West Seattle, Washington
07 Saturday
Making your weekend plan? One-of-a-kind event this Friday (March 20th), 6-10 pm at Highland Park Elementary School:
The Traditional Mini Pow Wow is brought to you by The Niksokowaak; Community Pow Wow Association at Highland Park. Grand entry will be at 6 PM. Our event will feature Highland Park Elementary students as Head Young Lady & Head Young Man. Come enjoy traditional dance performances, Native art & delicious food from local vendors. We are sponsored by Highland Park Elementary, Roxhill Elementary, Blackfeet Tribe, Seattle Indian Health Board, Clear Sky & Community in Schools. For vendor & volunteer opportunities please contact us at niksokowaak@gmail.com.
See the official event flyer here. Highland Park Elementary is at 1016 SW Trenton.
According to our check of the police-report map, 20 car prowls have been reported in West Seattle in the past week:
That’s up from 15 during the same week last year. Car-prowl details aren’t posted by SPD – only where/when they happened – but we have details via two reader reports – first, from Jill:
Just wanted to inform the neighbors and also wondering if anyone saw anything:
The rear driver’s side window of my Subaru Outback was smashed in last night sometime between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm, at the West Seattle YMCA. It was parked in the gravel spaces on the north side of the building (along SW Oregon St). They rummaged through my really boring stuff in the backseat, but nothing was taken. I don’t think they even made their way to the front seats or the cargo area, as all the doors were still locked. If someone scared them off, I hope they can provide some description of the perp(s) to the police.
Earlier this week, Alex‘s car was ransacked in the Luna Park area:
My car was broken into (window smashed) and my backpack full of books and student papers ( I teach at a local college) was taken. I have a feeling that the backpack and its contents will be disposed of somewhere, as I can’t see them being helpful to anyone but me. Can you ask readers to keep their eyes peeled for a purple backpack full of ESL textbooks and papers?
These are the latest unfortunate reminders that even if you think what you left in your vehicle doesn’t look like something criminals would bother with – chances are, you’re wrong. Even a couple of canvas grocery bags strewn in the back of a car might look to a prowler like something worth checking out – possibly at the expense of the glass in your vehicle’s window.
12:10 PM: Mayor Murray‘s just gone public with his nine-year, $900 million “Transportation Levy to Move Seattle“ ballot proposal, successor to “Bridging the Gap,” which expires this year. It’s proposed for the November ballot, but first, three meetings are scheduled around the city, including one at 6 pm Tuesday, March 31st, in the gym at West Seattle High School. And if you want to say something before then, you can use this online survey.
But first, here’s the brochure detailing the draft proposal, which the city says would cost the average homeowner (described now as a $450,000 home) $275 a year – a little more than double the $130 that Bridging the Gap had cost. (Here’s a slide-deck version, too.) The brochure’s named projects don’t include anything in West Seattle, but the Lander Street Overpass and East Marginal corridors are certainly of interest, and a variety of project markers are in the West Seattle area on this “investment map.” We’re still looking for the fine print detailing exactly what/where those markers represent – more to come.
3:56 PM UPDATE: Our request for the “what’s in it for West Seattle” details brought this list from SDOT communications director Rick Sheridan:
Bridge Replacement
– E Duwamish Waterway North Bridge ReplacementBridge Seismic Retrofit
– Admiral Way North Bridge
– Admiral Way South Bridge
– Delridge Way Pedestrian Bridge
– SW Andover Pedestrian BridgeMultimodal Corridor Project (including Bus Rapid Transit Investment)
– Delridge Way SWBicycle Master Plan Implementation
– 24th Ave SW Greenway
– 34th Ave SW Greenway
– 8th Ave S Protected Bike Lane
– 36th Ave SW Greenway
– Fauntleroy Way SW Protected Bike Lane
– SW Admiral Way Protected Bike Lane
– SW Brandon/SW Juneau St GreenwayArterial Paving
– 35th Ave SW from Avalon to Roxbury
– SW Avalon from Spokane to 35th
– SW Roxbury St from 35th to 16thCorridor Safety Project
– 35th Ave SW
– SW Roxbury StIn addition to the West Seattle-specific improvements listed above, the West Seattle area will see improvements from the following citywide investment categories:
– Safe Routes to School projects and education touching every public school
in Seattle
– Crosswalk repainting every four years
– Repairing damaged sidewalks
– Curb ramp and crossing improvements
– Paving spot improvements
– Bus speed and reliability spot improvements
– Optimized traffic signal timing on corridors
– Building new sidewalks on priority transit corridors
– Installing bicycle parking spots
– Freight mobility spot improvements
– Neighborhood priority projects implemented through the Neighborhood
Street Fund
– Tree planting
– Tree pruning rapid response
That list does *not* include a major project for West Seattle that’s been funded for design and was named in the mayor’s 10-year plan earlier this month, the Fauntleroy Boulevard plan. We’re checking with Councilmember Tom Rasmussen to see whether – or not – that means there’s an alternate plan.
