West Seattle’s “Walking on Logs”: Time to step up and help

Just about a week ago, before Girl Scout Cookie sales kicked off, we took that photo a local troop decorating the Walking on Logs sculptures at the Fauntleroy end of the West Seattle Bridge and picking up trash around them. This “gateway to West Seattle” area needs more help, on a more regular basis. You may not be aware that its upkeep has been largely a labor of love for one longtime West Seattleite who has given so much to the community over the decades – and now needs to pass on the torch, or in this case, the broom, the grabbers, etc. Good news is, an organized effort is about to be born – here’s the announcement from Nancy Driver:

Are you a fan of Walking on Logs? Are you interested in helping to maintain and preserve this West Seattle welcome symbol? If so, please join us at a meeting on Tuesday, March 23rd, 5:30 p.m. at the meeting room at the High Point branch library at 3411 SW Raymond Street (intersection of SW Raymond and 35th Avenue SW).

The statues and surround have been maintained for the past decade or more by local hero Earl Cruzen. Earl is 89 now and it’s time for others to take over upkeep of the statues and the grounds directly surrounding them.

The purpose of our meeting is to begin the process of creating a feasible long-term solution for upkeep of the statues and the landscaping in the area immediately surrounding them. If you are seriously interested in helping find and create a solution and have time and/or resources to contribute, please join us at the meeting. We hope not only individuals, but community groups (particularly those groups that regularly use the statues to advertise their causes) and local businesses will join us in this endeavor.

Hope to see you there. Nancy Driver on behalf of Earl Cruzen

A year and a half ago, Nancy spearheaded a massive cleanup effort that went from Walking on Logs up to the 35th/Fauntleroy end of The Bridge – Earl was honored with a plaque that day – here’s the wrapup report on that huge effort. But more-regular commitments would reduce the need to organize something that massive. So the High Point Library (map) is the place to be at 5:30 pm Tuesday, March 23.

7 Replies to "West Seattle's "Walking on Logs": Time to step up and help"

  • shadows March 6, 2010 (12:12 pm)

    nope,not a fan of “walking on logs” “SCULPTURES”. Is anyone out there? I am personally so sick of hearing about volunteers needed to clean up areas that are FILTHY because a lot of people are such pigs that can’t throw their trash where it belongs…IN THE TRASH!!!!! So, good hearted people have to spend their time picking up garbage. We could save ourselves time, money and eyesores if we acted like more sophisticated people and had some class to throw our garbage in the TRASH!!! Gee, what a nice picture…kids having to pick up garbage off the side of a busy freeway… sorry, but i won’t be volunteering. Kids should be cleaning their room instead.

    • WSB March 6, 2010 (1:03 pm)

      And to clarify, it’s not just litter pickup. A large part of what was done in the “Gateway” cleanup a year and a half ago involved shrub and grass cutting. Some of this work needs to be done too.

  • jwws March 6, 2010 (1:00 pm)

    shadows,

    While I agree “grown-ups” shouldn’t be throwing their garbage in public spaces, unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world and I applaud the people who volunteer to pick up after the sloths among us – oh yeah and teach their kids about civic responsibility at the same time!

  • Nancy38 March 6, 2010 (4:34 pm)

    Like any landscaped area, the area directly around the sculptures needs to be mowed regularly and plantings maintained and pruned. There are drainage issues at the site that need to be addressed. Some of the plantings need to be replaced with native, drought resistance varieties. Finally, from time to time, the sculptures have, inappropriately, had paint and other materials applied to them that require removal. These are the issues that we will be addressing at the meeting on March 23rd. There is litter cleanup required at the site from time to time but that is a minor portion of the regular maintenance required. Nancy Driver

  • Mac March 6, 2010 (5:19 pm)

    Also someone to regularly remove signs from the area would be nice. I have stopped to remove campaign signs from time to time but I don’t have a car to I can’t do it anymore.

  • shadows March 7, 2010 (2:04 am)

    City of Seattle diligently collects our property taxes every year without fail….let them do it.

  • rick March 8, 2010 (5:11 pm)

    I love the “walking on logs”. it is a great entrance to West Seattle, reflecting fun and creativity.

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