Showing posts sorted by date for query 5 acre woods. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query 5 acre woods. Sort by relevance Show all posts

5 Acre Woods February celebration

Monday, February 5, 2018

Celebration at 5 Acre Woods
Photo by Gary Hawkey

By Donna Hawkey

Lake Forest Park residents from various neighborhoods came together on Saturday, February 3rd to celebrate the City’s acquisition of 5 Acre Woods (5AW).

This effort has been very community driven with lots of contributions of hard work, and generous donations from LFP residents which currently total $113,000.

Mayor Jeff Johnson announced that the City is getting ready to include 5AW into Lake Forest Park’s future parks plan.

A family from Bothell attended who have helped out at four work parties. The teens were looking for Honor Society volunteer hours and saw the 5AW posting on NextDoor.

Residents had the opportunity to hear about the current visions for 5AW. Described as a forest preserve and wildlife paradise, an educational haven, a nature retreat, and an environmental wonder, 5AW is becoming a community project for everyone.

5 Acre Woods was previously owned by Seattle City Light, who never used it for any purpose so the land has been untouched for over forty years. The purchase is being made possible by conservation grants and LFP residents' donations.

If you have ever tried to pull ivy,
you'll know what an accomplishment this is!
Photo by Polly Saunders
 
The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF) has been spearheading this project and encouraged residents to get further involved by attending a monthly work party or by holding a “friend- raising” or fundraising gathering at private homes.

If you’re interested in sponsoring a home gathering, contact LFPSF Fundraising Chair Brad Keefe at keefeba@gmail.com. LFPSF will help you in setting up your gathering.

The next regularly scheduled first Saturday of the month restoration work party will be on Saturday, March 3rd from 9:00am until noon. Refreshments and snacks are provided.

More information on the webpage or Facebook page

5 Acre Woods is located on 40th Pl NE at 45th Pl NE.



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Volunteer Saturday at 5 Acre Woods

Friday, February 2, 2018

5 Acre Woods volunteers
Photo by Donna Hawkey
On Saturday, February 3, from 9:00am to 11:00am, you are invited to volunteer with the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation at the newly acquired 5 Acre Woods property.

Volunteers are asked to meet 9:00am, where the day’s tasks will be removal of invasive ivy and to restore the health of the new park property. The Stewardship Foundation will also be hosting a celebration for the new park property following the work party.

Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for uneven terrain / mountain beaver holes. Some tools will be provided but feel free to bring your garden shears, loppers, folding hand saws or metal rakes. Leave your power tools at home but don’t forget your gloves!

Dress for the weather (rain or shine) and feel free to bring family and friends to help volunteer at the work party, no experience required! Children 14 yrs and under require parental liability wavier and must be accompanied by parents. There will be a volunteer table to check in and receive direction.

Questions? Contact Polly by email or phone 206-999-1406.

Directions to 5 Acre Woods Property



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Fill Up the Hill at 5 Acre Woods Feb 3

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Fill this hill Saturday with workers and supporters
Photo courtesy LFPSF
On Saturday, February 3rd from 9am until noon, there will be a 5 Acre Woods Restoration Volunteer Work Party and Community Celebration.

At 11am, a photo will be taken of gardeners and supporters to send off to Olympia.

So let’s fill up this hill with LFP residents that day whether you are coming for the work party or the celebration only. 
Our state legislators, such as Senator David Frockt, recently told Lake Forest Park residents how really impressive it is to see the community working together like this.

LFP residents have made substantial financial contributions to help the City purchase 5 Acre Woods.

Senator Frockt and other legislators are supporting a $250,000 grant at state level to help the City’s purchase and restoration efforts.

Let’s work together to help get that funding into our own community. Let's get enough people Saturday so we can create a photo showing all the community that comes together at 5 Acre Woods.

5 Acre Woods is located on 40th Place NE (at 45th Pl NE).
Refreshments and snacks will be served.

Saturday, February 3rd
  • 9:00am-11:00am – Work party at 5 Acre Woods (5AW)
  • 10:30am – Walk to 5AW (For those coming to the Celebration portion at 11:00am.) 

To join the gathering, meet in the LFP Elementary School parking lot at 10:30am. (18500 37th Ave NE, LFP.) Departure will be from the LFP Elementary School parking lot, where you can park your car.

Supporters will walk the short distance together up 40th Place NE to meet with everyone for the 11am Celebration and photo op.

  • 11:00 am – Gathering and Welcome. Refreshments served, compliments of Honey Bear Bakery 
More information on Facebook

5 Acre Woods by Jerry Pickard

Caution about stepping into this special place – you may not want to leave! Previously untouched for over 40 years when owned by Seattle City Light, it is now to become a LFP City forest preserve and nature-oriented educational playground.  

5AW - A Magical Place
By Jean Bryant

Calling all you citizens
Calling all you friends
Let's all see what we can do 
Before the MAGIC ends

From the folks up in the Heights
To the Beach below
And don't forget Horizon View
And everyone you know

5 Acre Woods-a special prize
A Treasure without alloy
Let's all dig deep and do our part
To embrace its special Joy



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5 Acre Woods volunteers remove three truckloads of ivy, branches, and logs

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Photo by Rick Bender

Photo by Rick Bender

LFP Public Works gathered three truckloads of ivy, branches and logs that came from the Five-Acre Woods volunteer cleanup efforts.

