Showing posts with label trees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trees. Show all posts

Ivy removal demonstration in Lake Forest Park Saturday April 27, 2024

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

The Lake Forest Park Tree Board is hosting an ivy Removal event this Saturday, April 27, 2024 to mark National Arbor Day. 

Join us to learn more about the harmful effects ivy has on our trees, and help remove ivy from one of our neighbor’s property at 19055 35th Ave NE, Lake Forest Park WA 98155

For more information from the LFP website, click here.


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"To Be Among The Trees - An Arboreal Poetry Workshop" at Dunn Gardens

Sunday, April 21, 2024

Photo courtesy Dunn Gardens

"To Be Among The Trees-An Arboreal Poetry Workshop"
Saturday, May 11, 2024 @3pm
Cost: Members- $10 | Not-Yet-Members- $15

Come write, inspired by trees in spring glory on the beautiful grounds of Dunn Gardens. We will turn our attention to our green companions through listening to arboreal poems and engaging in practices to open our perception. 

Time will be given to contemplate and write in response to a tree of your choice, with simple poetic forms to write into. We will end by celebrating together in honoring, through our words, the sensuous details and beauty of the trees that surround us.
 
To Be Among Trees, for seasoned or beginning writers alike, will take place in Dunn Gardens, a beautiful oasis in North Seattle with over 70 Heritage trees. We will meet outside (with access to bathrooms) and spend time writing in the gardens. A canopy will be provided in case of rain. A small break is included. Please bring a snack and drink for yourself.
 
Mary Oak is passionate about using writing as a way to honor our embeddedness within the living Earth. For over 20 years she has enjoyed leading students in awakening perception, sensuous engagement, and heart awareness in relation to the plant kingdom in Waldorf teacher training, through her home studio and in her Sacred Botany: Revisioning the Plant Kingdom classes at Antioch University. 

For more about Mary and her writing and teaching please look here.


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Shoreline council members question tree removals; city says an earthquake could cause 175th to “slip and slide” into Ronald Bog

Friday, April 5, 2024

By Oliver Moffat

At the April 1, 2024 meeting, some Shoreline city council members raised concerns about tree removals for the 175th Corridor Project. City staff told the council that 175th could “slip and slide” into Ronald Bog during an earthquake. To make the road safer, the city must rebuild the roadway which will require tree removals.

Councilmember Annette Ademasu asked staff for more details about tree removals planned for the 175th project especially at Ronald Bog Park

Councilmember Annette Ademasu raised a 175th corridor project agenda item up for discussion at this week’s council meeting. She questioned the proposed removal of 213 significant trees to make way for the road project. “At Ronald Bog there are three large conifers and a Japanese cherry. Is there anyway to save those at Ronald Bog?” she asked.

In response to questions, Public Works Director, Tricia Juhnke said, “In an earthquake, 175th would most likely slip and slide and fall into the bog. 175th is identified as one of our top emergency corridors for connection throughout the city.” 
Making the road safer requires regrading the roadway and building walls on each side to contain the new substrate. “It is also a reason we were able to get an $8 million grant from FEMA to improve the infrastructure,” Juhnke added.

Councilmember John Ramsdell raised concerns about transparency and asked why the 175th arborist report had not been published earlier

Councilmember John Ramsdell said, “I’m concerned about the lack of transparency and communication with the community. I was really hoping to see more transparency. What concerned me is that the arborist report wasn’t done until October.”

City staff reiterated a promise made in September of 2023 to provide more transparency on tree impacts and said the city is still “playing catch up” on projects that have been in the planning phase for many years.

Cross section of preferred concept from Meridian Avenue N to I-5 (facing east)

In recognizing that the 175th project has been in planning since before the city recently reprioritized in favor of increased tree preservation, Mayor Chris Roberts said, “as nimble as Shoreline is we are still a relatively large ship and we can’t turn on a dime”

On Monday April 15, the city council will hold a public hearing and discuss Shoreline’s Transportation Improvement Plan. The plan, which serves as a six-year roadmap for transportation projects in the city, is updated each year.


