You asked, so we asked: About the orange mesh along Delridge slope

| Delridge | Environment | West Seattle news

A reader asked what’s going on with that Delridge greenspace, east of the Southwest Precinct and the businesses north of the precinct [vicinity map]. We recalled development plans nearby, years ago, but that’s not what this is for. The land is SDOT property, so we took the question to that department. Turns out it’s for an environmental project that got a little publicity more than two years ago; we tried to get details at the time but our inquiries hit a dead end, and eventually fell off our list (aside from a mention at a meeting last year). In response to our new inquiry, SDOT spokesperson Mariam Ali replied:

the vegetation work you’re seeing is part of the Delridge Native Forest Garden project. SDOT and our partners are restoring these parcels to improve habitat, support tree canopy growth, and create more welcoming community green spaces in the neighborhood.

We recently completed planting and established a path to support ongoing stewardship and future volunteer events. Our first volunteer planting event with the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association took place on November 22.

More information about the City’s broader forest restoration and tree-planting investments can be found here:
Delridge Native Forest Garden Project – Transportation | seattle.gov

The project website has this map:

The timeline for work here, also as noted on the project page, runs until 2028. The funding is $900,000 of a $13 million federal grant, according to this 2023 news release (when we, as mentioned above, tried to get more details). We asked SDOT about the tribes involved in the program; they say it involves the Muckleshoot Tribe because they’re federally recognized.

Jay December 4, 2025 (3:22 pm)

That last sentence is upsetting. SDOT’s continual refusal to recognize or work with the Duwamish Tribe is ethnic cleansing. The boarding schools have closed, but ethnic cleansing of Native Americans is still very much ongoing in the United States and Canada because their existence is inconvenient. We’ve moved from mass murder to forced assimilation to now simply denying their existence. Remember when the Duwamish were passed over for the Muckleshoot for murals right by their longhouse a couple years ago? The Duwamish are deeply embedded into the cultural identity of Seattle and especially West Seattle and play an active role in our community today. They have a museum, host many events, participate in conservation and ecological restoration, and much more. But every time there is a project or money available involving Native Americans in West Seattle, SDOT pretends they don’t exist to continue to punish them for the crime of not relocating to reservations.

bill December 4, 2025 (4:14 pm)

Important points, Jay. But I’ll give SDOT the benefit of the doubt. The department may be constrained by law. Would be nice if someone could explain what collaborations the department is allowed to pursue.
- Daniel December 5, 2025 (6:08 am)
  
  Smart to give SDOT the benefit of the doubt, bill, as explained here: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/real-duwamish-seattles-first-people-and-the-bitter-fight-over-federal-recognition/
  
  Jay, ask the Muckleshoot, Puyallup, Suquamish, and Puyallup tribes why they do not recognize the Duwamish.
  I found the above article in one Google search. Took 20 seconds.
- Daniel December 5, 2025 (11:26 am)
  
  You’re correct to give SDOT the benefit of the doubt, bill — a 20-second Google search leads here: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/real-duwamish-seattles-first-people-and-the-bitter-fight-over-federal-recognition/ — basically, the federal gov’t disagrees with the Duwamish tribe’s rationale for deserving recognition. As do the Muckleshoot, Puyallup, Suquamish, and Tulalip tribes (as commenter “Duwamish supporter” referred to, below). The phrase “ethnic cleansing” in this case seems a bit dramatic, Jay.
  - Jay December 5, 2025 (4:07 pm)
    
    This is a common misunderstanding of how tribal recognition works. It applies to federal benefits, not relationships between tribes and state and local governments. The municipal government of Seattle is not bound to excluding tribes from local art or ecology projects based on federal recognition. The city can hire whomever they want and collaborate with any organization they want There is nothing in city, state, or federal law that prohibits SDOT from engaging with the Duwamish as an entity. Also, it is the correct use of the term ethnic cleansing. It’s an uncomfortable phrase, but ethnic cleansing of natives is still a major ongoing issue in the United States and Canada. Not having tribal recognition only excludes the Duwamish from benefits that go to recognized tribes, it doesn’t mean that Americans in general have to pretend that the tribe doesn’t exist. In denying the Duwamish tribe’s presence in our community, we are participating in ethnic cleansing because we are trying to eliminate the Duwamish ethnicity from our region and strip members of the tribe of their political and cultural identity.
    - Kyle December 7, 2025 (6:08 am)
      
