Spring 2000 in Discovery Park

Escape to the trees -
Escape to the beach -
Escape to the views
away from the street.

As in any season there is something new to discover in the park. This spring along with the beautiful green filigree of new leaves emerging from the bare branches of deciduous trees there will be patches of wild flowers hidden at their bases. Views of the spectacular yellow blooms of skunk cabbage can be seen in the area of the Wolf Trail.

The eagles are building their nest, the herons in Kiwanis Ravine should be returning to their nests. The best view of the heron nesting sites is from the pedestrian bridge crossing the railroad or with binoculars from across the canal at Hiram's Restaurant.

The King County Wildlife Program is asking, "What happened to our Herons? This past spring saw widespread abandonment of many of the bigger heron rookeries in Puget Sound." They are looking for people to monitor the herons. The Kiwanis Ravine heron rookery is the largest within the city limits. If you can provide information or would like to monitor the Kiwanis Ravine Great Blue Herons sign up by calling Kate Stenberg (206) 296-7266. There is concern about their return.

As ever the Friends of Discovery Park work hard to try and insure that all your discoveries in the park are good ones. We cannot quote, to often, the beautiful and farsighted Discovery Park Master Plan. It guides our, as it should the city's, decisions concerning the park. We often find ourselves in a position of reminding the city to follow the Master Plan. Other times we must remind those seeking some of this precious space for incompatible uses that their proposed use does not fit into the Plan.

The UIATF have asked and received another delay, this time for six months, on their appeal to Superior Court. They are investigating another site with the mayor. At this time it appears they are looking at a waterfront site. The Coalition to Save Discovery Park continues to monitor this situation. If another site is given to the UIATF, can they still build in Discovery Park? What can they build? These may be important questions to ask before any commitments are made.

On June 24^th and 25^th, 2000, the Army Reserve will be dedicating their new building and commemorating the Korean War, the activation of the 70^th Infantry Division in WW II and the birthday of the army. They will be using the north parking lot for overflow parking, so if you plan to visit the park that weekend you might want to head for the south parking lot.

The Army Reserve has made it possible to remove the electrical substation on 36^th West, which is adjacent to Kiwanis Ravine, a wildlife reserve. The former substation land is now part of the ravine and provides a wildlife corridor from the ravine to Discovery Park. Bob Kildall worked successfully with the Army Reserve to reduce the size of their new building. Included in the plans is a public picnic area. All in all, the Army Reserve deserves our congratulations on their new building and we thank them for being a good neighbor.

With the new building going into use, the "500 area" becomes an opportunity for the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department to add open space and wildlife habitat to our park. The Friends of Discovery Park supports the transfer of this area to the City. This will add an important piece of parkland in the center of Discovery Park.

Take time to enjoy the trails and the views, take a few deep breaths. Rejuvenate in our precious urban sanctuary.

See you on the trails.

Valerie Cholvin

Please note the Friends' new mailing address and change your records: Friends of Discovery Park, P.O. Box 99662 Seattle WA 98199-0662.

EDITOR'S CORNER: DO WE NEED A MASTER PLAN?

The answer is YES!

Too many parks from Central Park in New York Park Golden Gate Park in San Francisco have been cluttered with buildings and activities because they did not have support for the master plans for these parks.

Superintendent of Parks Hans Thompson recognized this problem when he asked for the submission of designs for Discovery Park from noted landscape architects.

Dan Urban Kiley, of Charlotte Vermont, assisted by Seattle architect John Morse was chosen to produce the 1974 Master Plan for Discovery Park. Kiley based his plan on Frederick Law Olmsted's "Greensward" plan for Central Park.

Kiley later was disenchanted with the City when it did not ask his advice on the 1986 changes. He said it was no longer his plan. Both Kiley and Morse remain strongly in support of the "Park Guiding Principles" found in the plan.

In the "Park Guiding Principles" section, Kiley wrote, "It is difficult, if not impossible, to create a long-range plan, the details of which will be valid for all time. Ideas, which appear, on paper to be promising turn out in practice to be unexciting or impractical or even impossible. The details of our plan will undoubtedly require revision from time to time in order that the overall objectives may continued to be realized. We have great confidence, however, that the following guiding principles are valid today and that they will retain their validity for many years to come, We would hope that those in whose hands this park is entrusted will constantly refer to these principles for guidance in the development of Ft. Lawton (Discovery) Park."

Kiley identified the "Primary Function-Central Purpose: "The primary role of this park in the life of the city is dictated by its incomparable site. That role should be to provide an open space of quite and tranquility for the citizens of this city-a sanctuary where they might escape the turmoil of the city and enjoy the rejuvenation which quiet and solitude and an intimate contact with nature can bring. It should be accepted that this park cannot satisfy all the recreational needs of all of the citizens of Seattle. It can only complement the other elements in the park system. This park should not be asked to see too many functions. It will best serve this city if it is permitted to serve one primary function and to serve that function well."

Twenty-years later, Holly Miller, Superintendent of Parks, wrote: "From time to time we may honestly debate and offer heartfelt opinions about what is best for the future of Discovery Park, but we should always refer back to the 1972 Plan as a statement of fundamental goals."