5:24 PM: CM Rasmussen’s reply: ““The Fauntleroy Way SW project is important to many people in West Seattle. The project is listed in the Mayor’s Move Seattle vision plan, and the Council will be reviewing the levy proposal closely and making changes as necessary.”
More news from the Junction historical-survey launch event we covered earlier today: Edie Neeson from ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) announced a plan to pursue designation of West Seattle as an official Arts and Culture District. This is a relatively new city program – explained here – and so far, Capitol Hill is the only part of the city with the designation, which happened last fall. ArtsWest’s plan is in its very early stages but the organization’s board is talking about it again this week so you can expect to hear more soon.
While Junction leaders were gathered at Husky Deli to launch a survey of the area’s historical character, another development project was ramping up just blocks away. Thanks to Sally and Carl for sending photos from 42nd SW in The Junction, just north of SW Oregon, where three houses are coming down at the Junction Flats site, weeks after the demolition equipment was brought in and parked in the houses’ front yards. This is right across the street from Hope Lutheran School, which has provided an audience of sorts:
It’s been more than a year since Junction Flats finished going through Design Review.
The 4-story building is planned for 80 units (all apartments except for two live-work units) and 52 off-street parking spaces.
(UPDATED 4:27 PM with video)
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand. Above, Susan Melrose ceremonially presents Jack Menashe with first letter inviting survey participation)
9:06 AM: As West Seattle grows and changes, there’s been talk for more than a year of doing a survey to capture the historic character of at least part of our area. We first wrote about it in January 2014; updates have ensued as the Southwest District Council met; and this morning, it’s finally “a go,” as announced at a news conference that’s under way right now at Husky Deli in The Junction.
For the first time, the historical character of the West Seattle Junction will be documented in a professional survey.
Funded by 4Culture, the West Seattle Junction Historical Survey, launched on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, will interview property owners in the two-block Junction core to elicit data and anecdotal information and contract with an architectural historian to identify elements that define The Junction’s character, give it uniqueness and allow it to thrive as the business hub of the West Seattle peninsula.
The project teams the Southwest Seattle Historical Society (the survey’s fiscal agent) with the Southwest District Council, West Seattle Junction Association, Junction Neighborhood Organization and ArtsWest.
The 4Culture grant totals $10,000, most of which will pay for the evaluation services of a professional architectural historian. The grant states that while The Junction “has undergone dramatic changes,” elements such as “the low-story look, the traditional narrow and deep interiors and the compression of multiple businesses into small spaces” have allowed the district to retain a distinctly “small-town feel.”
It also states that because there is only “outdated and insufficient knowledge about the worthiness of any of the structures” in The Junction, the survey will have great value.
One aim of the survey is to determine if buildings in The Junction would qualify for nomination as Seattle landmarks, which is part of why property owners are “key stakeholders” in the survey.
Over the next six months, all 45 property owners in the survey area will be invited to be interviewed about the history of their buildings, including enhancements and uses, along with how the district’s milieu has contributed to the success of the businesses operating in their buildings. The interview findings will be merged with architectural data, and results of the survey will be made available to the public.
