MUKILTEO — Cars go by and houses nest on both sides of busy Mukilteo Boulevard, but the wilderness of Japanese Gulch is within arm’s reach.
“It’s really interesting to have an area like this in the middle of an urban area,” said Janet Carroll of Mukilteo. “You drive for two minutes or walk for two minutes, and there you are in a forest.”
Carroll, 65, was one of about 80 volunteers Saturday afternoon who planted almost 600 trees alongside the new trail in the lower portion of the gulch, a mix of wetlands and wooded areas that runs between Everett and Mukilteo
“If you want to get away, you can just walk down this little trail and stand there, and look at the birds,” Carroll said.
With the help of the city, volunteers started building the trail this past spring, Mukilteo City Councilman Kevin Stoltz said.
A lot of work still lies ahead, but lots of people are already using the trail, Carroll said.
She brought her expertise as a former watershed steward for the county to plan Saturday’s event.
“What we are trying to do is create a plant community that’s more natural to that area,” she said.
Volunteers planted shrubs of salmonberry, clustered wild rose and Pacific ninebark. They also planted several varieties of upland plants, such as Douglas firs and indian plums.
Carroll said the work party owes its success partly to the good turnout. “People just kept coming; it was really exciting,” she said.
The trail has been in the making for a while.
Almost two years ago, a survey conducted by the Mukilteo City Council revealed that people wanted to see more trails in the city, Stoltz said. The Japanese Gulch area seemed like a good fit.
“There was great potential for a trail out there,” Stoltz said. The area in the lower part of the gulch already belonged to the city, and a trail would give people access to the waterfront, he said.
The city set aside about $70,000 to pay for permits, design and building materials for the trail. All of the actual work was done by a group of dedicated volunteers, Stoltz said.
“It really helps to build a community in the city. It allows people to be a part of the community,” he said.
The city’s relationship with various citizen groups has improved significantly over the last few years, he added.
Stoltz said he participates in many work parties himself. “I just like to be outside. That’s what drew me to this volunteer opportunity.”
The city has a few more ideas on how to improve other city-owned property, Stoltz said.
Dale Hartman said he’d like to see more trails and waterfront parks.
“It’s always nice to have open space,” he said.
Hartman, 49, was walking his dog Maddie along Mukilteo Boulevard, not far from where he lives.
“Once you get into the gulch area, it feels like you are out in the country,” Hartman said. “It’s a nice getaway.”
Reporter Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452 or kyefimova@heraldnet.com
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