Seattle Parks Foundation
Connections fall 2013
Bringing Inspiration and Action to the Lower Duwamish After immigrating to the U.S., Ruben Chi Bertoni fell in love with the great parks in Seattle. An advocate for environmental justice, he argues that neighborhoods in the Lower Duwamish should have the same kinds of recreational opportunities that are available in the rest of the city. Can you talk about growing up in Seattle? I spent my childhood in Bolivia. In 2001, my father took the family to the U.S. for business opportunities, but my parents divorced after we moved here. I went to high school in West Seattle, where my father lives, but over the last couple years have been spending more time in South Park with my mom. When I was in high school, my mom encouraged me to participate in the Environmental Science Academy. We would go out to parks, take water samples, and learn about nature. To be honest, I never really liked school until then. These field trips inspired me to major in environmental studies at the University of Washington. How did you get involved with the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/Technical Advisory Group (DRCC/ TAG), and what do you do with them?
Ruben Chi Bertoni and SPF staffer Kelly Huang on a boat tour with the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition.
My mother, Analia, inspired me to do community work. She started working with Latino community groups when my brother and I were in school. She helped organize the first college fair for the Latino community outreach organization Campaùa Quetzal. Later, she worked for the South Park Community Center, which currently hosts lots of events in partnership with the DRCC/TAG. When I was doing a paper on the Duwamish River cleanup project for a class at UW, my mother introduced me to Paulina Lopez, one of DRCC’s community outreach coordinators. I started assisting with community outreach, making phone calls to Latino immigrants, and organizing events such as the annual Duwamish River Festival. My immigrant background and language skills helped me build connection with residents, and through this job I really found my niche working for the environment and the community.
Duwamish Clean-up (from front page) I have also begun working with the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS) on the Powerful Neighborhoods Program. I will be helping Seattle City Light to install light bulbs in low-income households in South Park. Through your work, what have you learned about the needs of South Park residents? There is definitely a need for better park infrastructure. At one of EPA’s Duwamish River Superfund Site public meetings, a mother asked, “Why do I have to take my kids to North Seattle or Bellevue for good and safe parks, when we have a river in our neighborhood?” People need access to the river, but it hasn’t been a safe option for South Park residents. As agencies and community residents focus on the river cleanup, there is a lack of conversation about and planning for parks and green spaces. In a mixed industrial and residential neighborhood, good parks are really important. Growing up, I was lucky to have Lincoln Park nearby. I wish kids in South Park could have the same opportunities to connect with nature. Safe access to the shoreline is important to residents of the Lower Duwamish.
SPF is working with the South Park Area Redevelopment Committee and a broad array of community organizations and residents on the South Park Green Space Vision Plan, which will identify priorities for improved parklands, open spaces, and recreational facilities in South Park. For more information, contact Becca Aue at 332-9900 x12 or becca@seattleparksfoundation.org.
Partner Spotlight: Michael Shiosaki SPF relies on Michael, the Director of Planning and Development at Seattle Parks and Recreation, for guidance, encouragement, and wise oversight. “I love my job because I get to have a hand in creating public parks and open spaces that everyone can use and enjoy forever. I feel a great responsibility to continue to expand and improve Seattle’s park system—a system that has come together through the hard work and passion of so many people over so many years. “Our parks bring great balance to my life. As much as I love living close to the heart of the city, I need my quiet time—running along Interlaken Boulevard and through the Arboretum, and walking our dog, Rory (on leash, of course), at the GAR Cemetery and Volunteer Park.”
Perspecti ve
The Parks Legacy Plan . . . and Beyond By Brice Maryman The Parks Legacy Plan was commissioned by the city council and Mayor Mike McGinn in the spring of 2012 to ensure that Seattle’s parks and recreational facilities remain accessible, full of opportunities, and financially and environmentally sustainable. The plan, currently in draft form, includes a detailed assessment of parks operations, recreation programs, and maintenance costs and also reflects public input. It is the guiding document for a Citizens’ Advisory Committee that is researching and recommending funding opportunities for Seattle Parks and Recreation through a proposed 2014 ballot measure. Brice Maryman is a member of the advisory committee as well as Seattle’s Board of Park Commissioners. He is a landscape architect with SvR Design Company and an ex-officio member of the Seattle Parks Foundation board of directors. Seattle is pioneering innovative ways to reinvigorate and reinvent parks and open spaces. Some of our parks, like Bell Street Park and Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands, have been made possible by the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy. Other initiatives, such as the Central Waterfront, the neighborhood greenways movement, and the Lake to Bay Loop, are next frontiers in our city’s pursuit of an exceptional, interconnected network of open spaces. These efforts expand on investments in Seattle parks over several decades and return us, in important ways, to some of the principles that John Charles Olmsted compelled us to consider over a century ago. What follows are three propositions for the future of Seattle’s parks and open space system that are inspired by current discussions. This is by no means comprehensive— rather, it is an opening statement about how our system could be positioned to meet the needs of future generations. 1. Seattle deserves an interconnected, integrated system of parks and open spaces. In its draft form, the Parks Legacy Plan is an exceptional, data-driven management document. It is not, however, a visionary blueprint for our next generation’s parks and open space network— one that would interweave existing parks, bicycle and pedestrian paths, stormwater concerns, and climate resiliency. In fact, Seattle hasn’t had such a blueprint since the Olmsted Brothers’ visit to our city in 1903. If we are to consider all the public assets that could be managed as a system of open spaces, we must take into account the interdepartmental partnerships, citywide plans, and evolving environmental and regulatory concerns that will require coordination between Seattle Parks and Recreation and other entities, both within the city and beywond. Although no model is perfect, Vancouver, B.C., offers two promising approaches. First, Vancouver recently met a 100-year-old goal of completing a public walking and biking path around the downtown peninsula. Second, it has placed the management of its entire urban forest—a critical open space asset—under the auspices of a single agency, the independently elected Parks Board. The board not only maintains living resources in parks but also cares for street trees, provides
plants and horticultural expertise to other departments, and facilitates reclamation of various street rights-of-way for new parks. 2. Parks and Recreation should lead the discussion about an open space network. Current land use discussions give insufficient weight to the role of parks and open spaces as city-making features, and without a comprehensive blueprint the city will have difficulty advancing a substantive vision for interconnected open spaces. I believe that Seattle Parks and Recreation is uniquely qualified to lead this discussion. There is simply no other agency that better understands open space planning and development. This would require a more expansive and assertive role for the department as a critical agent in shaping our city. Carved out of an abandoned parking lot, the Thornton Creek Water Quality Channel in North Seattle—a multiagency public space project— includes a water treatment facility and a 2.7-acre urban refuge for the community. Image courtesy SvR.
