bond Projects: Construction to begin at Ridgecrest Park

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Architect's drawing of draft design for Ridgecrest Park

After years of planning, construction is set to begin on the first of the 2022 Park Bond Projects. 

Next week, mobilization of equipment will begin at Ridgecrest Park with construction beginning the week of October 30, 2023. Ridgecrest Park is located at 108 NE 161st St, Shoreline, WA 98155

During construction, the park will be closed. The City of Shoreline anticipates completing the improvements to Ridgecrest Park by next spring.

Improvements to Ridgecrest Park will include a new, all-ages play area with slides built into embankments, accessible walkways, and an off-leash dog area.

For more information and to see an image of the park improvements design, visit the 2022 Parks Bond webpage.


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Volunteers prepare Hamlin Park Forest Restoration Site for planting season

Friday, October 13, 2023

Mulching Hamlin Park
Photo by Oliver Moffat
By Oliver Moffat, Park Volunteer

Community volunteers have been busy at Hamlin Park preparing the forest restoration site for planting season. 

Stewards and volunteers from the community have been digging out noxious weeds and restoring the health of the soil by spreading mulch on over a quarter acre. 

The Hamlin Park stewardship team has ordered 25 different species of native plants and a total of 341 plants to begin planting in December. 

Habit restoration sites across Shoreline will be celebrating Green Shoreline Day on December 2, 2023 by hosting work parties.

The Hamlin Park forest restoration site is within a fifteen minute walk of the North City neighborhood urban heat island that is rapidly developing with new apartment buildings. 

As summers continue to get hotter, it is becoming increasingly important for people in the future to have access to cool and shady spaces where they can recreate. The future forest will provide a cool, shady space for people who live in neighborhood apartment buildings.

So far this year, volunteers have rooted out over a quarter acre of noxious weeds (primarily invasive blackberry, holly, laurel and cherry) at the Hamlin Park forest restoration site. 

Noxious weeds harm native plants and wildlife, can be difficult to eradicate and prevent native trees from growing into healthy forests. 

To remove noxious weeds, volunteers dig out the roots of the weeds with shovels and haul the live roots out of the restoration site so they will not regrow.

Hamlin Park is a refuge from Heat Islands
Photo by Hitomi Dames

Despite the hard work, noxious weed seeds and rhizomes are inevitably left in the soil and will sprout again, which will require ongoing weeding by hand for years to come. As the native trees grow into a tall and shady forest, the noxious weeds will gradually be replaced by native plants.

After digging out the weed roots, volunteers cover the disturbed ground in a thick layer of wood chip mulch to restore the health of the soil. The goal is to cover the ground with six to twelve inches of woody mulch before planting season begins. 

So far this year, volunteers have laid down more than 100 cubic yards of wood chip mulch and are working to spread at least another 100 cubic yards to reach the goal. 

Mulch holds water during dry summers to help young trees survive droughts and support the fungi, flora and fauna that establish symbiotic relationships with forest plants.

There are five zones within the restoration site with differing microclimates that are being prepared for planting. 

Two zones were cleared and planted in previous years and have trees and tall shrubs that are shady enough to support new ground cover plants such as sword fern, woodland strawberry, and trailing blackberry. 

One zone in full shade, one in partial shade and one in full sun that were cleared this year of noxious weeds will be planted primarily with trees such as Douglas fir, western red cedar, and bigleaf maple.

Courtesy City of Shoreline

The current forest restoration site includes the eight acres on the north end of Hamlin park bounded by 165th street to the south, 168th street to the north and 16th and 18th avenues to the east and west. This was the original Hamlin park that was donated to King county in 1939 and developed into ballfields by the Works Project Administration (WPA). The site was used as ball fields until the early 2000s. 

The remainder of Hamlin Park was donated to the county when the Navy hospital was decommissioned after the Second World War.

The restoration project is managed by the Green Shoreline Partnership, a collaborative effort between the City of Shoreline, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the Shoreline community at large. 

Stewards are trained by the Washington Native Plant Society in forest restoration practices and organize regular work parties.

The Hamlin Park stewardship team has work parties scheduled most Wednesday afternoons at 1pm and Saturday mornings at 10am. 

The community is welcome to learn more and sign up to volunteer by visiting the Green Shoreline Partnership website. Students can earn community service hours while learning urban forestry skills and having fun outdoors.


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Volunteers welcome at park restoration events this week

Sunday, October 8, 2023

Help spread mulch at Shoreline Park
Photo by Sara Camaresi

Join the City of Shoreline’s Forest Stewards to perform ecological restoration in Shoreline’s forested parks!

To register, visit our online portal here. We work on weekends and during the week.

No experience necessary - just bring your enthusiasm and we will teach you the rest. Do good removing weeds and installing native plants – rain or shine!

We will provide tools. Please bring a water bottle, layers for the weather, and tough shoes and clothes that can get muddy. Bring gloves if you have them, but we also have some that you can borrow.

We will work in the following city parks between October 8 - 15, 2023:
  • Darnell
  • Hamlin
  • Twin Ponds
  • Shoreline
  • Richmond Beach Saltwater Park
Feel free to sign up for other parks in future weeks: Choose your park and sign up here


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See the stars Saturday at Paramount School Park

Thursday, October 5, 2023

Paramount School Park Stargaze Party
Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 7:30pm
Open to Public

Join the group out in the middle of the Park, corner of 8th Ave NE and NE 155th in the Ridgecrest Neighborhood of Shoreline.

This public "Star Gaze" event is authorized by the city of Shoreline, Parks / Recreation Department and is free of charge.
 
