West Seattle, Washington
28 Wednesday
If you’re familiar with the layout of the lot at Don Armeni Boat Ramp, you’ll notice something missing in the photo above: The long hedge that has long filled the median between the park’s northwest road and a row of parking. Stewart L. sent the photo, wondering why Seattle Parks had to remove that much foliage. He emailed us on Friday, we inquired with Parks, and got this reply today:
The hedge at Don Armeni Boat Ramp was removed as part of a long-planned project for several reasons:
Updated landscaping practices: Moving away from hedges to more natural, low-maintenance plantings that improve visibility and allow for greater plant variety.
Environmental concerns: Hedges often collect litter and debris, which is difficult to clean.
Safety improvements: Hedges created blind spots for vehicles and spaces for people to hide.
Plant management: The laurel hedge had invasive species like English Ivy and Himalayan blackberry growing within it, and the irrigation system was damaged and inaccessible for repair.
The new landscape will feature native, salt- and heat-tolerant plants, driftwood, and rocks, similar to other areas along Alki Ave. Public feedback on the removal to our grounds crews has been overwhelmingly positive.
We’ll keep an eye out for the replacement landscape, but also have to admit a bit of sadness because of an unmentioned part of the hedge that’s now gone too – the Darwin’s barberry bushes (considered invasive Down Under but uncommon up here) that bloomed vividly orange every spring.
(WSB photo, 2021)
A recent walk in Jack Block Park (2130 Harbor Avenue SW) inspired a reader to ask when its long-closed pier will be rebuilt as promised. It’s been closed for safety concerns for more than five years; our last followup was two years ago, at which time some money had been budgeted, and design was supposed to start before the end of 2024. But the project has not proceeded much if at all since then. This is in a Port of Seattle park; the Northwest Seaport Alliance – comprising the cargo ports of Seattle and Tacoma – is funding it, so NWSA spokesperson Melanie Stambaugh Babst responded to our inquiry about timeline, design, and $ status. She says construction is still at least two and a half years away:
The Jack Block Pier replacement is early in the design phase, so we do not have any design drawings to share yet. The current estimated project cost is between $10 – $14 million and our project team is exploring some design opportunities that account for this range. At this time, the estimated construction start is Q4 2028.
Funding for the pier and plaza repairs will come from the NWSA, but there are additional scope elements that will be funded by Port of Seattle.
The damage that ultimately led to the long-range closure was attributed to a vessel hitting the pier, though it’s never been disclosed which vessel did it, when, and how.
Seattle Parks has just announced that it’s planning to update two West Seattle park projects at the January HPAC community meeting, one week from tonight. Here’s the announcement:
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites community members to share input on two upcoming local park improvement projects at the Highland Park Action Coalition January meeting. Please join us on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. at the Delridge Branch Library Meeting Room, 5423 Delridge Way SW.
At this meeting, attendees will learn about proposed improvements for Westcrest Park South Restroom Renovation and the Southwest Teen Life Center Play Area Renovation. SPR staff will share early concept design options and gather feedback to help ensure these spaces reflect community needs and priorities.
The Westcrest Park South project proposes replacing a closed restroom with a new, accessible facility to better serve park visitors. Additionally, the project will address the footprint of the former south play area. The previous structure and equipment from this play area were relocated to the new play area on the reservoir lid in 2013, but the old play area footprint remains and was never fully restored or removed. Please visit SPR engagement page to take a short survey that will inform the improvements!
The Southwest Teen Life Center Play Area project will replace existing play equipment and make accessibility improvements, with new play structures and seating designed for children of all abilities, ages 2 to 12. At the meeting we will review the concept designs. Please visit SPR project enagement page to take a short survey that will inform the play area renovation!
All community members are encouraged to participate. This is an opportunity to meet the SPR project team, ask questions, and help shape the future of these neighborhood spaces. Short online surveys will also be available for those who would like to provide additional input.
For more information, please visit the Seattle Parks and Recreation project pages for Westcrest Park South Restroom Renovation and Southwest Teen Life Center Play Area Renovation.
The previous feedback opportunity for the play area was more than a year ago; we haven’t previously reported on the restroom project. Meantime, we’ll update the rest of HPAC’s agenda for next Wednesday when we get it.
In the early weeks of Mayor Katie Wilson‘s administration, she’s rolled out announcements of multiple department-head changes, as usually happens when a new mayor takes over. The latest group, announced today, include leadership changes for both Parks and Recreation and Neighborhoods. For the. Parks change, the announcement is brief:
AP Diaz will be leaving as director, and Michele Finnegan will serve as Interim Director.
