On Labor Day, my husband Neal and I took a leisurely walk through Discovery Park. It was a beautiful day. Mt. Rainier came in view from north of the sand dunes. There were kite flyers, picnickers and walkers -some alone, others in small groups and whole families. A few were out for a slow stroll. Others were intent on getting their daily exercise. All were taking advantage of the myriad of paths, views, flora and fauna of Discovery Park. Readers occupied the benches. One man was entering data on his lap computer. If you have to work on such a beautiful day -why not in such a beautiful setting?
A pileated woodpecker flew to a tree near the bluff path. The late afternoon sun set his brilliant red crest ablaze. Seeing a rare pileated woodpecker was a new experience for several hikers.
The beauty made me think how prophetic the words are in the park master plan: "In the years to come there will be almost irresistible pressure to carve out areas of the park in order to provide sites for various civic structures or spaces for special activities."
Everyone wants a piece of the park. With all that open land, they reason, surely there is room for soccer fields, off-leash areas, a golf course, an even bigger sewer plant, major events unrelated to an open space park and a seven story building two and one-half times as large as a football field. They would like to fence off areas for special uses and destroy habitat areas. The Park plan says: "This park should not be asked to serve too many function. It will be serve this city if it is permitted to serve one primary function and serve that function well." The Friends of Discovery Park constantly defend the purposes and philosophy of the Park's Master Plan.
I would like to tell you about my background. My education is in biology, aquatic plants and water resources. I have been a lab. Tech., a university academic advisor and a residential real estate salesperson. My interest in the environment and my knowledge of real estate helped me get involved with the Friends.
I helped the Friends save the Kiwanis Ravine by volunteering to place values on the vacant lots in the ravine. Once involved, one thing led to another and all of a sudden I am co-president.
My other interests include the Madrones on the boulevard. I head the "Save Magnolia Madrones" effort and helped establish a vegetation plan for the boulevard.
The United Indians of All Tribes Foundation's (UIATF) proposal to build a development of expansive size has required extensive time and effort. We have hired an attorney to take us through all the requirements and documents. He will help us "scale" down the size and impacts or move it to a more appropriate site.
It you have time to volunteer to help any of these projects, please call Co-President Patricia Stambor (206-285-5349) or me at (206-283-8643.
Valerie Cholvin
Co-President FODP
The Annual Meeting of the Friends of Discovery Park was scheduled for Wednesday October 14, 1998, at 7PM in the Discovery Park Visitor Center.
The election of officers for the Friends takes place at the annual meeting. A full program of entertainment was prepared by Gayle Podrabsky, annual meeting chairperson.
The EXPLORER will carry a story on the event in the Winter edition.