Experienced astronomers from the Seattle Astronomical Society (SAS) volunteer their time and telescopes and binoculars to share with the public. Everyone is welcome including families with children.

The Moon is near its "third quarter" phase and as such the Moon does not rise until near or after midnight making Shoreline skies particularly dark and favorable for stargazing.
 
Check the SAS website frequently for stargazing event status. If weather conditions force cancellation of an event, that news will be posted not later that 4pm the day of the event.
 
Visit the SAS website for other Puget Sound stargazing events, and for outreach opportunities, meetings and membership information.


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Proposals to return Grizzly bears to the North Cascades

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Grizzly bears. Photo courtesy National Park Service

Grizzly bears would return to the state's North Cascades under proposals two federal agencies put forward Thursday. 

Reintroducing the bears into the rugged area has been studied and debated for over two decades, with a previous effort falling apart during the Trump years. 

The latest plan -- still in draft form -- includes two options that would both involve introducing about three to seven bears a year until grizzly numbers in the region rebound to 25 bears. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service are asking the public for input on their plan. While wildlife advocates were pleased to see fresh movement toward bringing the bears back, the plan is sure to draw criticism. One Republican congressman from Washington has already weighed in against it.  

There are about 2,000 grizzly bears spread across pockets of the West outside of Alaska.

In the 19th century, there were an estimated 50,000 in the U.S. But their numbers dropped into the hundreds by the 1930s. They were listed as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1975 and retain that designation in the lower 48 states.

Public comment on the latest North Cascades grizzly bear plans is open until Nov. 13. More information on the proposal can be found here.



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Volunteers are still working in Shoreline Parks this week

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Photo by Joy Wood

Join the City of Shoreline’s Forest Stewards to perform ecological restoration in Shoreline’s forested parks!

To register, visit our online portal here. We work on weekends and during the week.

No experience necessary - just bring your enthusiasm and we will teach you the rest. Do good removing weeds and installing native plants – rain or shine!

We will provide tools. Please bring a water bottle, layers for the weather, and tough shoes and clothes that can get muddy. Bring gloves if you have them, but we also have some that you can borrow.

We work in the following city parks:

§ Boeing Creek
§ Brugger's Bog
§ Darnell
§ Echo Lake
§ Hamlin
§ Twin Ponds
§ North City
§ Northcrest
§ Shoreline
§ Shoreview
§ Paramount Open Space
§ Richmond Beach Saltwater Park

We look forward to restoring with you! Choose your park and sign up here


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Free parking in Washington parks on Saturday

Thursday, September 21, 2023


Discover Pass free days in 2023:

Mark your calendars for the four remaining days this year when you won’t need a Discover Pass for day-use parking:
  • Saturday, Sept. 23 – National Public Lands Day
  • Tuesday, Oct. 10 – World Mental Health Day
  • Saturday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
  • Friday, Nov. 24 – Autumn Day


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Entrance to Ridgecrest Park to close to vehicles during Sound Transit construction

Monday, September 18, 2023

NE 161st St. restoration and Ridgecrest Park parking lot closure

Starting as early as Monday, October 2, 2023 Sound Transit will be closing the west end of NE 161st St for road restoration.

The daytime construction is expected to last to October 6. 

As a result, the driveway to the Ridgecrest Park parking lot will be closed, so vehicles won’t have access to the park. However, pedestrians will still have access.

Residents who live in the construction area will still have access.


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Blackberry season at Hamlin Park

Sunday, September 17, 2023

Photo by David Walton

It is definitely the blackberry season. I saw these at the Hamlin Park upper ballfields. Easy to find, and sweet too. 

Photo by David Walton

Just have to be careful of the stickers!

--David Walton  


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Darnell Park has received over 800 hours of care in the last 2 years

Saturday, September 16, 2023

Kaleidoscope landscaping crew along with their families, friends and neighbors have now topped 800 hours of volunteer work in Darnell Park, on the Interurban Trail at 165th.

Most of this time is a donation by Kaleidoscope Landscape

We have weeded, mulched, and planted and done it all over again. 

We are pleased with progress, looking forward to more progress. 

We are grateful to those who have joined us and grateful to the City of Shoreline watering crew who have kept plants alive this summer.


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2022 Park Bond Groundbreaking Ceremony Monday September 18, 2023

Friday, September 15, 2023

Brugger's Bog architect's conception design

Help the city of Shoreline kick-off construction of the 2022 Park Bond projects at a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, September 18, 2023 from 5:30 to 6:30pm (speakers begin at 5:40pm)

Richmond Highlands Park, 16554 Fremont Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133

In February 2022, the Shoreline community passed a new park bond measure, that, among other improvements within the City, includes improvements to eight of the City's parks:
  1. Brugger's Bog, 
  2. Briarcrest, 
  3. Hillwood, 
  4. Richmond Highlands, 
  5. James Keough, 
  6. Ridgecrest, 
  7. Shoreview Parks
  8. Kruckeberg Botanic Garden 
All will all receive capital improvements. 

Construction will begin this fall at Kruckeberg, Shoreview, and Ridgecrest. The city anticipates substantially completing all park improvements by December 2024.

More information can be found at shorelinewa.gov/parkbond


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Work together to restore North City Park

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

North City Park is a beautiful stand of forest located directly behind North City Elementary School 19201 10th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155
Only in recent years have volunteers mobilized to start clearing out the invasive plants and weeds.

They could use some help. There is information on the Green Shoreline Partnership page and you can sign up for specific dates.


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