Former Mayor Bruce Harrell hired Diaz from Los Angeles in fall 2022. Finnegan was promoted last year to senior deputy superintendent.
As for Neighborhoods, that part of the announcement has more details:
The Department of Neighborhoods is dedicated to help neighbors connect, build strong communities, improve their quality of live, and engage with city government. Jenifer Chao will be leaving the Department of Neighborhoods, and Sam Read will fill her role until Quynh Pham becomes Acting Director.
Quyhn is currently the Executive Director of Friends of Little Saigon (FLS), a community development organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing Little Saigon’s cultural, economic, and historical vitality. Her 14 years of nonprofit development experience have shaped local policy, advanced opportunities for Southeast Asian artists and cultural practitioners, and increased investments in BIPOC initiatives around equitable development and small business resiliency. She is also the mother of two toddlers, who continue to fuel her drive to ensure they grow up in a culturally rich, accessible, and diverse community.
Other new department leaders announced include Andréa Akita at the Office of Housing, Amy Nguyen at the Office of Arts and Culture, Beto Yarce at the Office of Economic Development, and Lylianna Allala at the Office of Sustainability and the Environment. For full details on today’s announcements, here’s the official news release.
Volunteers of all ages were out working to improve the community as part of the MLK Day of Service during the Monday holiday. Thanks to Friends of Lincoln Park forest steward Lisa McGinty for sharing a report and photos from the event she coordinated with students:
65 mostly West Seattle High School students (and a few from Madison MS) showed up on their day off from school to honor MLK Jr’s legacy and care for the land and each other.
This is the 6th annual MLK Day of Service event that is student-led by members of the WSHS Earth Club.
We were treated to a lovely, sunny morning in the park while students removed blackberry, holly and planted native trees. Their efforts were impressive and will do a lot to make space for native plants to thrive in our urban forests.
Thanks to all the youth who came out to join community and advocate for equitable green spaces in Seattle.
You can help out in Lincoln Park too – check here for upcoming volunteer events.
(Photos courtesy Kersti Muul)
5:08 PM SUNDAY: Bald Eagles are not an uncommon sight in West Seattle. But what two eagles did this afternoon at Lincoln Park was unusual enough to get extra attention from bystanders – and ultimately wildlife experts. We heard from callers/texters shortly after 1 pm, saying two eagles were “stuck together” on the ground after some sort of airborne confrontation. Onlookers were worried the eagles would not be able to untangle themselves from each other; it appeared that one had its talons in the other’s eye. The people we heard from were trying to contact everyone they could think of who might be able to help. Those who responded included Kersti Muul (who’s been involved with other eagle interventions), as well as officers from state wildlife and local animal control.
The eagles did manage to untangle themselves. Kersti says one was taken to the PAWS rehab center north of Seattle. In general, she says, watching for a while to see if birds can get themselves out of a predicament is prudent – but on the other hand, she notes, “Also being a public park, intervention may have been a good course of action. She suspects what happened was a “territorial dispute,” having noticed a prospective “interloper” in recent days in Gatewood, uphill from the park.
4:06 PM: Kersti told us today that the injured eagle definitely wasn’t one of Lincoln Park’s “resident pair” – she got word they were seen “intact on their usual perch.” Meantime, we hadn’t followed up with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife but received a statement from them about all this – here’s what WDFW spokesperson Chase Gunnell sent, in its entirety:
We saw your article and wanted to make sure you had the following information:
At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Police received a report of two bald eagles fighting in Lincoln Park in Seattle. One eagle was reported to be injured. Members of the public were attempting to capture the eagle. While a Fish and Wildlife Officer was enroute, a call was received that the injured eagle had been successfully placed in a crate, and a member of public could take the eagle to a local rehabilitation location. The Officer advised the individual to transport the animal to PAWS Wildlife Center and confirmed that the animal had been received by PAWS.
WDFW wildlife biologists believe the eagles were fighting due to a territorial dispute. While dramatic for onlookers, this behavior is fairly common this time of year with the onset of bald eagle mating season (typically late-fall through spring), when bald eagles stake out territories before building nests and laying eggs later in winter through early-spring.
How to report injured eagles
If people encounter an injured bald eagle, please report it to WDFW using the form on our website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/report-observations, or by calling 360-902-2936 or emailing WILDCOMM@dfw.wa.gov.
The public can also submit a report to USFWS’ Washington state office or to a local permitted wildlife rehabilitator.
WDFW coordinates closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on bald eagles given the federally protected status of this species. Background information on bald eagle management is available on this webpage.