"While we may occasionally need to modify physical plans for Discovery Park we should never stray from the original intent."

Because of limited space we must continue this discussion in the summer edition of the EXPLORER. We will cover other sections of the "Park Guiding Principles" such as Future Structures and Activities, Off-site Approaches, Private Vehicles, Memorials, the South Beach, Structures, Timing of Development and Park Acquisition.

Robert Kildall

A 26-year old "Inventory and Natural History Report on Discovery Park" by University of Washington environmentalists offered this recommendation:

"The most critical threat to the Park is, and will remain, the impetious to develop greater or lesser portions to specific ends. Freedom from development must be jealously guarded. The gnawing away of thicket and wood, which seems to be performing no specific function, can in the end reduce these areas below critical size required for wild population of plants and animals…We can predict that as the size and diversity of undeveloped land increases, so will the richness of wildlife."

POTPOURRI

• Our welcome goes out to Lila Alexis Luthy who arrived on December 20th much to the happiness of Discovery Park naturalist Julie Tubbs Luthy and her husband Matt. Julie is on maternity leave and plans to return to the Park sometime in May. Congratulations from the Friends on the newaddition to their family.
• A display at the Ladybird Johnson National Wildflower research center in Austin, Texas answers the question, "Why native plants?"

  "Aside from providing ecological stability and a sense of regional identity, native plants offer significant savings in maintenance, time and money. They don't require fertilizer. They use less water than non-native species."

  "They are adapted to the insect pests of their native area and they require little, if any mowing, edging and pruning. Non-native species cost 200% more for care than native species. They upset the balance."

• An Audubon Magazine (Mar.-Apr. 2000) article, "The Race to Save Open Space," the loss of open space in the U.S. to building developments.

  In response to an national effort to increase and protect wildness and habitat, Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) said, "Baby boomers like me are interested in being able to see songbirds, get to a creekside, and enjoy the quiet of the outdoors, without having to drive two hours. A lot of my colleagues…are staring to think the same way. Maybe the land won't be of pristine quality, but it can be enough to experience the smells and sights and sounds of the natural world."

  The article notes that Washington State, the smallest of the 11 Western States, ranks second to California in the West in acreage lost to development from 1992 to 1997. This five-year loss of open space is 143% greater than our state's loss in the decade from 1982-1992. (California is over 52% larger than Washington State. Considering California's size, Washington has the worst record in the Far West.)

• Now it is joyous spring. Perhaps it is the happiest of all seasons. Robert Browning said it best:

  "The year's at the spring / And day's at the morn; Morning's at seven; The hill-side's dew-pearled; The lark's on the wing; The snail's on the thorn: God's in his heaven-All's right with the world!"

  And Rachel Carson spoke of spring in a 1962 book that changed how we view our environment. To open Chapter 8 "And no birds sing," she wrote:

  "Over increasingly large areas of the United States, spring now comes unheralded by the return of birds, and the early mornings are strangely silent where once they were filled with the beauty of bird song."

Editor's Note:

Our elected officials and other public officials must realize how important the beauty, quiet and solitude of Discovery Park is in preserving sanity and giving renewal to the lives of citizens in metropolitan Seattle.

Our citizens created this great park. They provided a plan for its future and placed the park's stewardship into city government. It is crucial our leaders appreciate and protect the precious open space and natural values of this park. Too many American parks were ruined when elected leaders chose not to defend the people's property they held in trust. Everyone can understand and appreciate the beauty of Nature. All of us need the rejuvenation of the spirit Nature provides by releasing us from the stress of city life.

"After years in the tundra, wonderful to walk in the trees."

-Dutch Harbor AK

"I found my spot in the sun."

-Copenhagen, Denmark

"Fantastic Park. Beautiful day."

-Cork Ireland

"Brisk walk out to the lighthouse; a pileated woodpecker at the beach trail. Thanks!"

-Seattle WA

"An awesome place."

-Durango CO

"Refreshing and Beautiful."

-Pleasant Hill CA

"Outstanding park and staff."

-Orlando FL

"Absolutely beautiful park."

-Victoria B.C.

"Good Work. Great place. Very Helpful Staff."

-Montreal Quebec

"Wonderful & splendid & jolly good."

-London England

"Breathtaking views, mountains, forest and wildlife!"

-Naples FL

"Beach was gorgeous."

-Spokane WA

"Thank you for the air!"

-Chicago IL

"Everybody needs beauty as well
as bread, places to play in and
pray in, where Nature may heal
and cheer and give strength to
body and soul alike."

John Muir
(1838-1914)

DISCOVERY PARK NATURE PROGRAMS FOR YEAR 2000

Children, Adults and Families can find an array of outdoor nature programs this spring and summer at Discovery Park. If you fancy bird tours, nature walks for tots, or to discover the secrets of the tidepools of the south beach, call the Park (206) 386-4236 for information.

A membership in the Friends of Discovery Park includes the quarterly issues of the Discovery Park program guide plus issues of the EXPLORER newsletter. Sign-up today.