‘If we restore it, the fish will come’: Big dreams for Schmitz Park and its creek, and how you can help

(Schmitz Park, in the center of pilot/photographer Long Bach Nguyen‘s 2012 image)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

In the spirit of the people who brought Fauntleroy Creek back from near-death, a new community coalition is dreaming of restoring another creek to its salmon-sustaining glory.

Right now, the stream in Schmitz (Preserve) Park ends unceremoniously underground and then into Elliott Bay via an outfall. The vision is to daylight it and let it run to the sea along its historic path to Alki.

To daylight this vision, a roomful of community leaders gathered at renowned photographer Art Wolfe‘s Seaview home this past Tuesday night for a presentation that Wolfe himself introduced, with a slideshow of images of Schmitz Park in its greenest glory.

“This is a good idea for this time,” declared Wolfe – good for people, good for wildlife (he mentioned his most recent book Wild Lives). That wildlife includes salmon; they have just a few home creeks left in the city limits, including Fauntleroy and Longfellow, but Wolfe expressed certainty that Schmitz Park’s creek could join them. “I think it’s worth trying to open-air the creek to salt water.” That would be a few blocks downhill to the north, at Alki Beach.

The room rippled with people murmuring “yes” in agreement. Wolfe continued showing images of what he found in Schmitz Park earlier this spring – trillium and salmonberry flowers, hummingbirds “like little gems,” a pileated woodpecker, red-breasted sapsucker, the snags where birds can find food and respite, trees coated with moss. Wolfe said everyone should see it for themselves: “This kind of environment” – the forest’s “boggy bottom” – “is what purifies the water and makes this a viable salmon-spawning resource.”

His photos also included the not-so-scenic grate over a segment of the creek at 57th and Stevens – here’s the Google Maps Street View image of that spot:

From there, he recounted, the culvert “empties so far out (in Elliott Bay) that nobody realizes (fresh water is mingling).” Wolfe said a potential vision for the Schmitz Park creek could be to run the streambed along a street and down to the beach, “maybe a sidewalk along one side and the creek on the other.” But he stressed that it’s “early in the game” and this is just an idea for now. But: “I think we need more salmon-spawning streams.”

Next to speak was Daniel Nye, co-chair of the new coalition, the Schmitz Park Creek Restore Project. He too spoke reverently of Schmitz Park, “sacred ground,” observing that its old-growth trees “have been here waiting and watching … for centuries since the icebergs retreated.” The forest, he reiterated, is “a spiritual place.”

Nye recounted the park’s history – long before it was a park, it was part of the home territory of the Duwamish people (whose chair Cecile Hansen and council member Ken Workman were among the guests at the gathering). In 1851, the Alki arrival of the white settlers known as the Denny Party started a wave of change on the peninsula. The Schmitz family (whose representative Vicki Schmitz Block was at the gathering) set aside the 53 unlogged acres that became Schmitz Park.

Nye talked about the park’s design by the famed Olmsted Brothers (shown above in an image from a federal website). Their plan “was only partly realized,” he noted – hopes of a “treed corridor (that) went from Alki to the Park” went unrealized, though, as he observed, the features that were realized included the WPS-built “art deco bridge” circa 1936.

This new effort, he said, could make a long-held dream come true. That’s why Nye and co-chair Brian Barilleaux are “getting together a group of people and approaching Seattle Parks with a plan of how to achieve this, and how to finance it.” Nye noted that this is a rare chance to “protect and preserve” something that has not yet been totally transformed from its origins. “We also want to restore the ties to the community and the gift of this park that was given.” And it would be a gift for our area’s life-sustaining salmon. “There are no marine species (in the creek). because it was cut off … even though it’s clear water, it’s essentially lifeless. We want to bring the fish back. … If we restore it, the fish will come.”

But long before the grand dream of daylighting the creek might come true, Nye said, people can take relatively simple action now to help the park and creek – removing ivy and graffiti, clearing blocked sections of the creek within the park. And in the big picture, “There are several ways to get the creek to the beach.” Looking back into history, they think the Alki Elementary playground might have held a “natural lagoon”: “The ghosts of that lagoon are still there,” so perhaps the creek ran in that area to get to the sea.