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Tree removal work on NE 175th St overnight

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

On Wednesday, March 27, 2024 Sound Transit will perform a nighttime closure of westbound NE 175th St between 5th Ave NE and the northbound I-5 on-ramp intersection for tree removal. 

Crews will work at night due to the restricted hours for road closures. 

This work is part of the Lynnwood Link Extension.

Work will be done between 11pm on Wednesday to 5am Thursday.

According to Sound Transit spokesperson John Gallagher, "Two trees are going to be removed because their declining/deceased state is creating a safety hazard."
 
Residents should expect construction noise from equipment such as a Merlo Roto 5035, chainsaws, a self-loading truck, light plants and various hand tools.

Emergency vehicle access will be maintained.

Some bus routes may be affected. Check the King County Metro website for details.


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LFP Celebrates Arbor Day with Ivy Removal Demonstration and Tree Canopy Preservation Event Saturday, April 27, 2024

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Ivy climbing trees
Photo courtesy LFP Stewardship Foundation

The City of Lake Forest Park Tree Board invites the community to celebrate Arbor Day on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 11:00am. The event will take place at 19055 35th Avenue NE and focus on preserving our precious tree canopy by tackling invasive English Ivy.

This family friendly event will kick off with an educational demonstration on the safe and effective removal of English Ivy. Experts will share essential techniques to protect our trees from this damaging vine. 

Following the demonstration, volunteers will have the opportunity to join Tree Board members to put those techniques to work directly, helping to maintain a healthy and diverse urban forest.

Schedule of Events
  • 11:00 – 11:30am - Ivy Removal Demonstration
  • 11:30am – 1:00pm - Community Ivy Removal Work Party

If you are interested in joining the post-demonstration work party, please bring your work gloves and tools. Refreshments will be provided.

 What’s wrong with Ivy? 

Originally brought to our area as a ground cover, English Ivy can be highly destructive to trees and overall forest health. It competes for sunlight and nutrients, can choke out young trees entirely, and makes mature trees more susceptible to collapse in storms due to added weight. 

Removing English Ivy is a critical step in safeguarding our urban forest for years to come. For more information visit the website of the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.

“Lake Forest Park’s beautiful tree canopy is one of our greatest assets. This Arbor Day, let's join forces to protect it." – Tom French, Mayor 


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Construction begins for roundabout at 145th and I-5: look for seven month road closure and removal of significant number of trees

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Map of 145th road closure

Expect delays near N 145th Street (State Route 523) and I-5: Seven-month closure of N 145th Street begins April 1

SHORELINE – Travelers who use N 145th Street near Interstate 5 in Shoreline should plan for additional travel time beginning Monday, April 1, 2024. 

Contractor crews working for the City of Shoreline and its partners will implement a seven-month closure of N 145th St (SR 523) between 1st Ave NE and I-5. 

The I-5 interchange will remain open throughout construction; however, the traffic on the overpass will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

The closure allows construction crews to install, build and/or relocate critical utility infrastructure to accommodate construction of the new roundabouts. This section of the street will remain closed until fall 2024. 

The closure is part of the City of Shoreline’s 145th Street Corridor and 145th Street and I-5 Interchange projects.

Getting around the closure

Plan ahead for detours! This closure will have a significant effect on traffic flow and access in the area. Southbound I-5 on- and off-ramps will be open, but only accessible from the east side of the closure. We expect some occasional overnight closures of these ramps, but they will mostly remain open.

Travelers wanting to head east and west between 1st Ave N and I-5 will need to detour and use N 155th St or N 130th St. 

Bicyclists and pedestrians will use a detour along N 147th St. 

Detour signage will be in place during the closure, and we will continue to coordinate work with our transit partners, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and the Seattle Department of Transportation. 

Questions and Concerns

If you have questions or concerns about construction or the project, you can call the 24-hour construction hotline or send an email.
Tree removal

We have designed these projects to affect as few trees as possible. However, the project involves widening the footprint of 145th St, which will require the removal of a significant number of trees. This removal will begin around April 1, 2024.

We will plant new trees once the project is complete. We will plant trees in medians and along sidewalks to expand the square footage of the total tree canopy in the area. This aligns with the City’s goals for the corridor and the recommendations found in our Urban Tree Canopy Assessment. By planting medians or along sidewalks, the City can grow the tree canopy in an area that otherwise would be bare.