In much the same way that the city’s neighborhood planning efforts established a vision and led to multi-agency implementation, a new open space vision will need cross-jurisdictional buy-in. A process I worked on—Open Space Seattle 2100—and Seattle Parks Foundation’s Bands of Green report provide good frameworks for this vision, but ultimately these efforts must be articulated and implemented by the city itself.
This work is something we can embark on now. The Board of Park Commissioners has reached out to the Planning Commission and is hoping to have a robust, standalone parks and open space element included in the city’s 2015 rewrite of the Comprehensive Plan. 3. We must adopt sound fiscal policies. The recession forced several rounds of cutbacks at Seattle Parks and Recreation, resulting in demonstrable impact on the way park services were delivered. It is a testament to the creativity and flexibility of the parks staff that so many essential public services and programs were preserved. As we emerge from the downturn, we should reflect on the lessons learned and establish a strong policy framework that will keep our fiscal house in order in the years to come. Our priorities might include: ■■ Diversifying revenues. General fund revenues sustain much of our park system, with
user fees, capital project reimbursements, and grants providing additional revenue. As SPF’s Sustaining Seattle’s Parks report notes, a number of potential revenue sources remain untapped, including utility ratepayer fees, development impact fees, and the establishment of a Metropolitan Park District. While none of these options is a silver bullet, continuing to rely so heavily on general fund revenues will only lead to more stress on the system. ■■ Stabilizing revenues for critical programs. When possible, existing programs
should be shifted from reliance on general fund revenues to more stable, dedicated revenue streams. The Green Seattle Partnership (GSP), currently funded through real estate excise taxes, is the clearest example of this. Advocates for the program have petitioned the mayor and the city council to use the city’s stormwater ratepayer fees as the funding source, in recognition of the valuable stormwater management services that our urban forests provide. Placing GSP on a more stable financial footing would have the benefit of freeing up general fund dollars for other Parks and Recreation needs, such as enhanced maintenance or expanded community center hours. ■■ Implementing transparent capital asset budgeting. Certain park assets—such as
ball fields, playgrounds, irrigation systems, docks, and roofs—have known replacement cycles. A transparent capital asset budgeting strategy will help sustain desired levels of service and provide decision-making tools and real-time feedback when the parks department falls behind on its obligations, thus allowing elected officials to take corrective action. When Seattle’s founding families recruited the Olmsted firm to establish a strong vision for a thriving city on the Sound, they didn’t ask for a building plan, a land use plan, or a highway plan. They sought a comprehensive parks and open space plan. Now is the time to reclaim their legacy: by updating and building on the Olmsted open space plan, empowering our entire community to help implement it, and establishing sound fiscal policies to sustain it for generations to come.
Community Partnerships
Yesler Swamp Trail Seattle Parks Foundation’s newest Community Partner is Friends of Yesler Swamp, a group of volunteers dedicated to developing public access to and through urban wetlands on the north shore of Union Bay on Lake Washington.
Be Active Together Initiative Seattle Parks Foundation is partnering with Neighborhood House to support the organization’s Be Active Together (BAT) Initiative. The initiative, which works to address health disparities among city residents, includes pilot efforts to increase access to Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities and programs for low-income, immigrant, and refugee residents. BAT aims to inform residents about parks programs, revamp some programs to better meet cultural or language needs of potential participants, and make programs more affordable for low-income users. For example, BAT has worked with the city’s swimming pools to accommodating the cultural norms of Muslim women by offering gender-specific swim times. Such changes at several pools have proven popular among Muslim and non-Muslim women alike. The long-term goal is identify approaches that Seattle Parks and Recreation can adopt on a long-term basis, for the benefit of all Seattle residents.
Owned by the University of Washington and located east of the campus, the 6-acre property was once home to a sawmill and lumber business operated by Henry Yesler, a two-time Seattle mayor and frontier entrepreneur. It is adjacent to the Union Bay Natural Area and is one of Seattle’s last remaining true swamps—that is, a wetland forest. Yesler Swamp is an environmental treasure in the heart of the city. Within a few yards of major streets and busy neighborhoods, it preserves rich wonders of wildlife—a beaver dam, eagles and herons, and 100 species of birds. Friends of Yesler Swamp was formed to preserve and protect the swamp by removing invasive plants, planting native species, and constructing a trail, including several hundred feet of boardwalk to make the area accessible to the public. Boardwalk construction begins this year.