“We trust that the resulting information and insights will be useful to property owners, businesses and the community at large in shaping the future of this treasure of a business district,” says the survey’s letter to property owners.
The district got its name immediately prior to West Seattle’s annexation to Seattle, in 1907, when the West Seattle and Fauntleroy streetcar lines converged at a transfer point at California Avenue and Alaska Street, forming “The Junction.” Among the oldest buildings in The Junction are the Campbell Building (1918), housing Cupcake Royale, and the Hamm Building (1926), home of Easy Street Records.
We’re at the news conference with numerous community leaders and will add photos/video later.
10:16 AM: Adding our photos for starters (we were the only news organization at the event). Photo above shows those who spoke at this morning’s event and/or are integrally involved with making this happen – from left, Clay Eals of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society; Jack Miller of Husky Deli; Susan Melrose of the West Seattle Junction Association; René Commons of the Junction Neighborhood Organization, Jack Menashe of Menashe & Sons Jewelers (WSB sponsor), Deb Barker and Chas Redmond on behalf of the Southwest District Council.
Photo immediately above this line shows many of the community leaders who were there to be part of it. Video and a few event notes still in the works.
ADDED 4:27 PM: Three video clips; the first and third are by WSB’s Patrick Sand, from this morning’s event; in the middle, the video clip shown at the event, profiling Jack Miller and Husky Deli, is courtesy of the Junction Neighborhood Organization:
Though all that’s set in motion right now is a report – in Q/A after the announcement, SWSHS’s Eals expressed confidence that it will be a spark to preservation and celebration, not just a reference document. We’ll check in from time to time to see how it’s going.
(Bushtit building a nest, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BENEFIT DINNER FOR H.O.P.E.: 5:30 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral, benefiting Helping Out People Everywhere. Check to see if tickets are still available; event info is in our calendar listing. (42nd/Lander)
KEEPING KIDS SAFE: 7 pm at Madison Middle School, the PTA has organized a meeting in the library featuring special safety presentations from experts including SPD Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon, as previewed here. (45th/Spokane)
I’M/MIGRATION UNPLUGGED: 7 pm at Duwamish Longhouse, poetry readings by Native poets Celeste Adame, Natalie Diaz, and Nilka Wherrette – details in our calendar listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
STATE POET LAUREATE AT WORDSWEST: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), state Poet Laureate Elizabeth Austen and Michelle Peñaloza are featured in the monthly WordsWest Literary Series event – details in our listing. (5612 California SW)
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center: DNDC reviews area applications for the city Neighborhood Park and Street Fund – 14 community proposals this time around. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
34TH DISTRICT REPUBLICANS: Not in West Seattle, but one of their topics is whether to move their regular meetings to WS, since it’s the biggest community in the district (which also includes White Center, Vashon Island, Maury Island, and part of Burien) – the group has new leadership and is working to get out more community information. Tonight’s meeting, which also will include discussion of “finding out the important topics to individuals in our district who attend the meetings” and City Council races, is at 7 pm at Round Table Pizza in Burien. More info here. (15730 1st Ave. S.)
NEED A LAUGH? 8 pm tonight, the annual Feedback Funny Invitational will bring you more than one, with an all-star slate of comedy headliners at Feedback Lounge. (6451 California SW)
LOTS MORE on the calendar – take a look!
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No trouble spots in our area as we head for the heart of the commute.
ROAD-WORK UPDATES: If you missed them last night – the latest on 47th/Admiral and 22nd/Barton.
TUNNEL-MACHINE WATCH: As reported in our story on the Highway 99 project’s quarterly “stakeholders” meeting, a piece of the tunnel machine – not THE cutterhead, yet – might be lifted out as soon as today, Seattle Tunnel Partners has told the state. More details on the project website.
Meet the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s new board, finalized during Tuesday night’s annual membership meeting and Food Fest at The Hall at Fauntleroy.