      Read the article, the funding is from a FEDERAL grant. It’s not about SDOT’s relationship, it’s about this project and the federal funding they are using.
    - IDC9 December 8, 2025 (8:05 am)
      
      And since federal funds are being used for this project, federal laws and regulations must be adhered to, even if it is a slap in the face to the Duwamish people. I hope the Duwamish eventually succeed in gaining the federal recognition they deserve.
  - BlairJ December 6, 2025 (12:48 pm)
    
    And for further context, a more recent Seattle Times article from earlier this year indicates that the Duwamish Tribe’s fight for federal recognition is still proceeding.

Duwamish Supporter December 4, 2025 (4:47 pm)

I completely agree with you Jay. Casino-based tribes have coerced Seattle leadership into ‘only buying their brands’ (ie: federal recognition). It’s not just SDOT who pretends the Duwamish tribe doesn’t exist – it’s Parks, DON, SBA, etc. The ‘No-Duwamish’ messaging comes from the top of the food chain. And that is wrong.

Al Aska December 4, 2025 (6:17 pm)

As long as we’re asking what’s being done where, can you also ask SDOT or whoever about what’s not being done on the intersection of SW Oregon Street and 38th Ave SW, namely that badly patched up steel plate in the middle of it with huge asphalt bumps around it? It’s been that way for years now. Did they forget about it?

Kyle December 4, 2025 (7:57 pm)

This is a park? I have only seen tent encampments.

WSB December 4, 2025 (8:05 pm)

No, it’s not a park. But it’s city-owned land.
- Kyle December 4, 2025 (9:17 pm)
  
  Interesting, they probably shouldn’t call it a park on their graphic then.
  - Daniel December 5, 2025 (6:19 am)
    
    The graphic represents the completed project; when it’s completed, the area will become a park. SDOT often collaborates with Seattle Parks and Recreation Department.

Lauren December 4, 2025 (9:23 pm)

Love this, more natives please!

Tired December 4, 2025 (9:43 pm)

Tragic that tent encampments negate so much of these positive efforts. There are several in this immediate area. Directly south off SW Orchard St east of Delridge Way SW. Also multiple including shanty structures on both sides of Sylvan Way SW just north & NE of the rear entrance to the home depot. One needs to look no further than the obvious pathways off the side of the street. Not a safe place to wait for the bus where the long time taco truck used to park as the situation of encampments is growing just beyond the guardrail – in the area below street level & past the tree with the red target painted on the bark.

Sylvan Resident December 5, 2025 (5:24 am)

The first image that popped into my head when I saw this was of the encampment folks “rubbing their hands in excitement” waiting to set up camp. The encampments on Sylvan, next to Home Depot, are have absolute wastelands.
- WS Res December 5, 2025 (10:46 pm)
  
  That image says a lot more about you than it does about any actual unhoused person.

Josh December 6, 2025 (8:41 am)

My house borders this area. They came this summer and cut down a lot of invasive plants and dead trees, removed trash, etc. They did some planting, built a path, and this week were adding mulch to everything. Short-term it looks great, compared to what it was, but long-term they may as well have taken $900k and set it on fire. Even though it is well meaning, if the collective of West Seattle government doesn’t stop it’s citizens from destroying it, what’s the point?Also, depending on certain thresholds, the local government must put the work out for bid (I do this for a living in the marine construction field). This can depend on a few factors, but I’ve never seen anything above $150k be directly awarded to any business, and usually it’s much lower in the $25k-$50k range BUT those companies have to be on a list that has already been approved by that entity. If the Duwamish register as a business entity with all the necessary requirements and insurance I have no doubt the local government would give them direct awards like they do for many SBE, WBE, VBE, etc. entities. Government is required to be good stewards of the budgets they have and require a competitive bidding process to avoid wasteful spending.

Sorry, comment time is over.