On Sept. 23, the city of Shoreline, in partnership with the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation, began the master planning process for the future of the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, which is right here on 15th Avenue Northwest in Shoreline. The funds to purchase the garden were part of the Shoreline Parks bond issue that voters passed in 2006. The purpose of the master plan is to outline and conceptualize capital improvements as well as long-term management.
You could say that as voters, we approved buying the garden, and now it’s time to figure out what we want to do with it.
As president of the 14-member garden foundation board, which is contracted with the city to operate the garden, I encourage everyone in Shoreline to get to know your botanic garden. Perhaps more important right now, I ask you to help us create the master plan and shape this unique resource so it can be available for generations to come. If you cannot attend meetings, you can e-mail or call the Parks Department or comment through the city Web site.
While the number of local (and regional) people who have visited the garden since its acquisition 18 months ago continues to grow, many Shoreline residents are still unaware of this unique garden and its potential as a major resource for education, sustainability projects, research and sales of native and exotic plants — to say nothing about the beauty of the site nor the pleasure of a leisurely visit.
The garden, which has been the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Kruckeberg for the past 50 years, comes with a multitude of challenges, which you might expect when converting a private home into a public garden. These include access issues, especially for people with physical disabilities, parking limitations, a lack of restroom facilities, limited opportunities for propagation of native and exotic species, and lack of office and workspaces.
Yet, very few cities in Washington can boast of owning a publicly accessible botanic garden and even fewer have the breadth and depth of species available to enjoy as on this four-plus-acre site right here in Richmond Beach.
Updates on future master planning meetings are available on the city’s Web site or by link from our Web site (www.kruckeberg.org). This is your botanic garden. Please join us and help shape its future.
Bill S. Schnall, M.D.
President, Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation
Shoreline
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