Besides electing the board, renewing memberships, and enjoying tastes from local eateries, those who stopped by got to mingle and to find out about programs both private and public. Yun Pitre and Kerry Wade were there from the Department of Neighborhoods, to share information on everything the DoN can help you with:
Maria from the West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor), which has its latter branch right across the street from where everyone gathered last night:
And from just north of Fauntleroy, Morgan and Ellen from The Kenney (WSB sponsor)
Also spotted … leaders from the nearby Morgan Community Association, president Deb Barker and vice president Jason Wax:
But what about the “food” part of the Food Fest, you ask? See the photo gallery on the FCA Facebook page! By the way, if you live and/or work in Fauntleroy and didn’t get a chance to renew your membership at last night’s event, you can do it online.
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
Crosstown rivals faced off today as high-school boys’ soccer got going, with Chief Sealth International High School (in red) and West Seattle High School (in white) facing off at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point.
The game, played in intermittent rainshowers, ended in a 1-1 tie. Sealth’s goal was by Abdiaziz Hursane, WSHS’s goal by Carter Mensing.
Next up: The Wildcats play Nathan Hale at Adams, 3:30 pm Thursday; the Seahawks host Cleveland at home, 4 pm Friday.
Two road-work/traffic-alert updates from the city. First, an SDOT update on the 47th/Admiral signal work:
(WSB photo from midday today)
Crews have begun working at the northeast corner of the intersection [above] and will continue demolition and begin electrical work this week. The corner is expected to be poured with new concrete next week, the week of March 23. The corner is currently closed to pedestrians and bicyclists. People walking and biking will need to follow the suggested detour around the work area or seek an alternate route. Crews will be at work on this corner for approximately three weeks.
Work hours are generally 7 am-3 pm, says SDOT. You can go here to sign up for e-mail updates on the work, or keep an eye on the official project page.
Second update, a traffic alert for Thursday near the 22nd/Barton CSO 3 project:
On Thursday, March 19, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., traffic on SW Barton Place at 22nd Avenue SW will be stopped intermittently for five-minute intervals to allow for delivery of materials. A flagger will be on site to direct traffic and we are communicating directly to residents whose driveways share this intersection. We are also coordinating with Metro to minimize bus impacts whenever possible. More information about the work can be found in the attached flyer.
Here’s what this project is all about.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
ASSAULT/ROBBERY ON THE ROOF: A teenager’s dad is hoping someone might be able to help solve the case of who beat and robbed his son. His son was skateboarding on the roof of Chief Sealth International High School on Saturday night. He says a security guard asked him to leave; he didn’t, and the guard returned 15 minutes later, he said, trailed by “three Samoan teens between 15 and 18, one wearing a green shirt with short hair, one wearing a red shirt with a pony tail, and the third with a black tank top and fairly long hair.” He says they claimed to be relatives of the guard and said that they were going to beat him up, so he ran, but they caught up with him, hit him in the head, and then when he broke away, chased him again, and caught him in a chokehold and pummeled him until he lost consciousness.
When he came to, the victim says, they were leaving, and taking his skateboard. He called 911; firefighters came and put a ladder up to the roof to find and treat him before his father took him to urgent care. The victim describes his injuries as a broken nose, a cut that needed five stitches, and swelling around his eye (his father showed photos backing this up). His father has been trying to see if the school had surveillance video but says he first was told the cameras weren’t working, then was told they were, but that no one was available to show him the video. (We have had an inquiry out with Seattle Public Schools on that but no resolution yet.) If you have any information that might help catch the attackers, please contact SPD. (added) Their report says two school-security employees who were present told police they hadn’t seen anyone else in the area.
STOLEN CAR: Maybe you’ve seen Monica‘s car, stolen this morning?
On March 17 between midnight and 8 am my 1993 Subaru Legacy Wagon was stolen from outside my residence between 40th and 41st Ave SW on Brandon St. The car is maroon in color, license plate 244-YZB, with an “Others Like Us” face sticker on the driver’s side window. Nothing of value inside or out, just a trusty old car.
A police report is filed.
(WSB photo from 2012)
For the past few years, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market has moved out into California Avenue SW once a year, during the Junction Association‘s fall Harvest Festival. Starting this summer – that’ll be the market’s new permanent location, year-round. As announced on the WSFM website, the move is set for Sunday, June 14th:
We’re taking it to the street! Join us on this historic day at the beloved West Seattle Farmers Market.