Bitter Lake Reservoir Park Fitness Zone Bitter Lake Reservoir Park, located among high-density housing in Northwest Seattle, was upgraded last year with a new children’s play area, a P-Patch, and a walkway around the reservoir. The community had also hoped for new outdoor fitness equipment, but budget constraints kept that element out of the project. Now, thanks to a successful funding partnership between Seattle Parks and Recreation, MOMentum, the Trust for Public Land, and Seattle Parks Foundation, a “fitness zone” consisting of eight new pieces of high-quality adult exercise equipment will be installed in November at the playground and along the walkway. Increasingly common in parks across the country, fitness zones are easy to install and help parks contribute to the health of the community. They are especially needed in places like King County, where obesity is the second-leading cause of preventable death. Research shows that these free and easy-to-use pieces of equipment provide particular benefit to residents of lowerincome neighborhoods who lack access to private gym facilities.
Olympic Hills Greenway Park To address a shortage of parks and sidewalks in their neighborhood, Lake City residents are working to create new pocket parks, community gardens, and greenways—designated safe streets for bikers and walkers of all ages and abilities. The first planned greenway, the Olympic Hills Greenway, will run along 27th Ave NE and will provide an important route to the local elementary school as well as community services and businesses. To support the community’s vision, SPF is working with Lake City Greenways and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to create a new pocket park along the greenway. Olympic Hills Greenway Park will be located at the SDOTowned street-end right-of-way between 27th Ave NE and 28th Ave NE at NE 133rd. Currently used as a walking passageway and a welcome patch of green in the neighborhood, the site is overgrown with invasive species and needs better pedestrian access to connect adjacent streets to the planned greenway. Plans for the site include removing and suppressing regrowth of non-native vegetation, improving the walking path with natural materials, restoring the wetland and stream, and installing sitting rocks for the community to enjoy. The site will be an SDOT pilot project in its effort to turn unused and underused rights-of-way into publicly accessible green spaces, parks, and parklets.
Melrose Promenade Central Seattle Greenways and the Capitol Hill community have completed a design concept plan for transforming the Melrose Avenue corridor on the western edge of Capitol Hill from an underutilized freeway frontage road into a greener, more pedestrian- and bike-friendly corridor with multiple gathering spaces and viewpoints. Berger Partnership was hired to develop the plan following a robust community engagement process. The vibrant and visually stunning promenade will invite Seattleites to enjoy some of our city’s best views of Lake Union and beyond to the Space Needle and Olympic Mountains.
Love Parks Day 2013 With a yoga class to warm everyone up, a delicious lunch to keep them going, and an REI raffle to reward lucky volunteers, Love Parks Day 2013 attracted 267 volunteers on July 26 for a day of habitat restoration at Lincoln Park. Together they provided 811 hours of service, removed 36,767 square feet of invasive plants, and restored 76,188 square feet of parkland. Thanks to everyone who participated and to REI, Seneca Group, Wells Fargo, Safeco, NBBJ, Pacific Continental Bank, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and EarthCorps, whose sponsorship of this event showed that a little love can go a long way.
LOVE PARKS DAY
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
SEATTLE PARKS FOUNDATION
The Financial Story Fiscal year 2013 is the 13th consecutive year of positive operating results for Seattle Parks Foundation. During the year we disbursed $1.09 million to park projects and programs around the city. Donors also contributed almost $970,000 for capital campaigns to restore the Volunteer Park Conservatory and create the Rainier Beach Urban Farm.Twenty three Community Partners—such as Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and Volunteer Park Trust— encouraged donors to contribute more than $450,000 to support projects around the city. Finally, we established the Stim Bullitt Park Excellence Fund with a very generous bequest from this beloved philanthropist. In FY2013, the SPF Board designated $335,000 from this fund to five parks projects around the city: 12th Avenue Square Park, McGilvra Place Park; the Lake to Bay Loop; a South Park public space plan; and Rainier Beach Urban Farm. A complete set of audited financial statements is available for your review on our website. Revenue
July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013
Contributed Bequest Individual Corporate and Foundation Government In-Kind
3,704,415 1,733,801 116,268 64,391 11,881
Total Contributed
5,630,756
Earned Fees for Service Interest, Diviudends, Gains Total Earned
146,163 (23,663) 122,500
Total Revenue
5,753,256
Expenses
Projects and Programs Fundraising Management
1,095,346 212,805 127,454
Total Expenses
1,417,604
Fund Summary as of June 30, 2013
Stim Bullitt Park Excellence Fund Other Program and Project Reserves Operating Funds
5,165,000 1,739,690 262,140
%
76.3% 14.8% 8.9%
What will legacy be? You can show your love for Seattle’s great public spaces in a number of ways:
Donate. Make a one-time gift, a monthly gift, or a gift in honor or in memory of someone you love by sending a check or making a gift online. Whether you give $50 or $5,000, your support will help make our city a better place.
Attend an event. Visit our Events and Outings web page.
Volunteer. Visit the calendar on our website to learn about volunteer opportunities sponsored by our community partners all over the city.
Bequests to Seattle Parks Foundation, both large and small, play an important role is helping to shape our city. A bequest costs the giver nothing now and provides the enormous satisfaction of having impact far into the future. Naming Seattle Parks Foundation in your will is simple and straightforward. To learn more, contact Betsey Curran at (206) 332-9900 x15 or betsey@seattleparksfoundation.org. We honor our Stim Bullitt Legacy Circle members whose estate plans include gifts to Seattle Parks Foundation: Sally Bagshaw Kathy and Keith Biever Marjorie Boetter Lynn Bursten Karen Daubert Barbara Feasey Brian Giddens and Steve Rovig Roy Hamrick Pamela McCabe Rick and Debbie Zajicek
Visit seattleparksfoundation.org to learn more. Thanks!