Please do not handle injured wildlife, including eagles
It is natural for people to want to help when they find wildlife in distress, especially in highly visible locations. However, intervening without the proper knowledge, tools, and protective equipment can be dangerous for the animal and for yourself.
The only time you should consider intervening in a wild animal’s life is if it is clearly sick or injured, or if you are certain the parent of a juvenile animal is dead. In those cases, always consult with a permitted wildlife rehabilitator or WDFW before touching or moving an animal for your safety and to avoid unnecessary handling. The wildlife rehabilitator will advise you on next steps.
It is illegal for anyone in Washington without a permit to hold or attempt to care for wildlife. Attempting to care for wildlife without the appropriate skills and experience can make the situation worse. Eagles – and many other birds – are further protected under additional state and federal laws. Handling wildlife without proper personal protective equipment increases the risk of spreading diseases including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
For more information on what to do if you find sick or injured wildlife, visit the WDFW wildlife rehabilitation webpage. You can also find a permitted wildlife rehabilitator near you on WDFW’s website.
If you cannot find a permitted wildlife rehabilitator with the capacity or ability to take in the sick or injured wildlife you found, you may also contact a licensed veterinarian to see if they can help.
More information on wildlife rehabilitators is available in this WDFW blog post.
(Photo by Jerry Simmons, who captioned it ‘a couple of nutcrackers’)
Want to see somewhat wilder wildlife on Christmas? Assuming the potential windstorm treats trees, wildlife, and the rest of us kindly, here’s an invitation we were asked to share with you for tomorrow morning:
4th Annual Christmas Bird / Nature Walk in Lincoln Park (Morning this year)
Get outside Xmas morning at West Seattle’s Lincoln Park for an informal Bird and Nature Walk-ho sted by a volunteer Naturalist.
*No experience necessary; all levels of knowledge are welcome!
*We’ll look for winter birds both on the water and in the forest. We hope to get to see some of these: wild ducks / waterfowl, Juncos, Song sparrows, Chickadees, Robins, Woodpeckers, Corvids, Kinglets, Bald eagle, Cooper hawk, Hummingbirds, Wrens, and more – if we’re lucky.WHERE: Lincoln Park: 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW. Park in the SOUTH Parking Lot (smaller lot closer to the ferry). Look for us at Shelter #3 (down by the water, near the restrooms).
WHEN: 9:30 AM Introduction & Lincoln Park wildlife (time is to take advantage of high tide when water birds are more prolific) .
Bird Walk departs. 9:45 AM – Return to parking lot 11:15-11:30 am.BRING:
*BYOB! – (bring your own Binoculars) Will definitely enhance your experience if you have them or can borrow a pair. We may have an extra. Scope – if anyone has one – please bring it!
*Dry / Warm Clothing Layers (especially on your FEET, head and torso) since it can be quite chilly by the water. Bring gloves. Rain gear for the possible shower or two in the forecast. It WILL be muddy in places.
*Water / snack if you wishNOTES:
*No DOGS please – we love ‘em but wildlife definitely does not
*ROUTE: We will start out along the flat trail by the water for about 30 min and then will walk up the incline into the forest. Most L. Pk trails are about a 5% incline, but the incline into the forest can be steep. You may turn around at the incline and return to parking if you wish. Note: It is also fairly steep from the parking lot down to Shelter #3
*Sometimes they close the RESTROOMS at Lincoln Park. Hoping that’s not the case. But best to prepare a contingency plan should that happen.
*CHILDREN may not enjoy this outing unless they are accustomed to walking slowly and have experience standing quietly for long periods of time.
Seattle Parks is out today with its list of park restrooms winterized this year, including eight that Parks says will remain open in winter for the first time because of Park District funding. Three of those eight are in West Seattle – the Fairmount Park restroom building (shown in our photo above), Riverview Playfield, and Roxhill Park. The full list is here; Parks adds this caveat:
While we strive to keep these restrooms open for the winter, there may be times when we must close them for repair or due to extreme low temperatures. Some restrooms that are normally open year-round are not included in the list … because they are currently closed for capital improvement projects or repairs.
Parks added three West Seattle restrooms to the year-round list a year ago, too.
(WSB photo, August)
As previously reported, Hiawatha Community Center is expected to reopen in early 2026 after a closure that’s lasted more than five years. And now there’s a date: In his latest newsletter, City Councilmember Rob Saka says Seattle Parks has told him the official reopening celebration will be Saturday, February 21. But Hiawatha will likely already be unofficially open by then – Saka also says a “soft opening” is expected in late January, with programming starting soon after that. The main reason for the closure was the stabilization/renovation project that is wrapping up, but the center sat empty for four years – initially closed because of the pandemic – before that work finally began early last year.