Our first year, in 1999, was the beginning of a neighborhood institution; a place for families and neighbors to connect with local farms and get the freshest, most delicious fruits and vegetables – and many other wonderful farm products and local foods.
This year, in 2015, after much planning and hard work, we’re moving the market to the street, where we’ll have more room and an improved layout, and can create an even more inviting Sunday morning destination in the heart of the Junction.
The market will be on California between Alaska and Oregon – both of those east-west streets will remain open on market days. Susan Melrose from the West Seattle Junction Association says that merchants are supportive of this – they’ve been in discussion for months – and that the launch day on June 14th will be “a very festive day” with music in the streets – more details to come.
ADDED WEDNESDAY: In response to some questions in comments – Chris Curtis of the WSFM says the street closure is envisioned as 7 am-4 pm, and reminds us that there will be more parking, since the lot that’s currently used will be open to vehicles again. Street-closure costs related to this are being borne by market management, according to WSJA’s Melrose.
Thanks to Dave for the tip that a “for lease” sign is now up in the window of The Sneakery at 4736 California SW in The Junction.
We checked in with proprietor Drea via e-mail; here’s what she told us:
The Sneakery will be leaving West Seattle at the end of April and consolidating things back to our original location on 65th Street in Ballard, where we’ve been since 2006. We had a great time in the Junction over the last 4 years and would like to thank our customers for their support. Most merchandise will be deeply discounted through the end of April, so we encourage everyone to use their gift certificates and coupons. Although we are sad to leave the Junction, we are also thrilled to be growing our business in Ballard, where we will be able to offer our customers even better selections and service.
The Sneakery’s West Seattle location opened in May 2011. Half of its side of the block has been a construction zone for the past year and a half.
When Mayor Murray announced the “Move Seattle” plan back on March 2nd (WSB coverage here), he said financing for its projects/goals would be announced later. Now, according to a media advisory we just received from the mayor’s office, “later” arrives tomorrow. The mayor will gather Wednesday morning southeast of downtown with councilmembers, SDOT director Scott Kubly, and unspecified-as-of-yet “community leaders” to announce a proposed transportation levy for the November ballot – successor to “Bridging the Gap,” which expires this year. We’ll be there too.
In case you missed earlier mentions of this, we wanted to publish the reminder with an extra day’s notice:
(Click image to see full-size, full-details flyer)
Tomorrow’s the night the Madison Middle School PTSA is hosting a special meeting with information about keeping kids safe:
Our Children’s Safety and Security is of paramount importance to each of us. If the recent reports of lewd or violent behavior by unknown suspects in West Seattle has you worried about your kids, then you can’t afford to miss the Student Safety Night Event that Madison PTSA has put together for you!
From advice for routine issues like safely crossing busy intersections, social-media pitfalls, to alarming issues like how to respond to and handle a potential threat by an attacker or mugger, we will host experienced experts to share their insights with you!
Join us for this FREE informational event on March 18th at the Madison Middle School Library and learn from our Special Guests like Mark Solomon – Crime Prevention Officer from Seattle Police Department’s South Precinct and Marlan Teeters, Security Supervisor for Hiawatha Park. As usual we will also have our Principal, Dr. Gary, in attendance to represent safety on campus at Madison.
The meeting will be at 7 pm in the library at Madison; the campus is at 45th/Spokane.
11:43 PM: Thanks to Dave for sharing that video of the King County Firefighters Pipes and Drums outside Alki Elementary School this morning. What else is going on around West Seattle for St. Patrick’s Day? Tipsters told us the famous “green stripe” in Admiral has been refreshed, so we’re off to check that out. Anything else? Let us know and/or send a pic – thanks!