Laird Norton Company Sponsors Fall Gratitude Event Cheers to the Laird Norton Company for sponsoring an evening of gratitude at the new Bullitt Center for nearly 100 major donors who have generously supported Seattle’s public spaces over the past year. Featuring locally grown edibles (some from the Rainier Beach Urban Farm), music, and great company, guests enjoyed a lovely harvest celebration. We salute Laird Norton for their generosity and continued commitment to Seattle’s great parklands.
Thank you! $50,000+
Anonymous Anonymous ▲▲ Mrs. Phil Duryee John Goodfellow and Barbara Peterson ▲ Nancy Nordhoff Trudy and Harold Stack Wyncote Foundation NW ▲ Clise Properties, Inc. $25,000+
Beatrice and T. William Booth ▲▲ Ellen Ferguson ▲▲ Bill Horder ▲ Jay and Mary Jayne Jones ▲ Jerry Tone and Martha Wyckoff ▲▲ Charlie and Barbara Wright Committee of 33 Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation ▲ Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation ▲▲ REI ▲ The Bullitt Foundation ▲ $10,000+
Bruce and Ann Blume ▲▲ Christine Cave Jodi Green and Mike Halperin ▲ Denis Hayes and Gail Boyer Laura Lundgren John and Laurel Nesholm ▲▲ Douglass and Katherine Raff ▲▲ Maryanne Tagney Jones and David Jones ▲ Doug and Maggie Walker ▲▲ Juniper Foundation ▲ Microsoft Matching Gifts Ordinary People Foundation Raynier Institute and Foundation $5,000+
Chap and Eve Alvord ▲▲ Betty Bottler ▲▲ Kay Bullitt Tom Byers and Carol Lewis ▲▲ Steve and Judy Clifford ▲▲ William and Amy Clise Deborah Clise-Kerr Jody Foster and John Ryan ▲ William E. Franklin Brian Giddens and Steve Rovig ▲ Heather and Jim Hughes ▲▲
Gretchen S. Hull ▲▲ Larry and Lani Johnson ▲ William Ketcham ▲ Carol Lewis and Tom Byers Carolee and Tom Mathers ▲ Pamela and Bob McCabe ▲ Kyle and Katie McCoy Franny and Casey Mead Sheldon and Betty Muir Charles and Eleanor Nolan ▲▲ Jeannie and Bruce Nordstrom Judy Pigott ▲ David and Lolly Victor Jean Walkinshaw ▲ eNotes.com, Inc. ▲ Laird Norton Company LLC ▲▲ Seattle Children’s Hospital TEW Foundation The Seneca Real Estate Group ▲ $2,500+
Tom Alberg and Judi Beck ▲▲ Thatcher Bailey Sally S. Behnke ▲ Ken Bounds and Linda Gorton ▲▲ Debbi and Paul Brainerd ▲ Pauline Bruce Dr. Tim Carey and Cheryl Carey Barbara and James Crutcher Family ▲▲ Craig Davison and Glenn Maarse Linda Donohue Rod and Erin Downing The Bartow Fite Family ▲▲ Alison and Tyler Furtwangler Trevor and Andrea Gilchrist Gary and Vicki Glant ▲ Don Goldberg and Gail Resnik Joe Greear Anne and Frite Hagedorn Kathy Harvey Karen Hundahl Gerry Johnson and Linda Larson ▲▲ Theodore and Linda Johnson ▲ Brad and Erin Kahn ▲ Edie Lackland ▲ Donna J. Leftwich Christina and James Lockwood ▲ Ellen Look and Tony Cavalieri Takae Maezawa and Shigeo Nakazawa Kitman Matsui Anne Moore and Melissa Anderson Osvaldo Morales
Roger Nyhus and Rod Hearne ▲ Robert Oliger Paul Owen and Wendy Laird ▲ Dale Pelletier Suzanne and Brooks Ragen ▲▲ John E. Roberts Jon and Judy Runstad ▲▲ Charles P. Sitkin ▲▲ Scott Soules Daniel and Ann Streissguth ▲ Myra Tanita and Peter Young ▲ Chris and David Towne ▲▲ Pauljay Tumbaga Huong Vu Robert Wallach Michelle Wong Rick and Debbie Zajicek Margaret Zech Anchor QEA ▲ Boeing Gift Matching Program ▲▲ Knoll, Inc. Metropolitan Market Pacific Northwest Track and Field Masters Committee Safeco Insurance ▲ The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation ▲ $1,000+
Nancy Alvord Rick and Nancy Alvord ▲ Katharyn Alvord Gerlich ▲▲ Phoebe and Lucius Andrew ▲▲ Anonymous ▲▲ Jerry Arbes and Anne Knight ▲▲ Douglas Bayley Allison Beezer Deirdre and Fraser Black ▲ Cindy and Bob Blais David Bradley Ashley Ann Bullitt Lynn Bursten John Byouk Betsey Curran and Jonathan King Karen Daubert and Jared Smith ▲▲ Margaret Diggs Don Driftmier Vasiliki Dwyer Janet Eary Ann Fagan ▲ Barbara Feasey and Bill Bryant ▲▲ Virginia and Lester Filion Hope and Peter Garrett Joan Gray and Harris Hoffman ▲ Blake and Erika Grayson Roy Hamrick and Stephen Carstens ▲ Douglas and Barbara Herrington