More than 50 volunteers attended the cleanup event in January.

And there's lots more where this came from! Look forward to future gardening events.

See previous story

5 Acre Woods property is located just north of where 40th Pl NE and 45th Pl NE intersect in Lake Forest Park.


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Happy New Year to 5 Acre Woods

Sunday, January 7, 2018

Volunteers large and small
gathered at 5 Acre Woods Saturday

Text and photos by Donna Hawkey

Happy New Year to 5 Acre Woods!

This place seems to bring together community in unique ways. Fifty dedicated Lake Forest Park residents showed up in the cold and rain on Saturday morning to help clear invasive ivy off the beloved giant trees of now Lake Forest Park owned 5 Acre Woods.

Tug of war with vines
One volunteer, Katie, drove in from her home in North Bend to participate. She grew up right across the street from 5 Acre Woods and when she heard about the work party, she said “I just had to come, I have such special memories here.”

Katie is now a children’s environmental teacher and would be interested in helping to develop possible educational programs at 5 Acre Woods.

The work party events will take place throughout 2018 on the first Saturday of the month from 9am until noon.

Everyone is invited to join in, as a permanent forest preserve is shaped for generations of LFP residents and the many species of wildlife who live there, and also to help maintain and build on the integrity of LFP’s stream health.

Children and teens were working together happily learning about how and why ivy needs to be trimmed off trees.

Did you know that ivy will eventually suffocate a tree if not removed at least three feet up from the base? And that will cut off enough of the ivy to establish its die-back further up the tree? Overhearing these explanations to the children’s many questions already establishes 5 Acre Woods as an educational haven and playground for all.

Mark Phillips with a fistful of ivy
Here’s a place for the imagination to wander and widen. And for residents from all of Lake Forest Park to gather and get to know each other better while working in the woods with family members, friends and neighbors.

It doesn’t get much better than this in building community. Experiencing the deep pride that goes along with this effort is a real example of the history that has made this and the many other preservation efforts possible in Lake Forest Park.

Mark your calendars for the next monthly work party on Saturday, February 3rd and please join in, too! 

 The Friends of Five Acre Woods do a great job of providing drinks and food snacks to keep the energies going throughout the morning.

For more information about the 5 Acre Wood project that was purchased by the City with much support, time and efforts on the part of the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation, see their website.

Donna Hawkey, a 21-year resident of Lake Forest Park, can be reached at dhawkey@comcast.net



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Gardening: Ivy removal at 5 Acre Woods Saturday

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Ivy removal at 5 Acre Woods Saturday, January 6, 2018, 9am to noon -- 
Help us take back the Forest from Invasive Plants

Join Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation for the 1st official Saturday work party to remove ivy and restore forest health at Lake Forest Park’s new park.

5 Acre Woods - Lake Forest Park - 19000 block of 40th Place NE (located west of the 40th Place NE and 45th Place NE intersection). Parking along 40th Place NE.

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

A limited number of tools will be available so 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. Children 14 yrs and under require parental liability waiver and must be accompanied by parents. Snacks and water provided.

Check in at the volunteer table to sign a liability waiver and learn what to do. No experience required.

Regular work parties will take place 1st Saturday of the month unless specified otherwise.

More information here. Donations here

Questions: Contact Polly -  206 999-1406


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Lake Forest Park finalizes purchase of 5 Acre Woods - now to pay for it

Saturday, December 16, 2017

5 Acre Woods

In September, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) accepted the City of Lake Forest Park’s $1 million purchase offer for two adjoining, undeveloped parcels near the intersection of 40th Place NE and 45th Place NE, at approximately the 19000 block.

On Friday, December 15, 2017, the City took ownership of the 5.6 acres known as "5 Acre Woods.".

In partnership with the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation, planning is underway to create an urban forest park with trails and an outdoor education space.

The city borrowed from a capital improvement budget to make the purchase and will be paid back with donations.

Grants, pledges, and donations now account for roughly two-thirds of the million dollar cost, including more than $500,000 in grants awarded from King County. The City will seek funding from the state.

During the final push to encourage the City to purchase the forest, the Stewardship Foundation made an agreement to raise funds for the shortfall. If these funds are not raised by late 2018, the City could put a portion of the land up for sale for sale for development.

The Stewardship Foundation reached its first fundraising goal and is now calling for the pledges to come in.

They have expressed great appreciation for the support of the community and are asking for continued financial and volunteer support to help make the park a reality. 
"We have raised over $135,000 to date" and "will need more individual donations to help meet the shortfall."

The Stewardship website has contact information, suggestions for raising funds, and information for making donations, including an online donation site.

Volunteer work parties will begin soon to remove invasive ivy from the trees in the park. They will provide tools and training. If you'd like to join in, email the Stewardship Foundation to join the volunteer list.



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Standing tall among the Tree Canopy

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

5 Acre Woods
Photo by Jerry Pickard

By Donna Hawkey

InvestigateWest reported in 2016 and once again earlier this year, that Lake Forest Park, Sammamish and Portland all have stronger tree protections (and thus tree canopies) than Seattle, which is playing catch-up, amending tree policies during their now record breaking City development period.