Removing trees is a balance between short-term effects and the long-term benefits of a more sustainable transportation system. By carefully selecting which trees to remove and planting new trees at a high rate, we can build toward the future in a responsible way.


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Public hearing for Fircrest nursing facility “Grudgingly Accepted” by some

Sunday, March 3, 2024

The Fircrest plan calls for a new nursing facility to replace the badly outdated buildings like this one.
 Photo by Oliver Moffat

By Oliver Moffat

A stroll along the meandering pathways of the forested 65 acre Fircrest campus provides a quiet and peaceful break from the busy car traffic of 15th Ave NE.

Despite the peaceful setting, the future of the Fircrest campus has long been the focus of controversy with some advocates calling for the facility be closed while others seek upgrades.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has applied for a permit to proceed with the Fircrest School Master Development Plan - a twenty year plan for the campus. A public hearing on the plan will be held on Wednesday night March 6, 2024 at Shoreline city hall.

The plan calls for the demolition of aging buildings that have fallen into disrepair. In their place, new residential cottages, and a commissary.

The southeastern quadrant where the dog park is today will be redeveloped into commercial spaces. In the center of the campus, the historic chapel will be preserved and the plan calls for retention of as many significant trees as possible. A new public, forested trail will connect the chapel to Hamlin Park to the north.

A rendering from the Fircrest plan shows the proposed nursing facility that has drawn criticism 

A controversial 120-bed nursing facility is also planned that would replace the dangerously aging “Y buildings”.

Originally a Naval Hospital during World War II, the site was used as a tuberculosis sanatorium before Fircrest opened in 1958. By the middle of the 1960s Fircrest was home to over a thousand residents with mental and physical impairments. 

Since then, the population has declined to about two hundred residents thanks to advances in rights for people with disabilities that moved people out of isolated institutions and helped parents support family members at home.

Some of those residents now live in the Fircrest nursing facility in the northwest quadrant of the campus in six Y-shaped buildings dating from the 1960s. These structures do not meet current seismic codes according to the plan and virtually everything needs to be replaced including heating, plumbing and electric.

Current view of Fircrest from Google Earth shows the Y shaped buildings.

After decades of conflict between advocates, families and caregivers, the State Legislature tasked a workgroup to broker consensus between stakeholders and make a specific set of recommendations.

According to the workgroup report, most adults with developmental disabilities live at home with their aging parents acting as caregivers. As their parents age and are no longer able to care for them, they need long-term supportive care.

After listening to over 135 people including residents, parents, and caregivers, the workgroup made a series of twenty recommendations five years ago.

One of those recommendations was for the state to build a new 120-bed nursing facility replacement on the Fircrest campus.

To many disability rights advocates, Fircrest is a relic of a bygone age when people with disabilities were segregated from the community. Advocates including The Arc of Washington and Disability Rights Washington have called for shutting down the facility arguing that residents can receive better care within the community.

An alternative preferred by some advocates was a plan to build multiple 6-bedroom homes across the state that would site residents closer to their communities of origin while allowing them to live in a non-institutional home.

According to a follow up report published by the workgroup early this week, the Fircrest recommendation is still contentious with some while others have “grudgingly accepted” that the facility will be built; like it or not.

DSHS is also seeking a special use permit to build a new 48 bed behavioral health facility on the campus that would provide urgently needed capacity to serve people who have been involuntarily committed to receive mental health treatment in a secure environment for up to six months. The facility will have large spaces for activities, exercise and life skills instruction to help transition patients back into the community.

Some neighborhood residents have expressed concern over the development of the campus, preferring preservation of open space and historic buildings instead of new buildings and commercial space.

In September of 2023, the Naval Hospital Chapel on the campus was listed on the Washington State Registry of Historic Places. (See previous articles about the Chapel and Fircrest)

A locked gate separating Fircrest from Hamlin Park could be removed under the plan.
Photo by Oliver Moffat

According to the proposed plan, the chapel and its surrounding forest will be preserved and a new network of trails will connect the chapel to Hamlin Park to the north. Currently, access to Hamlin Park is blocked by locked gates, preventing Fircrest residents and caregivers from waking north into the 80 acre forested park. The plan also includes badly needed sidewalk and bicycle lane improvements along 15th Ave NE to the west and NE 150th St to the south.