The dream stretches beyond the creek. They envision the possibility of a National Heritage Area, with buildings such as Alki Point Lighthouse, the Alki Beach Bathhouse, the Fir Lodge/Alki Homestead – and the awaiting-a-new-home Stone Cottage could factor into this too (among those at the gathering was Mike Shaughnessy from Save The Stone Cottage). Wayfinding to help people with area trails could be a factor. Barilleaux added, “Make it a historic monument and historic attraction.”

Other possibilities suggested by Nye: Restoring ties with local schools; demonstrating Indigenous agriculture such as camas (recently planted at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse) and berries; honoring the “sacred” nature of the forest and creek through connecting with local faith communities.

So how to make it happen? Schmitz Park already has inspired generosity and future vision, Nye noted, with a nod to yet another person in the room, Bruce Stotler, who has donated his park-adjacent home to become part of the park when he’s gone. “He’s an inspiration to all of us … in the tradition of Emma and Ferdinand Schmitz.”

An initial list of coalition supporters was shown – and an invitation offered for all to join – that means you, too. “Even if there’s nothing you think you can contribute to this, you can pull out ivy!” They’re going to have ivy-removal training sessions soon, and then organize teams to go to the park in June and July and get going.

You can find out more about the restoration proposal here, and you can email with questions or to volunteer at SchmitzParkCreekRestore@gmail.com.

16 Replies to "'If we restore it, the fish will come': Big dreams for Schmitz Park and its creek, and how you can help"

  • Dan May 9, 2024 (3:25 pm)

    This is a good idea!

  • Will o Wisp May 9, 2024 (3:29 pm)

    What a great idea.  The Schmitz creek seems to run year round.  I am a non Seattle native 81 year old but remember another old timer saying  when he was young there were fish that used the pipe that ran underground down 57th  to reach the sound.  This was eventually shut down probably because of lack of capacity in heavy rains.   Hopefully someday a better route will be found.

    • Brian Barilleaux May 13, 2024 (1:48 pm)

      Hello Dan,

      Thank you for your quick response regarding your involvement
      with the Schmitz Park Creek Restore Project. We are delighted to welcome you
      amongst our gathering groups of supporters and volunteers. Response has been
      terrific, and we are greatly encouraged. GREAT to have you on the team!

      We have now added your name and email address to our data
      base and you can now watch for periodic updates on the Project and on Schmitz
      Park generally. We will also be reaching out soon concerning the creation of
      teams of volunteers to work alongside us to protect, preserve and restore the
      ancient trees, woodlands and streams that make up this Natural and Historic
      Park.

      This will include our upcoming “Ivy League” Training Sessions
      in Schmitz Park, dates to be determined, beginning in June or July. These
      educational and joyful gatherings will focus on the basics of Invasive Species
      Identification and Removal at Schmitz Park. Several of our Lead Team Members
      will lead these gatherings, with the oversight of Seattle City Parks personnel.

      In addition to front line “Ivy League” Volunteers, we also
      seek the involvement of individuals with other talents and skills to join our
      Lead Team Members work on the long terms goals and projects to protect,
      preserve and restore  Schmitz Park’s
      fish, forest, creek and cove, and to renew its ties to our community. If you
      have special skills, insight or interests that you would like to share with
      this long range effort, write back,  and
      let us know about your skills and interests and how you would like to make a
      difference. We can’t wait to hear back from you!

      For those of you who have expressed interest in supporting
      Schmitz Park Creek Restore with financial contributions, we will soon be in a
      position to accept that form of support as well.

      Thank you in advance and watch our web site,
      http://www.SchmitzParkCreekRestore.org for further details soon.  We also intend to do social media blasts and
      emails back to those involved.

      Dan Nye and Brian Barilleaux, Co-Chairs

      Schmitz Park Creek Restore: A Citizens Committee

  • Judy May 9, 2024 (3:41 pm)

    I’m delighted to know residents have stepped up to aid Schmitz Creek!

