Big news for ‘Walking on Logs’ volunteers: Much-needed grant

(March 2010 ‘Walking on Logs’ photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
Volunteers have been doing their best to take care of the West Seattle gateway area along the Fauntleroy Way end of The Bridge for years, particularly the “Walking on Logs” sculpture and its surroundings. They’ve been doing it by scraping together what labor and materials they could get and give. Now, they’ve gotten word of a city matching-funds grant that will help with maintenance as well as an upcoming re-landscaping project. Nancy Driver has been the catalyst for many of the cleanup/restoration efforts as it became clear that longtime volunteer caretaker Earl Cruzen needed help (backstory here). She says they were pleasantly surprised to get news of the $8,163 grant. The budget for re-landscaping is almost that much – $7,900 – but Nancy says they’ve already raised some money, and they’re in line for a share of the West Seattle Garden Tour proceeds, which all means they’ll wind up with some money for ongoing maintenance. She says, “We will do most of the maintenance with volunteers, although we may hire day laborers to weed whack under our supervision on occasion. Our goal is to make the remaining funds last as many years as possible, both to cover maintenance and pay for any plants that may, from time to time, need to be replaced. We’ve already spent part of our funds on purchasing a good string trimmer (weed whacker) which is an absolute necessity for maintaining the site.”

Landscape architect Chuck Warsinske with SBA Landscape Architecture, who has donated his time, has been working with SDOT on the re-landscaping plan; Nancy says the only issue left is whether SDOT will let them add more trees to the site. They’re expecting to do the re-landscaping work this October. Meantime, she says the Landscape Restoration Group will be back out doing “weed-whacking and maintenance” at the site at 9:30 this Tuesday morning. Want to help, or find out more about the restoration group? nldriver@q.com.

18 Replies to "Big news for 'Walking on Logs' volunteers: Much-needed grant"

  • Eddie August 1, 2011 (6:31 am)

    I’m constantly disgusted by the political signs that find their way into the space along that sculpture, and further south, along the right of way. Somehow I thought it was illegal to place campaign signs in the public right of way?

    Why isn’t there a $5000 fine for each sign, with the funds collected directed toward upkeep of the space?

  • Tuesday August 1, 2011 (7:16 am)

    I’m surprised that at a time when so many cuts for essential services are looming, the city is allocating any funds (even match funds) for something that is completely non-essential.

    Though it is a lovely part of the landscape, the upkeep should not be a burden taxpayers bear, no matter how small.

  • DF August 1, 2011 (8:23 am)

    This same freeway greenbelt is in need of the removal of holly trees which are getting out of hand. Step up to the plate west seattle residents!!

  • DWHJ August 1, 2011 (8:25 am)

    u said it Tuesday lovely place but come on $8,163

  • sun*e August 1, 2011 (9:05 am)

    I’m glad there will be funding for the “Walking on Logs” sculpture area. This is the first thing people see in the gateway to West Seattle so it should look good and presentable, not neglected and overgrown. During the West Seattle Garden Tour I learned about the ideas and improvements that will be made which will require less maintenance and that’s a good thing since volunteerism for the upkeep isn’t always there. Looking forward to seeing the outcome.

  • WSTroll August 1, 2011 (10:13 am)

    I agree with Tuesday. Perhaps we could pay more for our car tabs to fund such a project.

  • mj August 1, 2011 (10:57 am)

    A pity. I was hoping this kitschy blemish on an otherwise lovely patch of ivy would disintegrate.

    • WSB August 1, 2011 (11:20 am)

      Please keep in mind, this is not just about maintaining the sculptures. It’s about the entire landscaped area along that stretch of the bridge, which becomes an eyesore & potentially a safety hazard. If you disagree that matching funds should be available at all in these austere budget times, you can certainly share that sentiment with the City Council http://seattle.gov/council and Mayor http://seattle.gov/mayor who will be going into another round of budgeting very soon. But you might want to look closely at what projects overall get these funds – and even then, only after a lot of hard work by volunteer community members. They’ve sought and received private donations too, but this is in fact public property, not private property. – TR

  • DF August 1, 2011 (12:12 pm)

    THANK YOU WSB FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION. SO THAT MEANS THAT THE PUBLIC “WHOEVER” CAN HELP IN THE UPKEEP OF THE ENTIRE STRETCH ON THE I.E. RESIDENTIAL SIDE.

  • DF August 1, 2011 (12:16 pm)

    AND THANK YOU TO WHOMEVER IS TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO BEAUTIFY THAT STRETCH OF LANDSCAPING ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE FOOTBRIDGE. GREAT JOB!!

  • Laconique August 1, 2011 (1:15 pm)

    Those volunteers should melt down the atrocious statues and have them turned into shovels and rakes. Money saved!

  • datamuse August 1, 2011 (1:36 pm)

    mj: ivy is invasive, kills trees and other plants, and discourages wildlife, except for mice and rats. I’ve pulled huge carpets of it out of the West Duwamish Greenbelt that had choked out anything else from growing (and once found a fully intact coyote skeleton–way cool). I have no opinion one way or the other on the sculptures, though lots of people seem to like them, but get rid of that ivy and plant something native.

  • Eddie August 1, 2011 (5:16 pm)

    Joy Anderson is using the space as her free political sign posting area, she should pay for it all.

    I’m so tired of her “hand made” signs all over my (our) property.

    Get her a clue – posting in the public right of way is illegal and class-less.

  • JO August 1, 2011 (5:56 pm)

    Way to go volunteers and good West Seattle citizens for jumping in!

  • Nancy38 August 1, 2011 (7:29 pm)

    [I’m responding on behalf of the Walking on Logs (WOL)Landscape Restoration Group.] We often take down the signs that are put out at the WOL site but unfortunately they usually re-appear soon thereafter. We agree they are unsightly and don’t belong there. We feel that the only signs put up there should be those of the West Seattle non-profits that use the site from time to time. The property is owned by Seattle Dept. of Transportation and it is our understanding that no signs are supposed to be placed on city property. In the fall, we hope to engage the community in a discussion about several issues related to use of the site, including signs. For those of you bothered by the signs, let the politicians and businesses putting them up how you feel about it. Thanks.

  • Silly Goose August 1, 2011 (7:43 pm)

    WOW what a bunch of sour pusses, I love the Sculptures, but even more rewarding was seeing the DOC in uniform clearing out all of the weeds and over growth, now that was tax payer money at work. Let’s bring them back for some clean up!!

    As for Joy Anderson’s home made sign that is grass roots campaigning at it’s best. She is not abusing donations etc she is campaingning in a green whole some way!!

  • Fiona Enzo August 2, 2011 (10:56 am)

    I love the sculpture. Art is meant to lift the spirits, take us out of our humdrum, car-mad, deadline-driven, angry lives – grumps may need a prescription of more art, not less.

  • Laconique August 4, 2011 (5:16 pm)

    I’m not a grump and I certainly appreciate art. Everyone is entitled to their opinion- how boring it would be if we all like the same art! I just find those statues tacky and stupid. :)

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