A study in 2023 recorded 2,258 significant trees within the Master Development Plan boundary. It is unclear at this point which trees will be retained: the plan says a minimum of 60% of significant trees will be retained while city staff are recommending that 80% of trees be retained.

A map from the Fircrest plan shows the location of the proposed nursing facility and walking trails connecting the historic chapel to Hamlin Park.

On a typical Saturday afternoon, the noisiest thing on the peaceful campus is the Eastside Off-Leash Dog Area located in the southeast quadrant of the campus. The city currently has a month-to-month lease to use the site which is expected to end when dog parks at Ridgecrest Park and James Keough Park funded by the 2022 Park Bond open. According to the proposed plan, the dog park will be redeveloped into commercial or office space and will include publicly accessible open space.

The Fircrest Master Development Plan does not include the southwest quadrant of the campus where the COVID testing site was located during the height of the pandemic. 

A proposed amendment to the city’s Comprehensive Plan would rezone that parcel which is owned by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A bill (House Bill 2003) that would provide tax exemptions to incentivize affordable housing on DNR owned lands is on the way to the Governor’s desk after sailing through the House and Senate with broad bipartisan support in this year’s legislative session. State Representative Cindy Ryu has championed a proposal for an affordable housing development on the parcel.


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Volunteers needed for LFP Tree Board and Climate Action committee

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Would you like to help shape the future of the City of Lake Forest Park? 

If so, consider applying for a position on one of our advisory bodies. 

In addition to partial-term vacancies on the Tree Board and Climate Action Committee, there are also two alternate member positions available on the Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and Tree Board.

Tree Board - terms are for three years and there are two partial term vacancies; one expires February 28, 2025 and the other expires February 28, 2026.

Please email Assistant Planner Elizabeth Talavera with questions.

Climate Action Committee - there are two college / high school student positions available on the Climate Action Committee. Both are partial terms that expire on February 28, 2025.

Please email Environmental and Sustainability Specialist Cory Roche with questions.

If you would like to apply, please complete the online application. More information about our advisory bodies is available here.

If you are interested and would like to watch meeting videos for the advisory bodies, they are available here.


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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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Miyawaki Forest Program events in May, June, and September

Sunday, February 11, 2024


The Shoreline Historical Museum has many exciting events coming up around the Miyawaki Urban Forest History Project that they would love to share with the community.

Save these dates and keep updated on events and other information through the "Miyawaki Forest Page".

The Shoreline Historical Museum and the adjoining Miyawaki Forest are located at 18501 Linden Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133.


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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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Kenmore considering amendment to tree codes to protect and preserve trees

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Trees are the view.
Photo by Christine Southwick

At the November 20 and December 4, 2023 City Council meetings, public hearings were held regarding amendments to the tree code to further protect and preserve trees.

Amendments include: 
  • increased tree density requirements for new development, 
  • a decrease in the yearly allowance for single-family tree removal, 
  • new requirements to always require replacement for removed trees, and 
  • the establishment of a tree fund for instances where replacement is infeasible. 

After insightful public comments at both public hearings, the City Council directed staff to engage further with stakeholders and to consider their feedback in making revisions to the amendments. 

City staff will return with fresh versions of the amendments early in 2024. 

Kenmore Community members can provide additional feedback by emailing Garrett Oppenheim (goppenheim@kenmorewa.gov) before December 31. 



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Workers busy planting thousands of trees along light rail extension

Friday, December 22, 2023

Young Western Red-Cedars, Douglas Firs, and Incense Cedars await planting near the I-5 pedestrian overpass at 185th St - Photo by Oliver Moffat

By Oliver Moffat

Workers are busy planting trees along the Light Rail line in Shoreline. Sound Transit is landscaping as they finish the tracks by planting some of our region’s best known and most beloved native trees including Western Red-Cedar, Incense Cedar, and (of course) Douglas Fir.