The following donors made gifts to Seattle Parks Foundation between July 1, 2012 and August 15, 2013. Years Giving (5 years ▲ or 10 years ▲▲) Sara Hoppin ▲▲ Roz Horder Williams Susan Horton Kilroy Hughes ▲ Tom and Janice Huseby Karen Hust Nancy Ianucci Sally and Warren Jewell ▲ Maryann Jordan and Joe McDonnell Doris Katagiri Garrett Kephart Mary and Peter Kerr Tim Kerr and Cynthia Wells Bob Kirshenbaum Thomas and Mary Ann Kofler ▲ Allan and Mary Kollar Richard Ladner Nancy Larson Dean LaRue Alice Jean and Don Lewis ▲ Carla and Don Lewis ▲ Phil and Karen Lloyd ▲▲ Susan Maisel Louise F. Maison Linda Mason Craig McKibben and Sarah Merner ▲ Cristine Miller Dan Mohr and Hilary Bramwell Mohr ▲ Furman and Susan Moseley Robert and Constance Moser Harvey Motulsky and Lisa Norton Kathleen Neary Tom and Erin Neubauer Valerie Payne ▲ David Perlin and Mary Pembroke Perlin ▲ Richard and Andrea Piacentini Kathleen Pierce ▲▲ Moccasin Lake Foundation ▲▲ Andrew and Marianna Price ▲ Beth and Chris Purcell ▲▲ Patricia Ann Radeke Gary and Vicki Reed Kathy and Chris Robertson ▲▲ Stuart and Lee Rolfe Evelyne Renee Rozner and Matt Griffin Andres Salomon Lisa and Jonathan Schachter David Shema Anne and Langdon Simons ▲▲ Alexander Slivka Enid Slivka Rick Starkenburg Benjamin and Andrea Streissguth Robert and Katie Strong Steve and Liann Sundquist ▲ Dan Swanson
Richard Barbieri and Lyn Tangen ▲ Teutsch Partners, LLC Steven and Patricia Trainer John and Kristine Travaglini Todd Vogel and Karen Hust Judy Whetzel Tom and Lyn White ▲ Rosalind Horder Williams and Ron A. Williams Steven and Mary Wood ▲▲ Emily and Sid Wray Ann Wyckoff ▲▲ Arthur P. Ziegler Charles Schwab Gray Family Foundation Hamrick Investment Counsel, LLC Harry F. Barnes and Carol H. Barnes Family Foundation James E and Constance L Bell Foundation Joshua Green Foundation Kibble and Prentice Holding Co Local Independent Charities of America Rainier Investment Management Seattle Facial Plastic Surgery Center Starbucks Matching Gifts Program The Berger Partnership, PS ▲ The Seattle Foundation ▲ Trust for Public Land Washington Drug Card Willowmoor Foundation ZymoGenetics, Inc. $500+
Emily Anthony and David Maymudes Becca and Anthony Aue Brad and Sally Bagshaw Valerie Lynch and Putnam Barber ▲ Heidi Barrett and Bruce Bailey John and Shari Behnke ▲ Mr. and Mrs. William M. Black ▲▲ Ros Bond and Jill Marsden ▲ Barbara Broderick Vicky Campbell LeeAnne Caylor Meg Crager Barbara Dingfield ▲ Jim Duncan Mary and James Dunnam Carrie Faulkner Jerry V. and Gunilla Finrow ▲
Noreen Frink ▲ Joseph and Terri Gaffney Carolyn Grane Gayle and Donald Harris ▲▲ Jane Harvey Matt Hays Scott Holden ▲ Terry Holme and Jeanne Iannucci ▲▲ Jeff Hummel Stephen Jones David Kincaid Quentin King and Glen Kriekenbeck Phyllis Lamphere ▲▲ John Lang Leonard Larson Christopher and Alida Latham ▲ Robert Leach and Catherine Otto ▲ Sharon Lee Peggy Lewis Lex Lindsey and Lynn Manley ▲ Rick and Anne Matsen ▲ Carol and Bob McDonald Anne Mize Terry and Cornelia Moore John and Harriett Morton ▲ Nancy Neraas and Mike King Norberg Family Foundation ▲ Deborah Notkin Carol Ottenberg Molly Preston Cam and Tori Ragen ▲ Mark Reddington and Cary Moon Doug and Sarah Reed Robert Rhodehamel and Dana Snyder Jean Alvord Rhodes ▲ Terry Roche ▲ William and Jill Ruckelshaus ▲ Ron Sher Gouri Sivarajan Robert and Kathy Thompson Rolfe Watson Rogers and Julie Weed Pam Weeks and Pamm Hanson Thomas Weeks and Deborah Oyer Carolyn Weston David and Sally Wright ▲ Hansina Wright Howard S. Wright, III and Kate Janeway Scott and Jennifer Wyatt 206, Inc. Associated General Contractors of Washington ▲ Cascade Bicycle Club Davis Wright Tremaine DC Granger Inc Girl Scouts of Western Washington #530, Troop #50680
Laurel Crest Condominium Mountains to Sound Greenway NBBJ ▲ Soroptomist International of Auburn Verity Credit Union Wyman Youth Trust $250+
