SEEN ON ALKI: The fleetingly famous palm tree is gone. ‘Dune ecosystem’ is not.

We looked into both of these Alki observations after reader photos/tips:

RESTORATION: Christopher sent that photo of a section on the beach near the volleyball courts, “wondering what exactly is being restored here and why.” According to Seattle Parks, “This area is one of the last remnants of the native dune ecosystem at Alki Beach. We are working to protect this area during the high season when there is a lot of foot traffic.”

PALM GONE: We also asked Parks about what Kathy spotted, sending the photo above – the disappearance of the 59th/Alki palm tree that briefly gained regional fame after we published a reader report last March. Parks says it was removed because “it was dying.”

Lucy November 7, 2023 (1:03 pm)

Hmmm, a palm tree died in Seattle. Perhaps a salal or a native shore pine or something could be planted instead. Whimsy is fun, but palm trees in Seattle are kind of dopey.

matt November 7, 2023 (4:26 pm)

Well, the original article covers this topic >> Parks also noted at the time that these aren’t tropical: “They are a temperate species called Windmill Palm trees, and come from a region of China that gets colder than Seattle.”

DC November 7, 2023 (1:37 pm)

Goodbye beach-y whimsy. Hello native dune!

CarDriver November 7, 2023 (2:28 pm)

WSB. Have you heard anything from Seattle Parks as to Alki’s status as an off leash dog park? It’s used as such now and parks has not replaced the defaced or missing “no dogs on beach” signs. Enforcement of any kind is non existent. The clear message from parks is that yes indeed they view it as an off leash dog park.

Alki Resident November 7, 2023 (4:15 pm)

Agree with CarDriver. We see people “walking” unleashed dogs along the beach especially during low tide. It’s a major issue for sea animals like seals who leave their pups on the beach to rest while they hunt for food. It would be very nice for the signs to be replaced with brief info explaining why it’s critical to follow this rule.
- Burgerman November 7, 2023 (4:32 pm)
  
  I can tell you for a fact that signs won’t do a damn thing to prevent dogs being on the beach. The entitled dog owners who scoff at the law because their pets are more important to them than the environment or other animals are not even slightly deterred by public shaming, signs, or irate citizens. I know some of them, you can take my word for it. The only thing that will even put a tiny dent in it is actual enforcement, but then I guarantee the dog owners will just take their dogs there during the off-hours. Camera enforcement with RFID on the dog collars is the only other conceivable way to have 24-hour enforcement, but I definitely don’t want that.
- Neighbor November 7, 2023 (4:55 pm)
  
  ^^^ THIS. Signs saying no dogs allowed or referencing a regulation are not effective because people think it’s just some arbitrary rule. Educational signs that explain *why* dogs shouldn’t be on the beach would be a big improvement.
  - Jay November 7, 2023 (7:12 pm)
    
    It kind of is arbitrary though, because the harms of dogs on the beach are exclusive to off-leash dogs harassing wildlife and leaving poo that doesn’t get cleaned up. By banning all dogs and not just off-leash dogs the policy loses it’s impact, and all the arguments that dog opponents make against dogs on the beach only apply to off-leash dogs.
    - Katie November 7, 2023 (8:00 pm)
      
      It isn’t just the off-leash dogs unfortunately – I’ve had many leashed dogs rush up on my scared kids because people don’t care, and once watched a leashed dog scare off a Blue Heron from its fishing spot not once but twice.
    - neighbor November 8, 2023 (12:28 pm)
      
      No, the environmental harms to the beach and impacts on wildlife are not exclusive to unleashed dogs. If dogs are on the beach (leashed or otherwise), or if the beach smells like dog urine, seals with pups will not leave them there so they can hunt for food. (I trust if I have that wrong one of the many wonderful Seal Sitters and marine biologists will correct me.) If the problem could be resolved by leashing, why do you think they would have made an ordinance prohibiting dogs on beaches entirely?
- SeattleCanBeInsufferable November 7, 2023 (6:40 pm)
  
  Another day, another group of people feeling indignant because some people want to have fun with their pets. You call me entitled. I want to know why you hate my dog so much. Seattleites are exhausting sometimes…
  - CarDriver November 7, 2023 (8:14 pm)
    
    Owning a dog isn’t-and has NEVER been a “right” It’s a RESPONSIBILITY. The issue with entitled dog owners is that clearly they feel rules don’t apply to them. Rather than change the rules they’re comfortable giving the middle finger and ignoring the rules as a symbol of their entitlement. I certainly don’t “hate” dogs. Actually i feel sorry for them being stuck with owners that clearly care about themselves more.
  - Lauren November 7, 2023 (8:40 pm)
    
    Because your dog is obnoxioussigned, a dog owner
  - Ferns November 7, 2023 (9:35 pm)
    