A young Western Red-Cedar is ready to be lifted into position for planting near the I-5 pedestrian overpass at 185th St. Photo by Oliver Moffat

According to a worker on site, it’s a tricky job getting the young trees into place and involves hoisting with a fork lift.

As part of the Lynnwood Link Extension tree replacement program Sound Transit is planting thousands more trees than have been removed for the project.

So far they’ve planted thousands of trees along the five miles of track between the Northgate Station and the 185th street pedestrian bridge over I-5. 

Sound Transits website shows the scope of the number of replacement trees to be planted. 



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Volunteers plant the Miyawaki urban forest at the Shoreline Historical Museum

Sunday, December 17, 2023

 
Photo by Sally Yamasaki
A Miyawaki urban forest is a small forest that can be planted in urban spaces. They grow 10 times faster and 30 times denser than a traditional planted forest without pesticides and in three years the forest will be self-sustaining, not needing watering or weeding. 

By Judy MacCully

Rotarians from the Environmental Rotary Club, Shoreline Rotary and Lake Forest Park Rotary joined over 300 community members for The Miyawaki Forest Planting Day on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at the Shoreline Historical Museum, 18501 Linden Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133.

Volunteers sign in on Planting Day at the Miyawaki Forest
Photo by Sally Yamasaki

Refreshments, kids activities, and tours were available as well as opportunities to plant.

Rain and cold could not dampen the excitement or enthusiasm that the community showed for this first stage of the Miyawaki Urban Forest History Project at the Shoreline Museum.

The plan was laid out ahead of planting day
Drone photo by Dan Bernson

Miyawaki Urban Forests are a unique type of urban forest developed by Japanese botanist, Dr. Akira Miyawaki. 

These compact forests are not only beautiful, but they also provide a host of benefits to the environment and to the people who live in urban areas.

Volunteers at work.
Drone photo by Dan Bernson

Unlike traditional urban forests, which are often composed of just one or two species of trees, Miyawaki Urban Forests are composed of a diverse mix of native trees and shrubs, planted closely together in a small area. This high-density planting method allows the forest to grow quickly and become self-sustaining in just a few years.

Members of the Environmental Rotary Club
Photo by Judy MacCully
By involving community members in the planning, planting, and maintenance of the forest, the project will help to build a sense of community and collective responsibility. 

Additionally, by documenting the history of the project and the community members involved, the project will help to preserve and celebrate the unique cultural heritage of the area.

Overall, a Miyawaki Urban Forest History Project provides a range of benefits to the community it serves, from mitigating the effects of climate change to improving the health and well-being of community members.

If you wish to be involved in future projects at the museum contact volunteer@shorelinehistoricalmuseum.org for more info.

Note: photo captions have been corrected

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Shoreline Council approves $42 Million for 145th Project after hearing comments on tree removals

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

By Oliver Moffat

The Shoreline City Council voted to approve more than $42 million in funding for the 145th roadway improvement on Monday night December 11, 2023, paving the way to support increased car traffic on the border between Seattle and Shoreline. 


In another indication of the complex challenges Shoreline faces as our city grows, more than 60 residents provided public comments pleading for a halt to save trees that will be removed to make way for the expanded roadway.

A rendering from the city’s website showing the roundabouts, on-ramp improvements, and improved sidewalks and bike lanes that will be built as part of the 145th project.


A rendering from the city’s website shows the placement of the new 145th center turn-lane and widened sidewalk

It has been over twenty years since 145th last was repaved and restriped - the only improvements made to the busy motorway in decades. The project will widen the I-5 on-ramps and off-ramps and replace the traffic lights, currently plagued with traffic jams, with roundabouts

The project will widen the roadway to add a fifth, center turn lane to reduce traffic jams caused by drivers turning south. And the project will widen the sidewalk to create a multi-use path that is accessible to wheelchair users and bicyclists.

The action by the City Council on Monday night was little more than a procedural formality as the 145th Street Projects have been in planning for a decade, with multiple rounds of public open houses, and published reports. 

According to reports by city staff, the Council had to approve the funds or risk millions of dollars in cost overruns and with the 145th light rail station opening soon, upgrades to provide safe pedestrian pathways will become a life-or-death safety measure.

Despite the procedural nature of the Council action, dozens of public comments highlighted how rapid development and change is causing frustration for some residents. 

