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

Travels with Charlie: Ronald Bog Park Wetlands

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Ronald Bog Park
Photo by Gordon Snyder
By Gordon Snyder

We headed to Ronald Bog Park 2301 N 175th St, Shoreline, WA 98133 to look over the wetlands before everything started leafing out. Lots to see and to sniff.

This is an amazing example of Urban Wetlands that are being restored. A piece of Nature surrounded by I-5 on the East, N 175th on the North, Meridian Ave N on the West and residences on the South. It looks like natural progress has been happening over the last couple years.

The Canadian Geese have taken up residence and were grazing the lawns. Their droppings are everywhere. The riparian areas are preparing to explode with warmer spring days.

Bog Water is clear this time of year, but has warnings about contact because of possible urban pollution and algal blooms. That’s a tough challenge as restoration continues.

If you’re interested in an example of our local conifers, there is a small arboretum with living examples. Just a brief walk along the path.

Diane Hettrick wrote a terrific Shoreline Area News 2019 article about the Wetlands Restoration 
”What’s Happening with Ronald Bog Park?”

The Ronald Bog is fighting huge odds becoming a wetlands once again. But given a chance Water and Biology will make it happen.

Check out Ronald Bog over the seasons because it will always be changing...


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Beauty in a soggy and drippy day

Monday, March 4, 2024

 
Photo by Jo Simmons

Beauty can be found anywhere, even on a soggy and drippy day at Twin Ponds Park.

--Jo Simmons


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Community Work Party at Twin Ponds North Saturday, March 9, 2024

Sunday, March 3, 2024


You Are Invited To Join Us

Community Work Party at Twin Ponds North

Saturday, March 9, 2024 from 9:30am - 12:30pm

On March 9th, 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 water, and a snack, and if you have them, gloves and hand pruners. We will have gloves and other tools, if you do not have them.

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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Meet the osoberries of Hamlin Park and become a forest steward

Friday, March 1, 2024

Osoberry twigs in winter have prominent buds
ready to be the first to bloom at the Hamlin Park
restoration site - photo by Oliver Moffat
By Oliver Moffat

If you took a walk in Hamlin Park in February, you may have been surprised to see little white flowers blooming.

Although the climate has changed, osoberries have been blooming in early February in the Pacific Northwest for thousands of years.

The Lushootseed name is c’É™x̌Ę·É™dac, and is one of the earliest native plants to bloom flowers in our region - providing a vital source of nectar to hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators after a long winter.

Also sometimes called indian-plum, osoberries can be identified by their red bark and prominent buds ready to bloom in the winter.

Osoberry shrubs (Oemleria cerasiformis) are remarkably hardy and form dense thickets that make it one of our native plants that can compete with noxious weeds at the Hamlin Park restoration site. It likes disturbed, dry areas with sunlight which makes it particularly good for habitat restoration.

Osoberries fruiting in June in the Hamlin Park Forest Restoration Site are technically edible but not particularly palatable to humans - photo by Oliver Moffat

Although mammals such as foxes, coyotes, deer, and bear eat the berries, the berries have large pits and are not widely regarded as particularly palatable for humans.

Stewards with the Green Shoreline Partnership host work parties in parks across the city where volunteers can help expand and protect our public forests. Work parties are a great way to meet your human neighbors while also getting to know the flora who live in your neighborhood.

The Green Shoreline Partnership is training new stewards now. Neighbors can attend a training on Friday, March 29, 2024 from 3pm to 6:30pm at Shoreline Community College. More information and details are available at the Green Shoreline Partnership website.

The Hamlin Park stewardship team hosts work parties most Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings.


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Trail maintenance work in Hamlin Park begins March 5, 2024

A beautifully groomed trail in Hamlin Park
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline

Hamlin Park after 2019 storm
Photo by Seattle Poppy

Beginning Tuesday, March 5, 2024 and continuing for the next two months, Shoreline Parks will be engaged in trail maintenance activities in Hamlin Park. The maintenance work will include trail resurfacing, step reconstruction, and accessibility improvements. Please use caution around the work areas.

We have contracted with the Seattle Conservation Corp to complete this work. The Conservation Corp is a program that provides skill building opportunities for individuals who have had minor offenses or addiction recovery issues. The program seeks to educate, build construction skills, and provide employment opportunities while providing for the betterment of our public lands.

Funding for this work comes from the King County Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space Levy. We use levy funding for a variety of park and urban forestry improvements, including trail maintenance and construction.


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Waterfront Seattle now installing park amenities

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Photo copyright Tim Rice for Waterfront Seattle

Waterfront Seattle reports that exciting developments are underway for the future park. 

We are working on installing park amenities including planters, plants, bike racks, benches, swings, drinking fountains and more! 

These will join the over 30,000 new native plantings which have found their home along the waterfront just this winter.