    We hate you and your entitled attitude, not your property. This is the biggest copout dog owners try – smearing people who want rules followed as “hating” dogs as if there aren’t parks set aside specifically for them. These dog owners are emotionally immature and flinch at having to follow rules that create safety for others. but I’m cool with hating dogs too if people want to do that. I could counter and ask: Why do you hate wildlife so much? Why do you hate clean sand? Why do you hate other people who don’t have dogs? Why do you hate rules so much? Were you not taught to respect other’s enjoyment of parks by your parents?
  - Dog Lady November 7, 2023 (10:07 pm)
    
    I currently have two dogs who are the 18th and 19th dogs I’ve had over the course of my life. I’ve adopted street dogs from other countries, I’ve taken in dogs I’ve found dumped on the side of the road. I support numerous dog rescues with my money and my time. To say I adore dogs is an understatement. I can assure you, it’s not your dog that people hate. It’s your dog’s owner.
  - SeattleIsActuallyQuiteLovely November 8, 2023 (10:00 am)
    
    I don’t hate your dog. But I do hate being at Alki for enjoyment and witnessing an off-leash dog, who shouldn’t even be there, get attacked by a raccoon hiding in the rocks because the dog’s person couldn’t be bothered to follow a city ordinance that exists for keeping dogs safe just as much as it exists to keep other people and wildlife safe. Perhaps if you could have heard the dog screaming in agony and could have seen its bleeding snout, you’d understand. Kids should not have had to witness such consequences resulting from this irresponsible action, but they did. Incidents like this haunt memories. I spent the rest of our time there worrying about a stranger’s dog getting the care it needed in order to take away the pain from the deep slashes on its face. This could have easily been prevented a number of ways. People who cannot be responsible dog guardians shouldn’t have them. If one loves their dog as much as most pet owners claim to love their furry companions, following the rules to protect them in public spaces shouldn’t be an arguable, contentious topic to discuss.
  - ‘Insufferable’ Seattleite November 8, 2023 (11:58 am)
    
    So be it if I’m insufferable because: – The log I sit on at Alki reeks of dog urine- The sand my children play in contains dog urine and feces (Tthe beach is not a litter box for your dog).– I walk my dog on leash because both of us need exercise. – I’ve been attacked/bitten by an off leash dog.- All of my dogs have been attacked by off leash dogs Signed – dog owner/rescuer/lover
David November 7, 2023 (7:33 pm)

Right on CarDriver! It’s terrible. Dogs on the beach all the time. I asked Parks to replace defaced signs, and to add more signs. They did next to nothing!

Scarlett November 7, 2023 (7:16 pm)

Seattleites are notoriously fussy, true, but just be considerate to others and keep your dog leashed; it really isn’t much to ask. The rest of us can’t read your dog’s mind nor yours if you are the dog’s owner. My feelings on this subject changed dramatically after being bitten a year ago and I did nothing to provoke the attack.

SlimJim November 7, 2023 (8:00 pm)

Yeah, you can say Seattleites are fussy but keep in mind that many of those fussy people you meet out and about aren’t from Seattle or anywhere in Washington. What percentage? Your guess is as good as mine, but we all know that a large portion of the people we interact with in the city are not born here. Fussy people are *everywhere*. P.S. I wasn’t born here either.

Sekairider November 7, 2023 (7:51 pm)

Personally, I don’t feel safe around off leash dogs, been charged at so many times. They come running excitedly around a blind corner at Camp Long full speed and scare the heck out of me (and probably a lot of wildlife too) but I don’t hate dogs, or anything really. Anyone making that assumption would be wrong.

AMC November 7, 2023 (9:51 pm)

Actually, dogs are not allowed on beaches at ALL (not even leashed) per the Seattle Parks and Rec page: “Dogs are not allowed at organized athletic fields, beaches, or children’s play areas in Seattle parks, per the Seattle Municipal Code. Outside of off-leash areas, dogs must be on a leash at all times.” https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/rules-and-regulations#dogs

We also experience this constantly at the field for Pathfinder School. People love to treat it as their own off-leash dog area and it destroys the field for students and other athletes that play there.

I also do not hate dogs.

Respectful Dog Owner November 8, 2023 (2:51 am)

I respect the rules at Alki and other Seattle places that don’t allow dogs and the leash rules as a dog owner. I too get frustrated seeing dogs run free on the beach as I walk my dog in the sidewalk. It makes all dog owners look bad when there are a lot of us who respect the rules.West Seattle lacks off leash parks and would be less of an issue if there was areas the dogs can run, but we don’t have anything close. That is a miss on the city.

Loo November 8, 2023 (6:16 am)

Now if dogs would stop running through the restoration area that would be great!

Shar November 8, 2023 (9:05 pm)

Dogs deserve more than they ever get from us

Clifford November 10, 2023 (8:28 am)

I’m fine with dogs being off leash. At least dog owners are monitoring their dog and attempting to do a good job of picking up after their dogs. The cat owners in my neighborhood seem perfectly happy to open their doors and let their cats run around the neighborhood deficating in everyone’s flower beds and killing all the song birds.

Sorry, comment time is over.