    • Brian Barilleaux May 13, 2024 (4:45 pm)

      Hello

      Thank you for your quick response regarding your involvement
      with the Schmitz Park Creek Restore Project. We are delighted to welcome you
      amongst our gathering groups of supporters and volunteers. Response has been
      terrific, and we are greatly encouraged. GREAT to have you on the team!

      We have now added your name and email address to our data
      base and you can now watch for periodic updates on the Project and on Schmitz
      Park generally. We will also be reaching out soon concerning the creation of
      teams of volunteers to work alongside us to protect, preserve and restore the
      ancient trees, woodlands and streams that make up this Natural and Historic
      Park.

      This will include our upcoming “Ivy League” Training Sessions
      in Schmitz Park, dates to be determined, beginning in June or July. These
      educational and joyful gatherings will focus on the basics of Invasive Species
      Identification and Removal at Schmitz Park. Several of our Lead Team Members
      will lead these gatherings, with the oversight of Seattle City Parks personnel.

      In addition to front line “Ivy League” Volunteers, we also
      seek the involvement of individuals with other talents and skills to join our
      Lead Team Members work on the long terms goals and projects to protect,
      preserve and restore  Schmitz Park’s
      fish, forest, creek and cove, and to renew its ties to our community. If you
      have special skills, insight or interests that you would like to share with
      this long range effort, write back,  and
      let us know about your skills and interests and how you would like to make a
      difference. We can’t wait to hear back from you!

      For those of you who have expressed interest in supporting
      Schmitz Park Creek Restore with financial contributions, we will soon be in a
      position to accept that form of support as well.

      Thank you in advance and watch our web site,
      http://www.SchmitzParkCreekRestore.org for further details soon.  We also intend to do social media blasts and
      emails back to those involved.

      Let’s Restore and Celebrate Schmitz Park and its Creek. Our
      sincere thanks!

      Dan Nye and Brian Barilleaux, Co-Chairs

      Schmitz Park Creek Restore: A Citizens Committee

      SchmitzParkCreekRestore.org

  • Never going to happen May 9, 2024 (4:14 pm)

    You think the same neighbors that cried foul that parks wanted to put a set of stairs there won’t fight tooth and nail to keep this from happening? 

  • Leslie May 9, 2024 (4:53 pm)

    I think this is a great idea. Their website says they’re preparing a proposal to present to the mayor – have they hired a consultant? This is a massively complex, incredibly multidisciplinary affair: tons of federal, state, and local permitting that is well beyond what you’d normally see for a standard park, in large part because it involves water, which triggers such permitting; cultural resources;  tribal involvement (on a regulatory level); possibly historical architecture; possibly regular ol’ modern architecture; definitely plenty of landscape architecture; both riparian and upland habitat restoration (see landscape architecture, and add fisheries and wetland biologists, plus engineers specializing in salmon-bearing stream restoration); site civil engineering and utilities; structural engineering; probably coastal engineering; geotechnical engineering; geomorphology and hydrology; public outreach; and probably more. Also on the website, it says, “Below you will find the bios and other information about those already on the Schmitz Park Creek Restore Team,” but I don’t see bios. Like I said, I think this is a great idea, but without knowing who the proponents are, or whether a competent firm has been hired to assess the site, evaluate permitting conditions, develop at least a conceptual design, cost estimate, and package it all in a proposal, for me, knowing how difficult it can be to execute this type of project, it’s hard to get super excited. I hope that SPCR can provide further details, as the work required to get this done is not at all – pardon the pun – a walk in the park.

    • Melissa May 10, 2024 (8:21 am)

      Leslie,It sounds like you have a lot of knowledge and experience that you could contribute. Please consider doing so. 

  • webcami May 9, 2024 (4:54 pm)

    The creek as is has mudded out 57th in a big storm and flooded basements in the past.  This would be an interesting situation for the dozens of homeowners between 57th and  59th.