Public comments voiced disappointment and surprise that more than 300 trees will be removed to make way for the 145th project. 

Although most comments did not question the need for improving the roadway for drivers, many comments specifically questioned the need for a thirteen foot multi-use path that can accommodate bicyclists, suggesting that a narrower sidewalk would save trees while sending bicyclists into the roadway.

A screen shot from a city staff report shows areas where trees will be removed to make way for 145th improvements.

A screen shot from a city staff report shows the number of trees that will be planted to mitigate the impacts of the removal of more than 300 trees.

Deputy Mayor Betsy Robertson pointed out the dire consequences of not approving the funds,
“This is not a Shoreline project. This is a regional project… There are millions and millions of dollars that are threatened by us not proceeding tonight… 
We would be sacrificing the safety of commuters, bikers, walkers, all those things, if this were not to get done… the train has left the station.”

Councilmember Chris Roberts emphasized the complexities inherent in a massive project such as this, saying, 

“I think this project really illustrates the trade offs that are going to be necessary and that we have to think about as we move forward with these bigger projects… moving forward, we need to be clear about what our priorities are. 
"We need to be clear with these road infrastructure projects our priority must be safety, safety for all users.”
Mayor Keith Skully emphasized the broader environmental context of the project “

The point of this is environmental. The point of this is to save trees in areas other than Shoreline. We can build affordable, dense housing here, so we don’t have to build it somewhere that is currently forested or farmland.”

In retrospect, the Mayor promised more transparency going forward, 

“what we learned on other projects recently is folks telling us we didn’t know how many trees were coming down. And so what we’ve started doing is putting that front and center. That’s always been available but we haven’t necessarily been leading with that. That’s an improvement that we need to make.” 

Looking forward, he said, “I think council and I are ready to say let’s start prioritizing trees. Both preservation and adding them in.”


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"Live & Wild" Holiday Trees for Salmon at the Northwest Stream Center in Everett

Sunday, December 3, 2023


Adopt A Stream Foundation is selling "Live & Wild" Holiday Trees for Salmon at the Northwest Stream Center 10am to 4pm, beginning Saturday December 2 through December 24, 2023. 

The Northwest Stream Center is located in Snohomish County's McCollum Park, 600 128th St SE, Everett WA 98208. 

December, you can also enjoy free admission to the beautiful 32-acre forest and wetland preserve at the Northwest Stream Center enjoying a 1/2-mile stroll past a Trout Stream Exhibit onto an Elevated Forest & Wetland Walk that is just shy of 3-feet above the forest floor and surrounding wetlands... it’s a beautiful place to be and universally accessible. 

There will be a great selection of live 3 to 5 foot-high ($40, $60, $100) Sitka Spruce, Western Red Cedar, Grand Fir, and Douglas Fir trees that are in pots. 

After the holidays, if you wish, all trees returned to the Northwest Stream Center will be planted next to local streams helping out next year's salmon runs. 

Everyone who purchases a tree will receive an annual Adopt A Stream Foundation membership as a holiday gift. Benefits include: free entry to the Northwest Stream Center for 2024, discounts to 2024 Streamkeeper Academy events, and 10% discounts on purchases at the Northwest Stream Center Nature Store. 

Not to mention, everyone will get the good feeling that comes with knowing their Holiday Tree for Salmon will be doing great things for the Northwest environment long into the future...a great memory of this holiday season! 

For more information, call 425-316-8592, email aasf@streamkeeper.org, or visit us online


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Sidewalk 'bridges' in Kenmore save street trees

Sunday, November 19, 2023

'Tree bridge' in Kenmore photo by Pam Cross

As you drive north on 73rd Ave NE in Kenmore, you may be asking yourself: why are there bridges on this sidewalk?

A quick check with the Kenmore Facebook page provides the answer: There are multiple locations where tree roots are damaging the sidewalk. The City of Kenmore is using this innovative approach to preserve the trees by bridging over existing tree roots. 

The bridges are a product of PermaTrak (PermaTrak.com) that advertises them as a maintenance-free boardwalk system for trail, greenway and pedestrian bridge projects. 