With its unique preservation qualities, Lake Forest Park (LFP) makes news again – being compared favorably with Portland, Oregon. (Will Seattle finally protect its tree canopy - Seattle Weekly)

Earlier this year, LFP Councilmember John Resha worked with the rest of the Council to strengthen the Environmentally Critical Areas ordinance. LFP resident Richard Saunders, who worked with Councilmember Resha on the City’s Planning Commission, reports that

“John played a major role in enhancing the Critical Area Ordinance which increases buffers and enhances restrictions. 
"This ordinance prevents inappropriate development next to streams, steep slopes, wetlands and preserves what most of us feel is the special part of Lake Forest Park.”

The City and its many conservation-minded residents showed their deep respect for the tree canopy with the recent purchase agreement for 5 Acre Woods.

Councilmember Mark Phillips was instrumental in helping to partner the City with the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF). These local volunteers worked tirelessly to help the City secure this special hidden forest gem, which is slated to be a City park as long as all the funding is secured by November, 2018.

If you would like to donate or can help with final funding strategies, contact the LFPSF Fundraising Chair Brad Keefe


Donna Hawkey is a 21-year resident of Lake Forest Park and can be reached here



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Learn about community efforts to create an Urban Forest Park with Trails in LFP

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Stewardship Foundation raising money
to purchase 5 Acre Woods



Walk to 5 Acre Woods Saturday

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF) invites the community to join us for “A Walk to 5 Acre Woods” event at 10:30am on Saturday, October 14, 2017.

Lake Forest Park now has a very special reason to celebrate this October which was proclaimed Urban and Community Forest Month in Washington by Governor Jay Inslee. The City of Lake Forest Park recently submitted a competitive bid of $1 million which was accepted by Seattle Public Utility for purchase of the 5 Acre Wood property located in the 19000 block of 40th Place NE.

The 5 Acre Woods site is the largest remaining mature forest within the area. It includes a wetland, a tributary of Lyon Creek, and serves as an important wildlife habitat.

Join us to celebrate the purchase of 5 Acre Woods and find out how you can help create this new park.

Thank you to all the citizens who expressed their desire to save 5 Acre Woods to the mayor and city council. The mayor and city council heard your voices and worked diligently to pass resolutions to purchase the property. 

The City has entered an agreement with LFPSF which will allow the foundation to get more funding to repay the purchase of the land by late next year. If LFPSF is unable meet this deadline then the city will sell the property for development. Although the purchase represents a momentous milestone, it only temporarily forestalls development of the property. Your continued support is needed now more than ever to help with fundraising.

With assistance from the LFPSF, the City has applied for King County Conservation Future grants, one of which was awarded in 2016 and another that is recommended for approval this year. These grants will cover about 50% of the purchase price.

The incredible outpouring of citizen support for 5AW in the form of pledges or donations for the acquisition is now over $135,000. Together these funds meet roughly 65% of our fundraising goal of $1 million [BDP1] so a great deal of work remains to make 5 Acre Woods a reality.

In addition to fundraising, LFPSF will be involved in developing plans for enhancement of the property and managing the intensive volunteer effort necessary to remove invasive plant species.

Regular visitor to the Woods
Not suitable for apartment living

Next Steps and How You Can Help

  • If you would like to contribute to the LFPSF’s community fundraising efforts, contact Brad Keefe (keefeba@gmail.com) to donate, pledge or volunteer for fundraising. 
  • Get involved! Demonstration of a high level of community involvement is a positive factor during the grant application review process so you can contribute in a meaningful way to our continued success.
  • Learn about volunteer opportunities that will ensure this urban forest provides critical habitat for decades to come. LFPSF will coordinate volunteer efforts in a similar model to Grace Cole Park. 
  • Express your appreciation to the mayor, city council and city staff for appropriating city funds to use as a bridge loan so LFPSF can continue to work with the city to raise the remaining funds necessary to preserve this property as a community green space with trails. 
  • Spread the word about 5 Acre Woods. Tell your friends and neighbors about this project and encourage volunteerism and donations. 
  • Attend the Walk to 5 Acre Woods for additional information on the agreement between the City and LFPSF and the plans to enhance and manage our new community forest. 

To join us at the Walk to 5 Acre Woods, meet in front of the Lake Forest Park Elementary School (18500 37th Ave NE, Lake Forest Park – parking available in the school parking lot) and proceed along the pedestrian walkway on 40th Place NE, to take a short walk to 5 Acre Woods.

Refreshments will be provided at the end of the walk, courtesy of Honey Bear Bakery and the Seattle Green Spaces Coalition.

The walk will occur rain or shine at 10:30am on Saturday, October 14, 2017. All ages are welcome. See the 5 Acre Woods Facebook page for more information. If you are interested in volunteering,  contact Lisa Pedigo, email at lpedigo@comcast.net.



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Enjoy some great retro jazz Saturday night and support the 5 Acre Woods project

Thursday, September 28, 2017



Come on out to hear the talented "ZepTet" perform at Grinders at 19811 Aurora Ave N. on Saturday, September 30th 8-10pm.

Thanks to the generosity of band members, they will collect donations for the Stewardship Foundation's 5 Acre Woods project.

Catch the "Vibe" as ZepTet performs as a trio featuring Kevin Boyd on vibraphone supported by LFP's own Dan Benson on bass and Zep on drums.

This is an all ages, family friendly event and children are welcome. Grinders features enormous sandwiches and other dinner items.