We've come a long way in constructing the park since we began in July 2022. We look forward to sharing continuing progress as we introduce new park elements for all to enjoy before the end of the year!


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Travels with Charlie: Alien landing in Horizon View Park

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Photo by Gordon Snyder

During today's cloudy, stormy weather, Charlie and I were wandering around Horizon View enjoying being outside.
 
We arrived back at the Horizon View Park entrance and I spotted this bright break in the clouds. I grabbed a photo of the unique hole in the sky.

The best part… My camera caught what might be a Cloud Alien in the playground. I’m sure it came from that hole in the clouds. Wink, wink.

There were no kids around at the time to verify this event.

--Gordon Snyder


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Lakefront Park Project Community Workshop #2 - Virtual or at LFP City Hall Wednesday February 21, 2024

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Lakefront Park Project Community Workshop #2 - Wednesday, February 21, 5:30pm - 7:30pm at City Hall or virtually through a survey format!

The second Community Workshop for the Lakefront Improvements Project is available in both in-person and virtual formats.


In this workshop, you will preview alternate park design concepts and select your favorites. Concepts were developed from community and other input received in the earlier project stages.

The in-person meeting will take place Wednesday, February 21, 5:30pm - 7:30pm at City Hall. The meeting content is also offered in a digital online survey format. You can access the survey on the project website at lfplakefrontpark.com or  using this link

Please complete the survey as soon as possible! The survey will close at midnight on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

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February 22, 2024 Parks, Recreation, Cultural Services/Tree Board Regular Meeting

Saturday, February 17, 2024


February 22, 2024 Parks, Recreation, Cultural Services/Tree Board Regular Meeting
Date: 02/22/2024 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Shoreline City Hall Conference Room 303
17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline Washington 98133

Link to Meeting Agenda

Please be advised that the PRCS/Tree Board Regular Meeting on Thursday, February 22, 2024 will be held in the Conference Room 303 at Shoreline City Hall using a hybrid format where both in-person and online attendance is allowed. 

You may attend the meeting in person, join via Zoom webinar, or listen to the meeting over the telephone. 

The Board is providing opportunities for public comment in person, remotely, or by submitting written comment. In person public commenters must sign up in person prior to the start of the meeting, and remote public commenters must sign-up online by 6:30pm the night of the meeting. 
Remote meeting link:
Attend the Meeting via Zoom Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/97515984680
Call into the Live Meeting: 253-215-8782 - Webinar ID: 975 1598 4680

PRCST Board Links:
About the PRCS/Tree Board
Meeting Video and Minutes Archive

Contact Us:
Lori Henrich, Administrative Assistant III
(206) 801-2602
lhenrich@shorelinewa.gov

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Planting parties at North City Park this week

Forest Steward Judy MacCully installs native plants in North City Park alongside her daughter, Kristina. You can volunteer to help them and other Forest Stewards throughout the City!
Photo courtesy Green Shoreline Partnership

We are still planting at parks in the City of Shoreline! 

Come help us out at North City Park just north of the North City Elementary building.

 You can find more information about these specific work parties at these links:

Updated with location of North City Park.

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Shoreline Council moves to expand Twin Ponds Park

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

A map from the city’s website shows the location of properties the city of Shoreline would like to purchase to expand Twin Ponds park.

By Oliver Moffat

Directly south of Twin Ponds park are a row of homes built in the 1950s and early 1960s. The single family homes are visible from the tennis/pickleball court, the community gardens and the arboretum.

If the owners of those homes are willing to sell, those parcels could become part of the park in the future - expanding the 22-acre park in the neighborhood near the 148th street light-rail station.

A photo from the city’s website shows Twin Ponds in the evening from the boardwalk.

The Shoreline city council voted unanimously to expand Twin Ponds Park by purchasing one of the parcels at the Monday, February 12, city council meeting. The 0.17 acre parcel is located on N 149th Street a block away from the property on 150th the city purchased in August of 2023.

The city was awarded Conservation Futures Tax (CFT) Levy funds to pay for 75% of the acquisition. The rest of the cost would be paid from Park Impact Fees. King County Conservation Futures is a program that provides grants to acquire open space. Park Impact Fees are collected by the city from new developments to pay for parks.

Unlike eminent domain, the city can only use CFT funds to purchase property from willing buyers.

A photo from the city’s website shows the Twin Ponds playground.

According to the CFT Application once acquired, the city could build trails to allow access to the park from the south while restoring native tree canopy and wetlands.

According to the 2017-2023 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan, Shoreline needs an additional 95 acres of park land with 43 of those acres within the 145th and 185th light-rail subareas. For comparison, Hamlin Park is 80 acres.

On average the city has 7.38 acres of parkland in walking distance of every 1,000 residents. But within the Parkwood neighborhood where Twin Ponds is located, there are only 5.7 acres per 1,000 residents.