Peter Abrahamsen Sandy and Brian Albright Josh and Katherine Anderson ▲ Katherine Alberg Anderson and Josh Anderson Ruth Anderson John and Kate Barber Chris and Cynthia Bayley ▲▲ Dana and Rena Behar Janis Benincasa John and Maralyn Blume ▲ Diana Bradley Dorothy Bullitt Pete and Merrily Chick ▲ Martha Choe Lynn Claudon and Charley Royer ▲ Michael and Sheila Cory Page Knudsen Cowles Stacey CrawshawLewis Katharine and Jonathan Crossley ▲ Tricia and Marcus Deville Margot and Bill Dick Pat Doudna Madeline Dow Erin Fairley and Bill Patz ▲ Brian Fellon Kelly Frawley Kai-Mei Fu and Michael Preiner Carole Fuller and Evan Schwab Julie Gerrard ▲ Marina Gordon and Jeffrey Linn Steven and Ashley Greenberg Eleanor and Martin Gruber Ralph Guggenheim Chris Gurdjian Jane Hager Charles Hale Lenore Hale ▲ Whit and Beth Hamlin Matthew and Margaret Hanson Michele and David Hasson Phyllis Hatfield ▲▲ Richard and Betty Hedreen ▲ Anne Helmholz ▲ Michael Herschensohn Erik and Bethany Johnson Jarrett Johnson C. Richard Johnson Maria and Jed Kaufman Alfred and Barbara Koury ▲▲ Shawn MacDougall George and Beverly Martin ▲
Jacqui Metzger Peggy and Hal Newsom Jason and Tiffany Nolte Robert E. Ordal ▲ Joy Ordal David and Lindsay Price Ann Ramsay-Jenkins Roberta Riley and Peter Mason Mike Riley and Robin Shapiro ▲ Catherine and Thurston Roach Richard and Bonnie Robbins ▲ Mike and Edith Ruby ▲ Helen Runstein ▲ Anna Samson Cathy Sarkowsky ▲ Janice Sears Michael Shiosaki and Ed Murray ▲ Andrea Stanton Diane Stevens ▲ Catherine Thayer Pat and Ed Wagner ▲ Paul Weiden and Bev Linkletter ▲ Larry and Susan Winn Dawn Wright Alta Planning and Design GE Foundation JP Morgan Chase and Co Lease Crutcher Lewis Pacific Continental Bank Seattle Spine and Sports Medicine Swift and Company Landscape Architects $100+
Denis Adair Laurie Ahern Brett Allen Mary Jane and Gilbert Anderson ▲▲ Nancy Anderson Tony Angell and Lee Rolfe Elizabeth Aponte Lyle and Betty Appleford ▲ Michael Archambault Jerry and Laurie Bach ▲ Patrick and Cheri Baker Sybil Barney and Joel Shepard ▲ Adrieanna Beard Mearl Bergeson ▲ Elizabeth Berggren William Blum and Kay Smith-Blum Lee and Bill Blume ▲ Giselle and Dave Blythe David Brewster Brad and Susan Brickman Bobbe and Jon Bridge Herb Bridge ▲ James Brinkley David and Kristi Buck Ken Butler Kathy Calabria Harvey Michael Calarco Diana Carey Maria S. Carney Scott Carson Dan Celler Octavia Chambliss
David and Lynne Chelimer ▲ Marianna Clark and Charles Schafer Ashley Clark and Chris Manojlovic Barbara Clark Sarah Coates Melanie Coerver Michael F. Cohen and Jutta M. Joesch ▲ Anita and Taylor Collings ▲ Theodore and Patricia Collins John and Cassie Condon James and Barbara Cooch Laurie Cook and Rick Cook Kathleen Creahan and David Funke Patricia Crockett and Keith Johnson Carolyn Crockett and Bob Brooks Maralyn Crosetto Cyrus Cryst and Ann Merryfield ▲ Barbara and Jeff Curran Peggy Curtis Michael Davidson and Gertrude Pacific Julian Davies Diego de Acosta Melinda Debruler David and Juliette Delfs Leon Deturenne Beth DiDomenico and Tim Netwon Ann Dittmar ▲ Christa Divis Jim and Barb Donnette ▲ David and Barbara Dougherty Dan Drais and Jane Mills ▲ Ruth Dunlop ▲ Pat and Susan Dunn ▲ Steve Durrant Bob Edmiston George and Anne Eggler David Frank Elam Andreas Enderlein ▲ Jim and Birte Falconer Frank Fay and Nicole Provost ▲ James Fearn Barbara and Tim Fielden Mary and Jim Figel Janet and Doug Footh ▲ Guy Freeman and Michelle Bagshaw Stanley and Cynthia Freimuth James Gale and Virginia McDermott Gary and Faye Gallagher Anne Gantt Leonard Garfield Stanley Gartler ▲ ArtsFund Susan Gertz Sonia Gill Phillip Gladfelter Eli Goldberg Richard Gordon Kim Gould and Michelle Osborne Gould ▲ Marty Gould Jon Gunther
Helen Gurvich Brie Gyncild Janis Hadley Kevin Hanchett Juliet Harding Mearl Harris Ryan Harrison The Hashisaki and Tubridy Family David and Ellen Hecht Jane Hedreen and David Thyer The Hemhauser Family Stu Hennessey Gloria Hennings Ana Hergert Joseph Herrin and Belinda Bail Susan Herring Gregory Hill ▲ Irl and Ruth Hirsch Ray Hofstatter Jean and Arthur Holland Ann Hopkinson Cat Howell and Michael Ernst Fiona and Jim Jackson Anand Jain Ryan Jense Lionel Job Dan and Karina Johnson Amy Johnson ▲ Susan Jorgenson Fotini Kaklamanou Laura Kastner and Philip Mease Lynn Keay Caitlin Kehoe Michele Kellett and James Anderson Joseph Kelly Michael Kennedy Ed and Kate Kennell David Kessler Gene and Barbara Kidder ▲ Anne Kimball Judith Kimmerer and Robert Kimmerer Michael and Beret Kischner ▲ Bob and Carolyn Kitchell ▲ Frank and Virginia Kitchell ▲ Rich Knox David Knox Scott Kralik Chris Langer Ed Lazowska and Lyndsay Downs Judith Leckrone Lee Rosemary Lehman Patricia Lein Jenni and Robert Leinbach Virginia Leland Anne Lester Linda Lewis Penny Lewis Konrad Liegel ▲ Tamara Lindemann Greg Linden Jennifer Litowski Eric Liu James and Della Lium Don and JoEllen Loeb Sheila Lukehart Anne Mahoney Dorothy Mann Douglas MacDonald Judsen Marquardt Christine Marshall ▲ Jim and Dorothea Marshall Adele and Daphne Matter Ann Melvin