PLEDGE donations to help fund the purchase of 5 Acre Woods. Contact Brad Keefe or info@lfpsf.org



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New park for LFP? Update and Saturday walk

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

No guarantee you'll see him Saturday
but he's a regular visitor
Learn about community efforts to create an urban forest park with trails

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF) invites the community to join us for “A Walk to 5 Acre Woods Event” at 10:30am on Saturday, August 12, 2017. An update on the project will be provided.

The City of Lake Forest Park is now streamlining a plan to acquire 5AW to develop as an urban forest park.

Seattle Public Utility (SPU), the property owner, has engaged a commercial real estate broker and the 5AW is now on the market. 

However, SPU and its broker confirm that they will not evaluate bids until the first week of September.

The City of Lake Forest Park has been working hard to put together a plan that will allow the City to place a competitive bid for 5AW within the time frame.

With much assistance from the LFPSF, the City has applied for King County Conservation Future grants, one of which was awarded in 2016 and another than is recommended for approval this year.

Together these grants will cover about 50% of the purchase price. The incredible outpouring of citizen support for 5AW in the form of pledges for the acquisition, is now over $125,000, approximately 10% of estimated purchase price.

From a previous Walk Through The Woods

There are other funding sources to which application has been made, and will be made, to secure funding for the remainder. Some of these, especially those related to legislative action, can’t be applied for yet.

The City’s willingness to find a way to make an offer now, if successful, will create a window of time in which to secure the final funding. The outpouring of communication to the Mayor and Councilmembers from the many LFP citizens who favor the 5AW park creation has been another essential factor in the City decisions and commitment supporting the acquisition of 5AW. The community support to preserve this space as a park is needed now more than ever.

The 5 Acre Woods site is the largest remaining mature forest within the area. It includes a wetland, a tributary of Lyon Creek, and serves as an important wildlife corridor.

If you would like to contribute to the LFP SF’s community fundraising efforts, please contact Brad Keefe to donate, pledge or volunteer for fundraising.

To join us at the Walk to 5 Acre Woods, meet in front of the Lake Forest Park Elementary School (18500 37th Ave NE, Lake Forest Park – parking available in the school parking lot) and proceed along the pedestrian walkway on 40th Place NE, to take a short walk to 5 Acre Woods. 

Refreshments will be provided at the end of the walk courtesy of Honey Bear Bakery and the Seattle Green Space Coalition.

The walk will occur rain or shine at 10:30am on Saturday, August 12, 2017. See the 5 Acre Woods Facebook page for more information. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Lisa Pedigo

--LFPSF



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Poem: Five Acre Woods

Saturday, July 8, 2017

5 Acre Woods
Photo by Jerry Pickard


Five Acre Woods


Five Acre Woods a magical spot
A remnant of our Past
I hope and pray with all my heart
That we can make it last


Seattle it is changing
Lake Forest Park is too
But Magic still abounds in here
Let's see what we can do


The wildlife does reside in here
We wait with baited breath 
Will this last vestige of our Past
Now face a certain death


In Nature we find refuge
From all that Life may bring
For it is true- right in our heart
We're part of Everything


So let's all link our hearts and minds
To see what we can do
The dearest Gift-what Nature brings
That's true for me and you


There is a Presence you will feel
Not in the daily rush
But in the beauty of the space
The lilting of a thrush


Jean Monce Bryant
Lake Forest Park



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5 Acre Woods - the Last Frontier?

By Donna Hawkey

5 Acre Woods (5AW), the largest parcel of undeveloped property in Lake Forest Park, gained strong support from the LFP city council at their June 29th special meeting.

Jean Reid, Vice President, Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF) said she thinks “the council was very impressed with the outpouring of support shown at all the council meetings, but when the over $100,000 in resident pledges came rolling in, that may have been the deciding factor showing further that this community is very committed.”

But what really led to all this are the many, many volunteer hours from the passionate and dedicated work of the LFPSF and the Friends of 5AW.

The 20-year-old LFPSF non-profit 501(c)(3) has been leading this purchase effort with grant writing efforts and helping to identify other funding resources for the city.

Currently LFPSF is in a negotiation process with the city for determining how LFPSF could play a future role in all this.

After the council’s executive session on June 29th, Catherine Stanford, LFP’s Deputy Mayor made an announcement. Here are some excerpts from that announcement, the full statement can be heard on the city’s website.

“The process with the Stewardship Foundation is going very well at this time… We are happy to say that we will continue to meet, and again, work towards our common goals for preservation.”
This buck returns to the 5AW every spring
Photo courtesy 5AW

LFP city council also voted unanimously on June 29th to sign a “Waiver of Retroactivity,” Resolution 1620, so they can remain eligible for funding that would help further defray acquisition costs. The city is also exploring a bridge loan that would be paid back from various future funds and grants. And both House Representative Gerry Pollet and King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski have expressed solid support of this project.

Seattle Public Utility (SPU) recently put the property on the active market, however “SPU has a history of long-standing ethos of environmentalism, so let’s hope that public ownership of the property as a park will be a factor when they evaluate bids,” said Julian Andersen, President, LFPSF.

To date, $625,000 in conservation grant funding has been acquired for a city purchase. A municipality must be the purchaser of this public land to be eligible for this and other funding. The $625,000 in grants require 100% conservation of the site.