The city expects 15,000 new residents by 2035 with 75% of that growth in the light-rail subareas. There are 1,605 new homes coming soon in the south Parkwood neighborhood including 151 “missing middle” townhomes and 296 affordable apartments.


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Join neighbors to help care for South Woods Park on Saturday February 10, 2024

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Work to be done at South Woods. Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Caring for South Woods Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 10am - 2pm

Come lend a hand on February 10th and connect with the natural world and to each other as neighbors resume the work to remove the invasive underbrush. 

The site was full of concrete and pipes.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The neighborhood volunteers worked for all of 2022 and found that this project was beyond their capabilities.

This kind of clean-up was beyond the capability of the neighborhood volunteers.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

They successfully applied for a Shoreline Environmental mini-grant for the city to remove the metal and concrete pieces left on the site from long-ago Navy occupancy.

Last November they planted native western sword ferns. This month they plan to continue working along that same path. 

There is an island in the pathway where Oregon grape and native Sword fern are surrounded by two Douglas fir trees. 

All that remains. Photo by Steven H. Robinson

They will start there and work westward through an open area where a square concrete form remains from Navy days. 

We need your help to accomplish that task! To find us follow the signage from the main path that bisects the woods. 

The trash left from the major clean up has been removed
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Our community has cause to celebrate. The trash mound is gone! Woodland Industries did a fantastic job clearing the debris. 

As a beloved part of our community, South Woods has the potential to become a cornerstone in Shoreline Schools curriculum. Let's hold that vision. 

In the meantime, Shorecrest students are enthused and ready to get involved in the care of the forestland.

Concrete and metal gone. Now it's time to plant.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

When we meet again on March 2nd be prepared to do some planting in this open space. Bring a friend and a digging fork, lopper, or hand clipper and gloves.

2210 NE 150th St, Shoreline, WA 98155 bordering Shorecrest High School on 25th NE.


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Community Work Party at Twin Ponds North February 10, 2024

Wednesday, February 7, 2024


Community Work Party at Twin Ponds North
Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 9:30am - 12:30pm
 
On February 10th, 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 water, and a snack, and if you have them, gloves and hand pruners.  We will have gloves and other tools, if you do not have them.
 
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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LFP Council Corner - Help design our lakefront park

Monday, February 5, 2024

Lorri Bodi, Deputy Mayor
Lake Forest Park City Council
Greetings Neighbors. 

I am honored to serve again on our Lake Forest Park City Council, and now as your new Deputy Mayor. For the last few years, I’ve also enjoyed being Council liaison to our citizen Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is actively working on outreach and recommendations for our new Lakefront Park, located just north of the Civic Club and Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve. The design concept will include desired recreation, environmental preservation and restoration, multiple means of access including disabled access, and public safety. Our goal is to have a completed design concept in place in time for state biennial grant funding opportunities this spring.

So far, the Board and the Administration have reached out to our community through an online survey and in a community workshop, both well attended, to receive suggestions. Based on the input to date, our community shares many goals for the park, including a focus on water-based recreation and all-age use, equitable waterfront access for all community members, seamless alignment with the Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve conservation area, and security for nearby properties.

We’d like to hear from you! Please come to the community workshop on February 21, 2024 at City Hall between 5:30 and 7:30pm, where the Board and City team will share design alternatives for your consideration and input. The summaries will be shared with the Council and the Council will weigh in on a preferred design concept during its March meetings. For more information, please visit the project website.

--Deputy Mayor Lorri Bodi



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CANCELLED: Star Party at Paramount School Park at dusk Saturday

Saturday, February 3, 2024


CANCELLED: Notice how very dark it is outside? Not a good night for star viewing.

Join the Seattle Astronomical Society for a Star Party in Shoreline tonight Saturday, February 3, 2024 at the Paramount School Park, 15300 8th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155

It's free to see the stars!

Remember to dress warmly, bring a chair, a hot non-alcoholic drink, and your binoculars or telescope if you have them. We will have telescopes setup for you to view the stars.

*RVSP on Facebook or at https://www.seattleastro.org/events/2913 to get an alert if the event is canceled due to weather conditions. We will notify by 4pm day of the event if this even will be canceled.

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 the star party.

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.

Visit the SAS website for other Puget Sound star party events, and for outreach opportunities, meetings and membership information.

This public star party is authorized by the city of Shoreline, Parks & Recreation Department and is free of charge.


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Meet the Western White Pines of Hamlin Forest

Friday, January 12, 2024

A volunteer (obscured behind a blackberry bramble) clears noxious weeds from
the base of this impressive Western White Pine at Hamlin Park.

By Oliver Moffat

Hamlin Park is home to many impressive native trees but the forest’s population of Western White Pines (Pinus monticola) stands out as especially noteworthy. We are lucky to have so many big, mature Western White Pines in our Shoreline neighborhoods. 

