City, residents discuss details of Grace Cole Nature Park

LAKE FOREST PARK— Build it and they will come.

That is the plan city officials have for the expansion of the Grace Cole Nature Park, located at the intersection of NE 30th Street and NE 166th Street. The park – named after the late state Rep. Grace Cole – is expected to be open for public use by fall 2004.

A public hearing on Jan. 8 gave city officials an opportunity to discuss the proposed master plan and enabled citizens to share their thoughts.

Tema Nesoff, parks administrator and head of the task force that has been working on developing the site for more than a year, said the area is wetland that is the head waters of Brookside Creek. She said the area has been used for years as a dumping ground by the school district, neighbors and community.

“It is wonderful to have the opportunity to restore this area,” Nesoff said.

Nesoff said Brookside Creek is a tributary that flows into McAleer Creek, which is a salmon bearing creek. She said one of the main goals in expanding the park is to preserve and protect the land, in addition to creating a welcoming place where people can enjoy nature.

She said that after the master plan is finalized, a State Environmental Policy Act review process will be underway February to March. The council will then have the opportunity to adopt the master plan in April, after which a conditional use permit process and public hearing will be scheduled. Tema said if all goes as planned, the park will be open by fall 2004. It will not be fully completed by that time, but is scheduled to be completed in phases.

Rick Purn, a member of the task force and a teacher at Lake Forest Park Elementary School, said the park will provide opportunities for student involvement, through projects such as the creation of a database to monitor salmon in the stream.

“It is very important for students to become aware of the resources in the community and identify what is there,” Purn said.

Purn said that with trees, wetlands and water, students will have several opportunities to become involved.

Steve Worthy, with Worthy &Associates, the firm selected to complete and finalize the master plan, said the park will offer residents 1/2 mile of wheelchair-accessible trails, parking for up to five cars and possibly even bus parking. The park will span more than 15 acres, he said, which is significant because it binds together continuous habitat. The addition of 3.2 acres offers a substantial amount of habitat, he said, as well as head waters, Brookside Creek and ponds.

“It is a very precious piece of property,” Worthy said.

Worthy said citizens have been working on restoring part of the site already, but one of the challenges is that several existing trails are in need of reconstruction. There is a very fine sand that surrounds many of the trails, which is very unstable when wet, dry or exposed to wind. Worthy said fencing will be constructed around the sand and signs will be posted to prevent the public from walking through it. He also said boardwalks will be built in some areas, about 18 to 24 inches above the land, to better protect areas of wetland.

The only concerns presented by members of the community regarded trespassing on private property.

Julio Gonzalez, a citizen who attended the public hearing, said he was happy to see the new plans for the park, but is concerned about people trespassing on his property. People often walk up a trail and cut though his yard, he said.

“I would like to see that trail eliminated,” Gonzalez said. “It ends in the back of my property.”

Christine Southwick, another resident, said she shares similar concerns. Her home is located on the top of a hill and people often walk up the hill and then walk around in her yard instead of going back down the hill. She understands people are enjoying wildlife, but she is afraid they will scare birds that nest on her property. She suggested that signs be posted to advise people to stay on the trails.

Worthy addressed the concerns of the residents and said there are signs that can be used to help guide park users to stay within the boundaries of the park.

The City Council first authorized the expansion of the park at the March 13 meeting.

The additional property, with a stream that runs through it and joins the existing Grace Cole Nature Park, was purchased for $78,000. The King County Conservation Fund provided $50,000 and the remaining $28,000 came from the budget.