Also, those that approve grants like to see community commitment. It was the brainchild of the Friends of 5AW and LFPSF to embrace the idea of a 10% worthy fundraising goal to help increase future chances of grant approval and priority in funding cycles. This 10% goal was met with much enthusiasm from the residents, but continued efforts would be good.

Besides the purchase price, other funds will be needed for site restoration and to create public access.

The city council approved a little over $11,000 budget item for the Watershed Company environmental consultants to perform a study to explore usage options and to determine the true value of the land.

Small streams run through 5AW
Photo courtesy 5AW
5AW contains many steep slopes and sensitive areas so city council will estimate such items as the creation of footpaths for public usage and the study will define the true market price by taking into account the city’s new Critical Areas and Tree Protection Ordinances.

The property was valued at $1.2 million over a year ago and this appraisal assumes the city’s now outdated ordinances.

Per Catherine Stanford, LFP Deputy Mayor, “The previous appraisal, I think it was about 15-20% of the land was developable, but they didn’t do the deeper dive or look at the current tree ordinances or critical areas.”

In addition, Julian Andersen, LFPSF, said “city council needs to be fiscally responsible for taking on this project and assure that it does not adversely affect the city’s current budget in anyway.” 

And since the city is considering a bridge loan to buy the property before a developer swoops down on it, they must also have an exit plan in place in case the funding cannot be fully accomplished. 

Thus, this exit plan, if funding is not met, could include the option of selling a portion of the property to a developer. This is not what anyone in LFP wants to happen, it is just the worst case scenario and protects the city’s budget.

Saturday walk in the woods July 8 10:30am
LFPSF and Friends of 5AW will continue to reach out to the community through their popular Saturday walk to 5 Acre Woods events (including one this Saturday, July 8th starting at Lake Forest Park Elementary parking lot at 10:30 a.m.) and through encouragement for residents to hold their own home gatherings with friends in which LFPSF will provide a 5 Acres project presentation.

A lot of good ideas are in the channels for getting this done! Please come get involved in any way you can!

LFP resident Jean Monce Bryant wrote a poem that she read to city council on June 29th. A stanza from that poem reads “Seattle is a changing, Lake Forest Park is too, But Magic still abounds in here, Let’s see what we can do.” More of the poem can be found here in this edition.

For more 5 Acre information visit the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation website



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Progress being made on acquisition of 5 Acre Woods

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

5 Acre Woods –Making Progress!

Attend an update this Saturday, July 8th at 10:30am

Come hear an update from the Friends of 5 Acre Woods about the current process to acquire the property as a city park and preservation site.

Listen and learn from a special guest speaker, wetland biologist Sarah Cooke.

Meet at 10:30am in the Lake Forest Park Elementary School parking lot, 18500 37th Ave NE, Lake Forest Park 98155.

Then take a short group walk to 5 Acre Woods where there will be complimentary coffee, pastries and juice.

A question/discussion session will follow the update and presentation.

Lake Forest Park – buy this last piece of frontier land – get it done!

For more information visit the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation website



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LFP City Council - 5-Acre Woods

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

5-Acre Woods
Photo by Jerry Pickard
By Diane Hettrick

The Lake Forest Park City Council will meet on Thursday, June 29, 7pm, City Hall Council Chambers, 17425 Ballinger Way NE, in a meeting postponed from June 22.

Main item on the agenda is Resolution 1620 /
Authorizing the Mayor to Sign a Letter Requesting a Waiver of Retroactivity from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office for the Seattle Public Utilities Property Known as 5-Acre Woods

The 5-Acre Woods property is the largest piece of undeveloped property in Lake Forest Park.  A citizen group spearheaded by the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation is raising money for purchase of the property and lobbying the city to take it over as a natural park. See previous article.

According to the citizen group, "Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) acquired the land many years ago for a water reservoir site but never developed it for that purpose, so they intend to sell it; the property hasn’t been used by anyone for forty years - except the wildlife!"

The City is considering alternatives to acquire the property. The agenda item pertains to paperwork necessary to acquire grant monies.

Should the City be successful in acquiring the properties, the City must submit a Waiver of Retroactivity request to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office  (RCO) to remain eligible for RCO funds that could be used to reimburse acquisition costs. If granted, the City will be eligible for two RCO grant cycles (two year cycles).

What is not clear is whether the LFPSF and the City are in sync about development on the site. The citizen group wants to keep the entire property as woods with nature trails. The City may be considering development on part of the property.

Stay tuned.



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LFP Elementary PTA passes resolution to support preservation of 5 Acre Woods

Friday, June 16, 2017

5 Acre Woods
Photo by Jerry Pickard
At the Wednesday meeting of the Lake Forest Park Elementary PTA Board, a resolution was discussed and passed to support the preservation of our neighborhood urban forest, 5 Acre Woods.

See the resolution here



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Walk to 5 Acre Woods on Saturday - listen to the birds sing

Sunday, June 4, 2017

5 Acre Woods
Photo by Jerry Pickard

Learn About Community Efforts to Create an Urban Forest Park with Trails

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF) invites the community to join us for “A Walk to 5 Acre Woods Event” at 10:30am on Saturday, June 10, 2017.

The month’s event features a bird walk and talk by Ben Pedigo. Ben is a Lake Forest Park native and birding enthusiast who is an active member of the University of Washington’s Birding Club.

Ben will lead a bird walk on the way to the woods, so bring your binoculars and bird guides and join the fun. Learn about the feathered residents of our urban forest and how to recognize their songs. Families are welcomed and encouraged. We will also provide updates on the latest progress for the project.