Eric Merrifield Angela Meyer Jane Meyerding Bruce and Elizabeth Miller ▲ Carmen Miller Shizuka Miyano Sara and Paul Mockett ▲ Lucy Mohl Carol Monahan and John Miller Malcolm and Phoebe Moore ▲ Patrick Moran Jeff Morgan David Moseley and Anne Fennessy Manette Moses John Narver ▲ Jim and Susan Neff ▲ Rafer Nelson Craig Norsen ▲ Margaret Padelford ▲ Alberto Panero Donte Parks Kate Pearson Esta Pekow Nat and Poo Penrose Sandra Perkins and Jeffrey Ochsner Michael and Susan Peskura Brian Peterson Elizabeth Pfender and Bill Clark ▲ Myrn Philbrick Richard and Myrn Philbrick Jocelyn Phillips and Warren Bakken ▲ Eleanor Poley Dewey Potter ▲ Scott Powers Frank Pritchard ▲ Brad and Caroline Probst Greg and Megan Pursell ▲ Richard Radford Prem and Laurie Radheshwar ▲ Patrick and Mary Ragen Andrea and Michael Ramage Robin Randels Carolyn and Alvin Rasch Elta and Warren Ratliff Paula Riggert Iain Robertson and Hady De Jong ▲ Dave Rodgers Chris Rogers Donald and Jo Anne Rosen ▲ John Rothschild and Laura Vernum Loring Rowell ▲ Margaret Santolla Marilla and Skip Satterwhite Kathryn Schaefer and Glenn Hackney Jennifer Schilling Jeff and Julie Schoenfeld ▲ Keith and Jennifer Schorsch William Schwartz ▲ Andrew Sheridan ▲ Mimi Sheridan Elizabeth and John Sherris Brad Shutzberg Hillary Sibley Sill Family Foundation ▲ Skip Slavin
Michael and Robin Slivka Aaron Smith Buzz Smith Charles Smith and Eleanor Martinez Smith Kay Smith-Blum Michael Snyder Clark Sorensen Jack and Rose Southall ▲ Thaddeus Spratlen Eve Stacey Alec and Jane Stevens ▲ Helen Stusser Ronald Suter Janet Syferd Carol and Laura Thomas Mary Anne Thorbeck Leslie and John Thornton Wendy Truitt Frank Tubridy and Gerrie Hashisaki Tjitske Vandermeulen J L Viniko Paul Vonckx Ed Waldock and Melinda Jodry ▲ Jim Walseth Lisa and Marc Wanless Kathleen Warren and Mike Wirsching Susan Way Jake Weber and Kevin Kane Vicki Weeks and David Jones Richard and Ann Roman Weiner Nancy Weinstein Joan Weiser James and Donna Weller Peter and Anne Marie Wick ▲ James and Mary Lou Wickwire Nancy Winder Anne Wise Glenn Withey Christina Wohlstetter Tom Wolfe and Leonard Garfield Francis Wood Wende Wood and Eric Swanson Doug and Susan Woods ▲ John Wott Barbara Wright and Dwight Gee ▲ Stanley Yee Charlie Zaragoza Bill Zook and Nanette Rosenthal Deirdre ZuberbuhlerDenckla and Jay Denckla Adobe Systems Inc. Friends of Seattle’s Olmsted Parks ▲ IBM Matching Grants Program MidMountain Contractors, Inc. McDanel Land Foundation MSNBC Paladino and Company Puget Sound Energy Foundation The Amgen Foundation ▲ The Pfizer Foundation
Up to $99
Charise Addicks Eric and Audra Adelberger Stephanie Agoncillo Anna Anafi Parks and Ginger Anderson ▲ Brad Andonian E.W. Andrews III and Gretchen Hund ▲ Janna Annest Carol Baker and Ken bardsley ▲ Jerry Baker and Deborah Stephenson Susan Ball Walter Barke ▲ Ted Barker Susan Barnes Devor Barton Gary Bauch ▲ Kathleen Beil Dennis Bellow John and Carol Belton Susan and Robert Benardout Eric Berg L. B. Berghuis Arin Berkson Richard Birnbaum Roy Black ▲ Janine Blaeloch Nancy Blase Mark Blitzer ▲ Marie Bolster Phyllis Boucher Celia Bowker Jalair Box and Rajagopalan Narayanan David and Carlotta Boyd Bill Bradburd Terri Britt Lauren Brown Morry Browne Joyce Buck ▲ Dale Burkett Randy Byers Dorothy Canavan Jean and CB Carlson Madeleine Carlson Richard Carlstad and Margarite Hargrave Michelle Herrera Carr Adrienne Caver-Hall ▲ Gil Cerise ▲ Joni Cervenka ▲ Michael Chalcraft and Kristi Helgeson Audrey and Philip Chanen Helen Cheung and Muon Ngu Michelle Chiachiere Mike Cobb Susan and Alan Cohen ▲