Two Seattle Parks notes:
WINTER REGISTRATION STARTS: Signup time has begun for winter classes, events, and programs that require registration. The program brochures and other info can be found here,,
CLOSURES TOMORROW: Staff training tomorrow (Thursday, December 11) will close many Seattle Parks facilities to the public – that includes community and teen-life centers and indoor pools. Details are here.
Rebecca sent the photo and report:
A warning to Schmitz Park -goers: A large tree fell, and is blocking the main trail off the Hinds street entrance. Recommend using another entrance.
Parks’ 24-hour maintenance hotline is 206-684-7250 (Rebecca has reported this). We appreciate getting reports too, so the wider community is alerted.
2:12 PM: Thanks to Stewart L. for the report and photos. The boat that’s been occupying a parking spot at Don Armeni Boat Ramp – the Gooey, recently renamed “SS Minnow” by an onlooker with a ’60s-TV-show memory – has finally been removed. Stewart watched the tow crew arrive and take on the task:
He says, “They picked it up, swung it into position; a large boat trailer came, the boat was put on the trailer, the engine was picked up and put in the boat, and soon they will haul it away!” He says a crew was cleaning up the parking space post-removal, too. It’s been two months since the boat first made news after multiple reports that it appeared to be sinking; one month ago, Seattle Parks told us that once the boat was removed, the city will seek reimbursement via the state’s Derelict Vessel Removal Program.
ADDED 3:14 PM: Another pic from Stewart L. – the actual departure:
Ian sent that photo of crews working at West Seattle Stadium, also noting that construction fencing has gone up. We asked Seattle Parks what’s being built. Answer: ADA improvements – from the project website:
This project will upgrade the West Seattle Stadium to current accessibility standards, including improvement to accessible routes, parking stalls, providing wheelchair seating and a platform lift to the south concrete grandstands, restroom and interior improvements and Site Work. Site Work includes new concrete ramps, plazas, asphalt parking stalls, landscaping and irrigation improvements, and a new detention vault. This project also includes 2 Additives that we will be doing as well. Additive 1 covers Epoxy Flooring over sealed concrete in the restrooms. Additive 2 includes construction of an additional ramp from the parking area to the concrete bleacher structure.
During construction, the contractor will need to close a portion of the track near the Grandstands. Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Contractor hired for the project will work to minimize the impact on the track & field.
The project page says the work could last up to a year. When the project went out to bid earlier this year, it was projected to cost almost $3 million. The contractor is Optimus, which is also leading the Hiawatha Community Center project.
The photos and report were sent by Matthew;
Just wanted to give you a heads up about some more tire dumping in the West Seattle Greenbelt off Highland Park (Way) towards the bottom of the hill. About 100 tires were dumped about 200’ up from the gate. The gate has been unlocked for some time and allowing this commercial level dumping again. Awhile back, there were at least 100 tires dumped by the gate. Seems like the perpetrators are back. And, now, there’s an abandoned van nearby.
That van has been there since at least 10/14/25. Several neighbors and members of the West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails group have sent in Find It Fix It reports.
No action yet, though, so we’ll check with city departments tomorrow. That area also has had several fire reports lately, with another one (described as “very small”) around 9 pm tonight.
From toddlers to seniors, an all-ages contingent of volunteers spent Green Seattle Day – this past Saturday – at Lincoln Park. Forest steward Lisa McGinty sent photos and this report:
So grateful for our volunteer community! On October 25th, 47 volunteers joined the fun and helped give 300 native trees, shrubs, and ground-covering plants their forever homes.
WSHS student band Fleabag played for volunteers as they worked to help restore a forested area in the park.
Lincoln Park was one of 17 sites that hosted the Green Seattle Partnership’s annual event.
This year, GSP is celebrating 20 years of restoring Seattle’s Parks and green spaces.
That work party was of course before the weekend windstorm, but Lisa told us she’s been back to the area since then and it all weathered the storm pretty well. P.S. To find future events that you can help with, go here!
Seattle Parks crews still have a lot of cleanup to do after the weekend windstorm. Our photo above shows Lowman Beach Park‘s biggest trees, which we checked out on Monday after a commenter mentioned those trees had lost limbs in the storm. It appeared – at least when we went by – that the northernmost tree had taken the brunt of that. Afterward we asked Parks for any stats on how many damaged or downed trees they were dealing with; spokesperson Rachel Schulkin told us today, “We have over 50 work orders related to downed trees or branches in parks citywide.” If you see tree trouble or any other Parks problem that you think might not yet have been reported, the department’s maintenance hotline is 206-684-7250.