The 5 Acre Woods site is the largest remaining mature forest within the area. It includes a wetland, a tributary of Lyon Creek, and serves as an important wildlife corridor.

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF), a community based nonprofit association, advocates strongly for the City of Lake Forest Park to purchase this property to develop an urban forest park with trails.

The Foundation has spearheaded grant writing and fundraising activities to assist the City toward meeting that goal.

Community matching funds for those grants are key to successful acquisition of the land.

If you would like to contribute to our fundraising efforts, contact Brad Keefe (keefeba@gmail.com) to donate, pledge or volunteer for fundraising.

Seattle Public Utility, the current property owner, plans to sell the property later this summer, so community support for the project is critical to our success.

Meet in front of the Lake Forest Park Elementary School, 18500 37th Ave NE, Lake Forest Park – parking available in the school parking lot, and proceed along the pedestrian walkway on 40th Place NE, to take a short walk to 5 Acre Woods.

Refreshments will be provided at the end of the walk courtesy of Honey Bear Bakery and the Seattle Green Space Coalition

The walk will occur rain or shine at 10:30am on Saturday, June 10, 2017.

Remember to save the date for the July 8, 2017 walk featuring wetland biologist Sarah Cooke, who will speak about the importance of wetlands. See the 5 Acre Woods Facebook page for more information.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact Lisa Pedigo.



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5 Acre Woods – Urban Forest - Natural School

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

We Love 5 Acre Woods
Photo by Jerry Pickard
By Donna Hawkey

A little 5.6 acre of urban forest has remained untouched for forty years and the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF) is leading an effort to help acquire it.

The goal is to preserve “5 Acre Woods,” as it is lovingly referred to by residents, and to establish public trails within this nature gem.

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) acquired the land many years ago for a water reservoir site but never developed it for that purpose, so they intend to sell it; the property hasn’t been used by anyone for forty years - except the wildlife!

The 5 Acre Woods vision is for low impact trails and a small playground, but the entire forest is a natural school or laboratory for both children and adults, and a sanctuary for many wildlife species.

Tony Angell leading the May Event with 5 Acre Woods
Lead and LFPSF board member Natalie-Pascale Boisseau.
Photo by Jerry Pickard


The LFP Stewardship Foundation and “Friends of 5 Acre Woods” held a May educational event with a walk to the SPU property led by resident Tony Angell, master sculptor and past supervisor of environmental education in the Office of the State Superintendent of Schools.

“Kids glued to a computer screen are facing the possibility of atrophy of the muscles that are required for full vision, not to mention those large muscle groups that allow us to walk and run and do something with our eye to hand coordination that is beyond punching buttons,” said Angell. "We have never seen anything quite like these potential changes in our children.
“This is a perfect place," Angell continued, "for kids to develop and strengthen their senses – sight, touch, smell and auditory capacity. And here is a laboratory location to apply some of the classroom facts, figures and mechanisms for these measurements first hand. These sensory moments are pathways for discovery of what’s going on in our natural world and will be of singular use throughout our lives. The forest gives us all these free services!”

You can almost hear the birds singing
Photo by Jerry Pickard

This is undoubtedly a nesting place and corridor for many wildlife species since it has been undisturbed for so long. Hawks, eagles, owls, coyote, deer, mountain beavers and even long tailed weasels have been found on this site.

“Steep slopes, a stream, riparian wetland, and hillside seep wetlands all serves as a restorative nursery for the wildlife of our community. Other free forest services are the water purification and containment of run off, the CO2 absorption and noise abatement,” says Angell.

As a master artist and author, his home in Lake Forest Park, where he has lived for half a century, has served as a source of inspiration and type of outdoor studio for his work, so he has a passion for the city’s forest.

So far the LFP Stewardship Foundation has contributed to raising close to $300,000 in conservation grant funds and private donations to purchase 5 Acre Woods so that it can remain a City of Lake Forest permanent nature school and park.

Laura Swaim from Friends of 5 Acre Woods
discovering the giant old growth forest.
Photo by Miguel Esteban
The property is the largest undeveloped site remaining in Lake Forest Park. More grant applications, donations and other sources of funding are pending.

LFPSF’s current activities include continuing monthly walks to 5 Acre Woods to educate the community about its environmental and community value.

Some residents are holding their own house parties to assemble neighbors and discuss how more money can be raised and to bring about further awareness of the project.

And in the summer, there will be other activities such as block parties to continue the efforts.

Another strong community connection and support for 5 Acre Woods took place in 2015 when the Seattle Green Spaces Coalition (SGSC) decided to help facilitate efforts along with the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation.

Mary Fleck from SGSC said when she heard of this property and knew of the history and culture of Lake Forest Park and how it has valued its connection to nature, she knew it could be a win-win situation.

“And when residents, strong organizations, and local government work together like this, anything is possible,” she says.

Tony Angell said “we really don’t know what the full diversity of life is in this forest. Clearly not only an abundance of song birds and raptors but reptiles, amphibians, insects and many plants have yet to be inventoried. 
"There’s an old Joni Mitchell song I used to sing when I went out to schools to share stories of nature. There’s a wonderful line that sums up what we’re looking at and it says… ‘Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.’”