1:52 PM: The green stripe on 41st SW, looking north from the shamrock toward its end, at SW Hill:
(Added: WSB photo, taken noontime today at Seacrest)
A quick highlight list for the rest of today/tonight in West Seattle:
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION FOOD FEST/MEMBERSHIP MEETING: [updated time] 6 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, it’s the annual membership meeting of the Fauntleroy Community Association, including some tastes from local restaurants. Renew your membership and help choose FCA leadership, while mingling with neighbors and friends old and new. (9131 California SW)
URBAN VILLAGES – ARE THEY WORKING? 6:30 pm at the Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting, Peter Steinbrueck and his consulting team present the report that drew a crowd to City Hall in January. All welcome. Senior Center of West Seattle. (Oregon/California)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct, come to the WSCPC meeting to hear about local crime trends, and to ask local police about your crime/safety concerns. (Webster/Delridge)
ST. PATRICK’S DAY EDITION OF ‘BLUES TO DO’: Tonight at Feedback Lounge, 8 pm, including a special set of Irish music. (6451 California SW)
(Screengrab taken this morning from camera pointed into the tunnel-machine repair pit)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Much has happened since the Alaskan Way Viaduct (Highway 99) project stakeholders met three months ago.
Just days after their early December meeting (WSB coverage here), the “settling” was revealed.
For the first time since then, the stakeholders’ group (membership listed here) convened Monday afternoon in a lower-level meeting room at Safeco Field, and WSB was the only news organization there. Among other things, the group was told that the ground has stabilized, and that the partial deconstruction of the Highway 99 tunnel machine (aka Bertha) is likely to hit a milestone this week.
Other topics tackled included the work that’s out of sight but not out of mind, updates on related projects including the seawall, and what’s up with the decision-making process on tunnel tolling. (Here’s the full slide deck.)
9:00 AM: Seattle’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration was actually back on Saturday – the downtown parade. Thanks to Denny International Middle School for photos of the Denny Marching Band in action that day: “Congratulations to the scholars in the Denny International Middle School Marching Band for doing a great job marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday. The music and marching was outstanding! Thank you, Mr. Pimpleton and volunteers, for all of your hard work and support! Go Dolphins!”
As previewed here on Saturday morning, the running order also included the West Seattle High School Band. (Sorry, no photo! We’ve been able to cover the parade in the past but this year, with a historic election ahead, we were covering the VIEWS-presented candidates’ forum.)
ADDED 10:42 AM: Thanks to Laura for the WSHS video from the parade:
If you’re a parade fan, mark your calendar for the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day next year!
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:46 AM: A crash at 35th and Holden is on the SFD log right now – no word on whether it’s blocking traffic but we’ll be checking.
7:53 AM: The crash call has closed. Reminder – the South Park Bridge‘s overnight closures are scheduled to continue tonight, midnight-5 am.
ROAD WORK AHEAD: If you missed the announcement Monday afternoon – one block of California SW in Fauntleroy will be resurfaced next week, March 24-25.
8:39 AM: At the east end of SW Roxbury, there’s an emergency response at Olson/2nd. Haven’t heard the specifics of the call, but if you’re headed that way, you’ll see one fire engine and at least one police car.
While helping Friends of Lincoln Park restore the forest, a University of Washington environmental-studies senior has also been studying one of the park’s thorniest issues: Off-leash dogs. Sam Timpe has been working with the local volunteers 15 hours a week since January, planting natives and pulling invasives.
Spending all that time in the park, he’s been able to observe dog owners and their pets, and while most follow the rules, he says the ones who don’t are responsible for more damage than you might think. He’s hoping for an “attitude shift” in the park, and hoping that people feel empowered to talk to those not following the rules, to say “please don’t do it,” to have a sense of community.
Restoration work is something you often won’t detect just with a casual glance. It’s a cleared spot, a small plant. “With all the people doing restoration work there,” Sam said, “to have a dog run through it and tear it, is kind of disheartening.”
Any individual dog, of course, wouldn’t do that much damage, he explains, but if he sees one every hour, ten times a day, 50 times a week, the cumulative effects add up.
From Sam’s research:
I did a study within Lincoln Park to get some baseline data on leash and trail compliance. I chose three different locations within the park (south open area near bluff trail, north open area west of soccer field, and the north parking lot) and at each location I conducted three 90-minute samples, one on a weekday morning, weekday evening, and weekend morning. I found that 59 of 239 (25%) of dogs were off leash. 55 of 239 (23%) of dogs were observed going into the woods (off trail, off grass). When excluding the north parking lot, I found that 38% of dogs are off leash and 29% are going into the woods.