    • run wild May 9, 2024 (9:19 pm)

      By letting the stream run more like it use to, slowing down its energy, letting it (hopefully) meander a bit, our neighbors between 57th and 59th may well see that there is less impact during heaving rainfalls. In the creek’s current state, there’s no where for the water to go and the pipe isn’t that big, relatively. Water builds energy and hops out of the culvert easily. Restoration can do wonders both for aquatic life and the value of properites around the stream.

      • Cami May 10, 2024 (5:48 am)

        Is the a map of the proposed route of the hopefully meandering creek flow? I didn’t see one on the website. 

  • admiral admirable May 9, 2024 (10:02 pm)

    Schmitz needs a lot of love. Daylighting the creek interface with the Sound would be brilliant. Also, the entire Southwestern quadrant needs an official trail and a lot of invasive remediation. Giant trees are otherwise going to be pulled down by ivy. There’s amazing views of the Olympics up there as well which belong to the public and should be made accessible. Someone has done some work there recently but it needs official support and connection to the rest of the park.

  • wetone May 10, 2024 (10:11 am)

    Back in the mid 60’s we played in that area and stream a lot. There was a couple big concrete fishponds and dam that could regulate water. The ponds were big, like 20’x40′ and maybe 3′ deep going off my old memory. Don’t ever remember seeing fish in ponds at that time and they slowly filled up with silt. The story I heard was the gentleman that owned property and lived in house up hill from ponds raised trout. The dam had a metal guillotine type door setup and we would use that as starting point to race our little wooden hydro’s from ;) As far as making a fish habitat there today I think tax dollars and labor could be better spent elsewhere in this broke city. Many of the original residents liked area better before all the redesigns over last 40yrs. Had much better access for all when roadway went through with parking areas. Same thing city is doing to Alki point area access….

  • Will o Wisp May 10, 2024 (11:30 am)

    The remains of the fishponds were still there in the late 80s and early 90s when my son would play with them – I think the metal door was rusted and gone.

  • Brian Barilleaux May 13, 2024 (4:57 pm)

    Hello Will O Wisp,

    Thank you for your quick response regarding your involvement
    with the Schmitz Park Creek Restore Project. We are delighted to welcome you
    amongst our gathering groups of supporters and volunteers. Response has been
    terrific, and we are greatly encouraged. GREAT to have you on the team!

    We have now added your name and email address to our data
    base and you can now watch for periodic updates on the Project and on Schmitz
    Park generally. We will also be reaching out soon concerning the creation of
    teams of volunteers to work alongside us to protect, preserve and restore the
    ancient trees, woodlands and streams that make up this Natural and Historic
    Park.

    This will include our upcoming “Ivy League” Training Sessions
    in Schmitz Park, dates to be determined, beginning in June or July. These
    educational and joyful gatherings will focus on the basics of Invasive Species
    Identification and Removal at Schmitz Park. Several of our Lead Team Members
    will lead these gatherings, with the oversight of Seattle City Parks personnel.

    In addition to front line “Ivy League” Volunteers, we also
    seek the involvement of individuals with other talents and skills to join our
    Lead Team Members work on the long terms goals and projects to protect,
    preserve and restore  Schmitz Park’s
    fish, forest, creek and cove, and to renew its ties to our community. If you
    have special skills, insight or interests that you would like to share with
    this long range effort, write back,  and
    let us know about your skills and interests and how you would like to make a
    difference. We can’t wait to hear back from you!

    For those of you who have expressed interest in supporting
    Schmitz Park Creek Restore with financial contributions, we will soon be in a
    position to accept that form of support as well.

    Thank you in advance and watch our web site,
    http://www.SchmitzParkCreekRestore.org for further details soon.  We also intend to do social media blasts and
    emails back to those involved.

    Let’s Restore and Celebrate Schmitz Park and its Creek. Our
    sincere thanks!

    Dan Nye and Brian Barilleaux, Co-Chairs

    Schmitz Park Creek Restore: A Citizens Committee

    SchmitzParkCreekRestore.org

  • Neighbor said May 13, 2024 (10:31 pm)

    Wonderful idea! I can’t wait to hear more and would love to support this development. 

Sorry, comment time is over.