5 Acre Woods property is located just north of where 40th Pl NE and 45th Pl NE intersect in Lake Forest Park.


The next two summer walk events are currently scheduled:
  • June 10th with Ben Pedigo, a birder who grew up in Lake Forest Park, will speak to his passion and knowledge of birds.
  • On July 8th Sarah Cooke, a wetland biologist, will discuss the benefit of wetlands.
  • The walks start at 10:30am from the Lake Forest Park Elementary School on Ballinger Way. See the 5 Acre Woods Facebook page for more information. 
Honey Bear Bakery provides complimentary pastries and coffee!
Seattle Green Space Coalition provides juice and fruits!
Come join the fun and learn!

If you want more information about the 5 Acre Woods project, see the projects tab on the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation website. LFPS is a 5013C non-profit and has been in existence for over 20 years.

~~~
Donna Hawkey, author of this article, is a 20-year resident of Lake Forest Park. Thank you to Tony Angell for his contributions.



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A Walk to 5 Acre Woods - learn about community efforts to create a new park in Lake Forest Park

Friday, March 3, 2017

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF) and its group of volunteers and friends supporting the efforts of the project 5 Acre Woods invites the community to join them for “A Walk to 5 Acre Woods Event” at 10:30am on Saturday, March 4, 2017.

As the population of Puget Sound continues to grow, many urban forests are disappearing due to increased development pressure.

Deep within the heart of Lake Forest Park lies a rare opportunity to save one of the last remnants of mature second growth forest.

In 1975, Seattle Public Utilities purchased 5.6 acres located on 40th Place NE with the intent to build a water reservoir. An alternate site was eventually chosen for the reservoir and now the City of Seattle will sell the property.

Because of this the City of Lake Forest Park has a chance to purchase the largest remaining undisturbed second growth forest within its borders.

The site includes steep slopes, a stream and critical areas and their buffers which cover approximately 90% of the property. The forest is home to over 800 trees, mostly native, with dense stands of Douglas Fir, Big-Leaf Maple, Western Red Cedar, Spruce and Pacific Madrone. They provide high carbon sequestration, and flood mitigation for Lyon Creek.

The site has become an important wildlife corridor and deer, coyotes, raccoons, fox, mountain beavers, along with over 20 bird species have been spotted there.

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF), a community based nonprofit group, would like to preserve the parcel as wildlife habitat, develop the open space for low impact passive recreation, and create an area for active recreation as a playground.

LFPSF was successful in shepherding a grant application to King County Conservation Futures, and $250,000 has been awarded to the city for acquisition of this land, if matching funds are obtained.

A second grant application to King County Conservation Futures is due March 8th and it is likely that further funds can be allocated. LFPSF is committed to assisting the city of Lake Forest Park with additional grant applications and a capital fundraising campaign for matching funds to purchase the property.

LFPSF has a successful track record of purchasing land for public green space as they were instrumental in the acquisition of the Grace Cole Nature Park for the city of Lake Forest Park. The LFPSF continues to provide volunteer based maintenance and restoration for the property and they envision a similar model for the 5-Acre Woods site.

The community is invited to join for their first monthly “A Walk to 5 Acre Woods Event” at 10:30am on Saturday, March 4, 2017 to walk along the property and learn more about the efforts to conserve this parcel as a park and wildlife sanctuary.

Meet in front of the Lake Forest Park Elementary (18500 37th Ave NE, Lake Forest Park) and proceed along the pedestrian walkway on 40th Place NE, to take a short walk to 5-Acre Woods for a brief tour. Refreshments will be provided at arrival. LFP Elementary School has allowed us to use their parking lot.

If you would like more information about this topic or are interested in volunteering, contact Lisa Pedigo,



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LFP City Administrator's Report March 10, 2016

Thursday, March 10, 2016

By Pete Rose, City Administrator, Lake Forest Park

 I. Intergovernmental and local issues update

Meetings: The City Administrator attended the SCA Manager and Administrator meeting on March 2. The University LINK light rail station will open March 19 to Husky Stadium. The light rail from there to downtown Seattle will be an 8 minute ride. PSRC is planning an upcoming meeting on the UW campus to test the line. The opening will also feature a huge test of the integration strategy between Sound Transit and Metro Transit.

There was a brief legislative update at the same meeting. Final budget negotiations are underway. The houses are at cross purposes as to the use of the rainy day fund to assist in balancing the supplemental budget. City issues are once again taking a back seat to budget balancing. Stormwater grants and toxic clean-up are funded from the same tax on petroleum. There is a huge shortfall due to oil prices, and there is some wrangling over which program will receive the greater burden of the cuts. The public records legislation (reasonable hour limits) has died, but made it further than any other bill that would limit the reach of the PRA has ever made it. Police Body camera legislation is still moving and may pass.

II. Internal City Information: 

Acting City Administrator: The City Administrator is off site to a major risk management training and Frank Zenk will be Acting City Administrator from March 4-9.

Long time Police Support Officer Jackson Beard has resigned to pursue a career in fire service. Beard was very instrumental in helping Police work through its staff shortage in 2015, and is a certified trainer in some officer skills, such as firearms qualification. The position is covered by Civil Service.

Both robberies that occurred last month in LFP have been solved. The same suspect committed both crimes. Witness and citizen information was critical in developing the leads resulting in the arrest and recovery of significant evidence. Another example of our partnership with the community.

The School zone camera on NE 178th is back on line.

Municipal Services: 
Passport services processed almost a thousand
applications in two months