In contrast, entire forests of ghostly white pine snags are a common site in the Cascade range as a result of deadly disease.

Large pine cones and five-needle clumps from Western White Pine are a common site on the forest floor in Hamlin Park. Photo by Oliver Moffat

For the past one hundred years, Western White Pines have been under attack by a fungal disease called white pine blister rust which has killed 90% of the white pines in our region. 

The fungus (Cronartium ribicola) is believed to have been introduced from Asia a century ago. Blister rust is not spread from pine to pine, instead, it has a complicated life cycle involving a stage spent living in currents and gooseberries (genus Ribes) before infecting white pines.

Western White Pines can thrive in the sandy, gravely, low-nutrient soils that are common in the Hamlin Park area. It is possible that our Western White Pines have some genetic resistance that has allowed them to survive.
The trunk of a mature Western White Pine in Hamlin Park is evocative of a dinosaur’s leg
Photo by Oliver Moffat

There are a few easy ways to identify a Western White Pine. They drop copious amounts of long needles and large pine cones. You know you’re standing under a Western White Pine when the ground under your feet is littered with big cones and long needles. The needles of white pines grow in clumps of five.

A young Western White Pine makes new friends at the Hamlin forest restoration site
Photo by Oliver Moffat
While standing next to the massive trunk of a Western White Pine, you might image you are standing next to the foreleg of a Brontosaurus. The bark on mature trees can appear scaly like a lizard’s skin and are often green from from lichen and moss.

Stewards with the Green Shoreline Partnership host work parties in parks across the city where volunteers can help expand and protect our public forests. Work parties a great way to meet your human neighbors while also getting to know the flora who live in your neighborhood.

The Hamlin Park stewardship team hosts work parties most Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Learn more and signup for a work party in your neighborhood park


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Save the Date! February 21 is the second Community Workshop for the future Public Lakefront Park property in LFP

Tuesday, January 2, 2024


The City of Lake Forest Park has acquired two parcels of land, totaling 1.91 acres, on the shores of Lake Washington to provide the community with active water recreation opportunities. 

This multi-year effort requires community participation and input. The City and its consultants are now embarking on the design of the future public waterfront that will feature expanded park and community space.

Your input is essential to the design of our future public lakefront park! 

Share your thoughts and vision for the new lakefront park improvement project during the Community Workshop in the City Council Chambers 17425 Ballinger Way NE, Lake Forest Park WA 98155 on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, anytime between 5:30pm – 7:30pm.

Be sure to view the project website for more information on the project, sign up to receive email updates, and go on a virtual tour of the park!

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Above Log Boom Park

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

 
Photo by Gordon Snyder

A serene view of Lake Washington




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Start 2024 with a First Day Hikes adventure

Friday, December 15, 2023

Photo courtesy Washington State Parks

Join Washington State Parks on January 1, 2024 for our annual First Day Hikes events — an opportunity for everyone to get outside and enjoy a beautiful state park!

Choose a guided hike, snowshoe excursion, bike or trail ride, dog walk or paddle adventure to enjoy on New Year’s Day.

Hikes will range in difficulty from paved, flat ADA-accessible trails to moderate hill climbs. A few parks will host more than one hike with options tailored to different interests and abilities. 

Additionally, some hikes will include fun and educational talks with rangers, where you can learn about the history and natural features of the parks. 

All participants will receive a collectible Washington State Parks 2024 First Day Hikes pin!

Most First Day Hikes require advanced registration, and group sizes may be limited. Visit our website to view all activities and registration information.

New Year’s Day marks the first Discover Pass free day of 2024. Visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park on state recreation lands. 

If you plan to participate in a First Day Hike at a park that becomes a Sno-Park during the winter (Easton Reload Sno-Park, Fields Spring State Park, Lake Wenatchee State Park and Mount Spokane State Park), a Sno-Park permit is required.

Mark your calendars for our 2024 Discover Pass free days

  • Jan. 1 - First Day Hikes & New Year’s Day
  • Jan. 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • March 9 - Billy Frank Jr.’s Birthday
  • March 19 - State Parks’ 111th Birthday
  • April 22 - Earth Day
  • June 8 - National Get Outdoors Day
  • June 9 - Free Fishing Day
  • June 19 - Juneteenth
  • Sept. 28 - National Public Lands Day
  • Oct. 10 - World Mental Health Day
  • Nov. 11 - Veterans Day
  • Nov. 29 - Autumn Day


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Volunteer with the Green Shoreline Partnership in Shoreline parks

Tuesday, December 12, 2023


Volunteer to help do ecological restoration with the Green Shoreline Partnership - Invest in our city's future urban forests! 

Volunteer at a city park near you. Work parties on various days of the week available at parks throughout the city. 

Register online at this link. Email stewardship@restorationad.com for more information.


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