Rather than remove the trees or cut the tree roots, the sidewalk now goes over the area the roots are growing which allows both the sidewalk and the trees to exist in harmony.

Thinking outside the box, Kenmore researched for ways to improve sidewalks while saving the healthy trees that disrupt sidewalks. They recognized the importance of trees to our environment to mitigate the effects of global warming and to prevent the growth of heat islands created by the sidewalks and street hardscape. 

A PermaTrak system was used along Dayton Ave N in Shoreline saving 94 mature trees (SAN 11/14/202). In this case a level sidewalk was installed.

Cities, including Shoreline, continue to look for different ways to save mature trees as we strive to make our cities more walkable while protecting their beauty. 

--Pam Cross


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Emergency Tree Work on NE 182nd Street in LFP on Monday, November 20

Saturday, November 18, 2023

On Monday, November 20, 2023, the City of Lake Forest Park’s Public Works Department is doing emergency tree work on NE 182nd Street.

From 8:00am to 1:00pm, NE 182nd Street will be closed from 35th Avenue NE to 40th Avenue NE.

From 1:00pm to approximately 4:00pm, NE 182nd Street will be closed from 33rd Avenue NE and 35th Avenue NE to finish the tree work.

The closure involves setting up a large crane in the work zone so there will be no through traffic during the closures. Please plan to use alternate routes. 


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Golden tree

Thursday, November 16, 2023

 
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Trees are turning gold and red all over the area. The sunlight, when we have it, lights them up like the gold at the end of the rainbow.

--DKH


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Rotary grant supports Miyawaki Urban Forest History Project at the Shoreline Museum

Thursday, November 2, 2023

By Judy McCully

The Environmental Rotary Club, along with Rotary Clubs of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Mill Creek, and Emerald City, are working together to ensure the success of the Miyawaki Urban Forest History Project at the Shoreline Historical Museum by making a joint grant request to District 5030. 

Amplifying the funding from these rotary clubs, on October 25, 2023 Rotary District 5030 approved our joint grant request, more than doubling the financial assistance for this worthy project.

The Rotary Grant will fund an entryway and artwork for the forest which will serve as a community gathering place and host educational programs. 

This Miyawaki Urban Forest History Project aims to create a beautiful and sustainable urban forest that celebrates the history of the area and promotes environmental awareness. The entryway and artwork will reflect the rich history of the community and provide a welcoming entrance for visitors. 

The Rotary Grant will help to fund this important project and ensure its success. With the support of the community and organizations like Rotary, the Miyawaki Urban Forest History Project is sure to become a valuable asset for the Shoreline community and a source of pride for years to come.

Environmental Rotary Club president, Kimberly Peterson commented, “We are excited to be a part of this community-driven project which was developed by a group of people invested in preserving the natural world and highlighting Indigenous relationships to our landscapes.”

Miyawaki Urban Forests are a unique type of urban forest developed by Japanese botanist, Dr. Akira Miyawaki. These compact forests are not only beautiful, but they also provide a host of benefits to the environment and to the people who live in urban areas. 

Unlike traditional urban forests, which are often composed of just one or two species of trees, Miyawaki Urban Forests are composed of a diverse mix of native trees and shrubs, planted closely together in a small area. This high-density planting method allows the forest to grow quickly and become self-sustaining in just a few years.

One of the key benefits of Miyawaki Urban Forests is their ability to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

The high-density planting method allows these forests to store up to 40 times more carbon than traditional urban forests. 

Additionally, these forests also provide many other benefits including the reduction of urban heat island effects, reduced air and noise pollution, and improved biodiversity. Overall, Miyawaki Urban Forests are an innovative and effective way to improve urban environments while also mitigating the effects of climate change.

By involving community members in the planning, planting, and maintenance of the forest, the project will help to build a sense of community and collective responsibility. 

Additionally, by documenting the history of the project and the community members involved, the project will help to preserve and celebrate the unique cultural heritage of the area. 

Overall, a Miyawaki Urban Forest History Project provides a range of benefits to the community it serves, from mitigating the effects of climate change to improving the health and well-being of community members.

The forest will be planted on the land adjacent to the Museum at N 185th and Linden Ave N in Shoreline.

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