To date, the Lake Forest Park Passport Office has processed 948 passport applications and $32,000 in processing fees and photo revenue in just the first two months of 2016! We anticipate we will exceed the projected income revenue if this trend continues for the remainder of the year. In an effort to reduce the wait time during this rush for passport renewals, the City has hired five part-time passport agents from neighboring cities to meet the demand on Saturdays. Lake Forest Park Passport Office is one of two passport acceptance agencies open on Saturdays for passport applications. Passport Office hours are Monday and Friday, 12-5pm, and Saturdays, 10am-4pm.

One of the major driving forces behind this upswing in applications is the 10-year anniversary of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). WHTI first went into effect in 2007 requiring U.S. citizens to have passports to travel to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. In 2007, 18 million people applied for U.S. Passports, and many of them will choose to renew early in 2016 to avoid the rush and additional costs!

Public Works:

Metal art sculpture outside of City Hall was cleaned this week. 

Rodger Squirrell crafting a prototype
of the original piece in front of City Hall.
Rodger Squirrell is a Lake Forest Park resident and artist. He won a competition for the development of a “signature piece of public art” for the City’s 50th Anniversary. Mr. Squirrell works in metal. His pieces range from small mushroom art that is in his garden to eight feet tall metal scriptures. 

The piece for the City is a collection of five pentagon pillars of various heights that have a water motif. This gift from the Garden Tour will be located on the City property at the intersection of Ballinger and Bothell Way.

Additional shoulder work will be needed prior to the street overlay this year. Team members are preparing this year’s overlay roads. Street sweeping routes are under way and general shoulder cleanup is in progress.

Public Works has restocked all the First Aid kits throughout City Hall and Public Works Operations Facility as well as the city vehicles.

Slope mowing and vegetation management is ramping up.
The team is doing their best to keep on it with limited resources

Elevator, sprinkler and general security alarms have been recertified for the year by their respective companies. This includes the Sonitrol emergency panic buttons throughout the different departments. 

Drainage culverts are being cleaned from this winter’s weather events as well as vactor service cleaning will happen later this year. The vactor service is cleaning the catch basin in certain zones and assists with water quality for our streams. This program is a proactive measure that also helps to meet the city’s required NPDES II permit activity. 

Numerous street signs repaired throughout the city due to the wind events in the last several weeks.

Park maintenance is also beginning to ramp up with the trails, vegetation, drinking fountains, irrigation, garden areas, playground equipment inspections, asphalt trails, parking areas, lighting, and tennis court maintenance, etc.

III. Council Information: The upcoming PIC meeting at SCA will include a discussion of the ST3 process, which is of significant interest to Lake Forest Park.

Staff has reviewed the grant application provided by the Stewardship Foundation for the SPU surplus utility property (5 Acre Woods). This application will be submitted to Conservation Futures with a couple of procedural amendments to conform with City processes. It has been signaled to the leadership of the Stewardship Foundation that this is an agreement to apply, and that further deliberation and planning would be needed by the Council to consider accepting the property. 

Shoreline 145th Preferred Option: Mayor Johnson, City Administrator and Councilmember Kassover attended the “reveal” for the corridor plan. The concept between Bothell Way and I-5 can be described as having some widening at the signalized intersections to improve transit access and enable queue jumps for the busses when the signal starts its green phase. There is limited widening for the four blocks between the signals, but a little to improve transit passage, sidewalks and a treed green strip. Bicycle corridors will be moved outside the 145th corridor. The Shoreline City Council will consider the proposal at its April 4 meeting. The Shoreline Council has proposed a joint meeting with the LFP Council on June 11.

Joint Meeting Proposed: The City of Kenmore has proposed a joint meeting with the LFP Council and Northshore Fire District Board on April 4, to discuss the emergency management coalition and several matters of joint interest, including SR 522 and ST3.

Legislative Steering Committee Update: 
  • State: The City’s request to transfer the $475,000 in the State Capital Budget from a park and ride to a corridor study has been included in the proposed House, Senate and Governor’s supplemental capital budgets. This is very encouraging news and it appears likely that the transfer will be included in the final capital budget. March 10th is the last day of the session. The Senate and the House are also working on a supplemental operating budget. The Senate’s proposed operating budget is traditionally not friendly to cities and includes eliminating the $2 million in funding for Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC). There are discussions of not passing a state supplemental operating budget but the Governor has indicated that he will call a special session to ensure a supplemental budget is passed. The only policy bill on the City’s legislative agenda that has not died is the police body camera bill related to public records. The bill is on the Senate floor but seems unlikely to pass this year. 
  • Federal: A new bill called the Green Stormwater Investment (GSI) Act has been introduced. It would codify a Green Stormwater Reserve Fund in the EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund. This would establish a permanent 20% reserve within each state’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund dedicated to projects with a green stormwater component and make funds available for operation and maintenance associated with projects. The GSI act would also prioritize projects that utilize GSI for competitive federal transportation grants and infrastructure grants. It would also extend the duration of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems Permits (NPDES) from five years to ten. City representatives are travelling to Washington D.C. on March 21 for meetings with the congressional delegation to discuss the City’s federal legislative agenda. Senate will not be in session during the meetings so the City representatives will meet with Senate staff. The House will be in session. 


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