The effects go beyond the “trampling of plants,” he explains. When that happens, it’s easier for seeds to disperse and the forest edge to break down. Those seeds are seldom desirable ones – instead, they’re the invasives, the berry-laden plants like ivy, holly, blackberries, cotoneaster.
And the giddily exploring pooch might spread them beyond the park – seeds can catch in their paws, and be carried far away.
One area that Friends of Lincoln Park is particularly concerned about is near the north parking lot. A restored area might look like a clearing – with the invasives removed, and the new native plants fragile and small – and that might seem to some like an invitation to make their own trails. Sam says he also sees people stop, let their dogs out for a quick dash or bio-break, and then move on.
What would he say to try to educate people, convince them not to do this?
Without the restoration work, he says, invasive plants will start to take over and start climbing up trees (think of all the ivy-covered trees you’ve seen). Eventually that weakens the trees, and a windstorm might be all it would take to bring them down. On the ground level, the invasives take over and nothing else can get established, so a “monoculture desert of holly and ivy” results, he explains. Take a look at the difference between a clump of native vegetation before cotoneaster removal, and after:
The value of a healthy urban forest? Priceless. He ticks off benefits: “Reduces stormwater runoff, improves water quality, captures and filters air pollution, provides wildlife habitat, aesthetically improves neighborhoods’ appearance …”
About the wildlife: Even if a dog doesn’t catch it, or eat it, it is a threat: “A lot of these animals, if you watch them for a while, they’re working on eating, building shelter, nests, on what it takes to survive. When you do have dogs chasing them, they have to expend a lot of energy on the chase, getting safe …maybe that next chase does it in, it’s tired. I found one study about shorebirds – having to avoid dogs chasing after them 12 times a day. Many were getting ready for migration. In another study, researchers walked through different areas (of a forest/park) with dogs on leash, with dogs offleash, without dogs … when humans were there with dogs, there was a 41 percent decrease in the amount of birds present. Birds are aware it’s a potential threat.”
So what’s the solution?
More parks specifically set up for off-leash dogs seems like an obvious idea, Sam says, but they’re not so simple to set up – grassy fields get muddy in the rainy season very fast; gravel can lead to runoff problems for nearby waterways.
He hopes that information and education – like this report about his volunteer activities and research – can help people be aware that dogs at least need to stay on the paths, and to share that awareness with others.
He’s working toward a research paper and presentation next quarter. And he’s well aware that dogs are the light of their humans’ lives … he’s just hoping a little enlightenment will help the forest and its inhabitants too.
Stay on the trail, or at least grassy edges and fields – it’s not grass they’re worried about. If it’s a native plant, don’t walk or run on it – salal, Oregon grape, red flowering currant, ocean spray, seedlings of evergreens such as Western red cedar, Douglas fir, Western hemlock, all types of ferns, snowberry … He could go on.
He’s been working on a spot near the bluff trail but hopes to see all the restoration areas thrive.
P.S. He’s interested in your thoughts, if you have a moment to comment.
We’ve been watching the Seattle Public Library‘s page for the Global Reading Challenge – the “Battle of the Books” for 4th and 5th graders – awaiting word of any local teams who made it to the GRC finals one week from tomorrow – and finally the list is up: Congratulations to the Reading Warriors from West Seattle Elementary in High Point and the Rad Radical Hyperactive Jellyfish from Lafayette Elementary in Admiral! They and seven other teams from non-WS schools will be in the final round at 7 pm March 24th at the Central Library downtown. Here, by the way, are the books in the GRC this year.
ADDED 11:47 AM MONDAY: Thanks to Laura Bermes from WSES for the photo added above and more info on their team: “This is West Seattle Elementary’s 2nd year participating … Congratulations to our team: Merichle, Dan, Jimmy, Nelson, Leyla, Jordan & Amer!”
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