Group dedicates new South Woods park
Published 7:07 am Tuesday, March 4, 2008
The “No Trespassing” signs that once surrounded South Woods in Shoreline were presented to members of the South Woods Preservation Group on Sept. 24 at a dedication ceremony on the park property.
“I’ve been involved in eight different bond issues in my career and never have I had co-chairs that worked so well, so hard and a group of citizens who were able on a moment’s notice to make things happen,” said parks director Dick Deal.
The 15.6-acre property is the first bond issue property the city has purchased. Three acres of the once Navy-owned site were purchased in December 2005. The remaining acreage was purchased from the Shoreline School District and Shoreline Water District earlier this year following the passage of a parks bond in May 2006.
“I’m fascinated to see this happen and I really appreciate the voters who bit off a big chunk to pay for this and other things,” Dennis Lee, a member of SWPG, said. He told those attending the ceremony under the trees that the area looked like a brown pasture in the 1950s and a chain link fence that said ‘Military’ kept him and his friends out.
Another SWPG member who shared some history of the property was Terry Clayton. A retired Shoreline school teacher, Clayton formed a group called Student Action for the Environment (SAVE) that helped save the property from development in 1997.
“The SWPG was and remains a small group of dedicated citizens who through grassroot efforts was successful in preventing this unique and precious bit of diverse mature second growth forest from being lost to urban sprawl,” he said.
Beside hosting monthly Ivy Out work parties, the group’s vision is not complete with the city’s purchase of South Woods. The group hopes to daylight and improve the function of Hamlin Creek, improve access to South Woods, plant more native vegetation, and remain a committed advocate for South Woods among other things.
“Once the bond passed the focus of the group has been on education aspects,” SWPG member Bettelinn Brown said. She acts as the group historian, keeping articles, names, maps and addresses handy in several notebooks.
Deal said he would like to include money in next year’s Capital Improvement Plan planning for a master site plan for the South Woods property in 2009 or 2010.
An advisory committee is researching trail corridor improvements throughout Shoreline parks. Ideas for soft trail improvements through South Wood, Innis Arden Reserve M, Shoreview Park, Boeing Creek Park and Hamlin Park will be featured at an open house on from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Shoreline Spartan Recreation Center.
“Our work is not done as we continue to work with the state with the vision of acquiring some of the Fircrest site in the future to link together Hamlin Park and South Woods, creating over 100 acres of trails, passive and active recreation facilities for citizens to enjoy,” Mayor Bob Ransom said.