(Photo sent by Lauren)
Thanks to the readers who’ve sent photos of that canoe, which turned up this morning on the west-facing beach at Lincoln Park
When City Councilmembers start proposing budget amendments next week, District 1’s Rob Saka plans to suggest funding for the all-wheels area, aka skate dot, at Morgan Junction Park. That’s according to both skate-dot advocacy coalition MJAWA and a list of likely budget amendments from Councilmember Saka’s office. To cover the $850,000 that Parks now says the skate dot would cost (backstory here), MJAWA spokesperson Matt Johnston says, the idea now is for Saka to propose $700,000 be written into the city budget, which MJAWA then says would unlock an additional $150,000 in Saka Proposed Amendments 10-24-25Parks matching fund money. They’re lining up supporters to speak at the council’s Tuesday (October 28) 9:30 am meeting as well as the November 6 public hearing, and they’re explaining more about what happens next in this post on the MJAWA website.
SIDE NOTE: Here’s the full list of budget amendments Councilmember Saka is considering, also including the Camp Long restoration project; official proposals are due next week, and then go into formal review with eventual council votes on whether to include them in the budget.
The mascot awaits hundreds of runners of all ages tomorrow (Saturday, October 25) morning at Lincoln Park! The weather won’t stop this year’s West Seattle Monster Dash, 9:30 am in the central upper park, with the starting line near Shelter #1 (as shown in this park map). It’s a fundraiser for the West Seattle Cooperative Preschools and it’s not too late to register – the Monster Dash 5K is at 9:30 am, and the Kids’ Dash is 10:30 am. Lots of fun family activities too. Costumes encouraged!
A reader told us about a new name on the landlocked boat at Don Armeni Boat Ramp, minus photo, so we went by to confirm:
(Apologies to younger readers!)
Earlier this fall, Seattle Parks noted an owl attack in Lincoln Park. We’ve had reader reports of several around the peninsula, Lincoln Park included, over the years. But we hadn’t heard from anyone directly this year until Kevin‘s report arrived a short time ago:
Our 8 year old daughter was scratched on her head by an owl in Lincoln Park during her cross country run practice. Her grandpa exclaimed “what a hoot!” She’s just fine, though, just a little scary. It seems like it’s happened before, and the internet suggests they’re territorial at dusk. We’re going to follow up with her primary care doctor tomorrow to see if there’s anything weird about owls and diseases.
You can learn more about this owl behavior by checking out this Department of Fish and Wildlife fact sheet, choosing “Preventing Conflicts,” and scrolling down to “Dive-Bombing Owls.” As noted there, these incidents are rare.
A reader who didn’t know the backstory of that boat, sitting ashore in a Don Armeni Boat Ramp parking space, sent that photo today, and he was not the first to ask us this week how long the boat will remain there. If you missed the backstory too, the boat drew multiple emergency responses in early September, first off Beach Drive, then at Don Armeni ater it was towed there. A man who identified himself as its owner put it on a trailer – and then was arrested for allegedly stealing the trailer. (We checked court records, and it does not appear charges have been filed. He subsequently said his truck, which he was going to use to tow the trailer and boat, was stolen.) So the boat remains parked, toward the southeast side of Don Armeni. We asked Parks what the plan is for removing it, if there is one; spokesperson Rachel Schulkin replied, “We’re still working on setting a date for the contractor to come pick up the boat. From there we’ll seek reimbursement through the WA state derelict boat program.”
Thanks to Steve Pumphrey for the tip. Those are just a few of the dozens of “no parking” signs lining Harbor and Alki Avenues from Don Armeni Boat Ramp to Anchor/Luna Park (and along the north/west half of Don Armeni, too). The spaces are all reserved for a production company (which shot there last year too), all day Saturday (October 4) and Monday (October 6). As Pumphrey, a nearby resident, points out, that’s going to take a big bite out of parking during a weekend with massive events that will bring extra riders to the Water Taxi (among other users in the area) – Saturday brings the Mariners‘ first game of the American League Division Series and Sounders FC‘s match with Portland. But we looked closely at multiple signs and the restrictions are NOT in effect Sunday, which has another Mariners’ playoff game as well as the Seahawks vs. Tampa Bay, so you should be able to use the parking spots on that day. On Saturday, though, you might be better served using the shuttle buses, riding a bike, or having someone drop you off.
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