Karen Colbert Lou and R Bruce Colwell ▲ John and Jodi Coney ▲ Kevin Conley Kay Louise Cook Patrick Corr Jim Corson Bruce and Valerie Cortalano Bob and Bev Corwin Mary-Carter Creech Barbara Culbertson Allen and Joe Leinonen Teresa Damaske Theodore and Barbara Daniels Bob Davidson
Nikola Davidson Ross and Lynn Davidson Sam and Megan Davidson James Davis Kristin Delancy ▲ Kathryn De Maris Rebecca Deehr Elli DeLong Trea Diament Emily Dinges Stephen Dossick James Douglas and Sasha Harmon ▲ Nancy L. Driver Dean Drugge Brian and Gayle Ducey Grant Dull Mark Durfee ▲ Susan Dwyer-Shick Sue Early Betty Eberharter ▲ Kelly Ellis Stephen and Elizabeth Ellmann Peter Erickson Melissa Esposito Gary Fallon and Leona DeRocco Dorcas Farquhar Bette Felton Beryl Fernandes Lisa Fernow Julia Field Mrs. Ruth Flanders Amy and Barry Fortier Robin Fox and Bruce Quayle Phyllis Friedman Erin Frost Tom Fucoloro Etsuko Fujishima ▲ Nancy Fullman S.J. Garrioch Genie and Paul Gengler ▲ John Gessner ▲ Luke Gjurasic ▲ Susan Glynn Patricia Graham Richard Greene Susan Gulick and Rod Margason Virginia Gunby Audrey and Marge Haberman Tom and Rosemary Hackett ▲ Jeffrey E. Hall Robert Hall Jeff Hallman Gregory Hammrich Sally Hanft Linda Harris Nancy Harvey Amy Haugerud ▲ Brad and Claire Hawkins Bill and Janet Hayes Tom Hayton Dawn and Chris Hemminger Susan and Benjamin Hempstead ▲ Mark Hennon Sally Henry ▲ Hannah Hickey Caroline Higgins Ellis Hillinger Jean Hobart ▲ George and B L Homsy Hilary Horder Megan Horst Matthew Hotchkiss Nahid and John Hotchkiss W. Gregory Hunicutt Marge and Jim Ingram
Eric Ishino and Ron Shiley David Jenkins Dr. Lewis Johnson ▲ Lois Johnson Holly and Allen Johnson John Joly Bradley and Kristi Ann Jones Mary Jones Stephen Kaluzny Pamela Katims Steele and Patrick Steele Jesse Keating Gordon and Marlyn Keating Jennifer Keay Michael and Emily Kelly Marilyn Kennell Harold and Joan King Joan King Patricia King Susan Kinoshita Dalwyn Knight ▲ Izaak Koller Heidi and Richard Kopec Val Korry Judy Koven Michael Krafve Candace Kramer Betty Kreager Henry Kuharic Eric and Alannah Laret Barbara Larry Lenny Larson Loretta and Thomas Lawrence Shava and John Lawson Anson Laytner Lauren Lederer Christine Lee Rick Lee Faye Leibowitz Marjorie Levar ▲ Gad Levy Anne and Richard Lichtenstadter ▲ Edythe Bruce Lurie ▲▲ Thomas and Rowayne Maguire Jeffrey Maki Evan Manvel Jean Manwaring Edgar and Linda Marcuse Cliff Marks ▲ Don Martin ▲ Jake Maxwell Cynthia May Linda Mayhew Sarah McCoy Ryan McFarland William McGovern and Kathleen Graunke Louise McGrody Luke McGuff Meegan McKiernan Rachel McNary Julianna McPhee Katherine McWilliams and Curt Feig Julie and Shawn Medero Alan Metayer ▲ Kristen Meyers Bonnie Miller Max and Lori Miller Marilyn and Bern Miller ▲ Tracy Mitchell Lisa Moldrem John Monk Adam Monsen Kerry Mooney and Susan Everett Brad Moore
Mike Morris Joyce Moty ▲ Bruce Myers JoAnne Naganawa Matt Newport Bailey Nieder ▲ Miki Nishihata Eliza Notaro Kari Nystrom Michael O’Callaghan Pamela Okano Cavan O’Keefe Nancy and Stephen Olsen Sofia Olson Carolyn Owen ▲ Gordon Padelford Andy Palmer Thomas Pann Brendan Patrick R.G. Pelz Robert and Rhonda Penrod Joseph Pentheroudakis Kate Pflaumer ▲ Ilyssa Plumer Kristin E. Poinar Dinny Polson ▲ Robert Prongay Charles B. Ragen Merlin Rainwater David Ralph ▲ Natalie Ramsey Joan Reeves ▲ Grace Reindel ▲ Kathleen Roan Lexie Robbins ▲ Ryan Robertson Barry and Debbie Rochefort ▲▲ Junius Rochester Dori Rosenberg Elizabeth Rosenthal ▲ Maeve and W.D.L. Ross Gail Ann Rossi Catherine Roth ▲ Norma Roth Nita-Jo Rountree Jennifer Russell and Read Handyside Chris and Ashley Saleeba Monirath Saly Valerie Sammons Gordon and Jan Sandison ▲ Joan Sandler Raul Santelices John and Patricia Savage Rachel Schad David Schaefer Harold Schnarre Roger Scott and Phyllis Tibbetts Leslie Seaton Janet Shafer Tristan Shankara Carole Sherry Anderson Frances Siciliano Arnifridur Sigurdardottir Christian Silk Jennifer Silva and Andrew Rezvani ▲ Fred Silverstein and Eleanor Gerston Adams Simons Lois and Henry Simonson Ben Slivka Dara Slivka Marilyn Smith Matthew Snyder Laura Snydsman ▲ Hugh and Joan Sobottka Linda Softing
Harry and Charlotte Spizman Kevin Steefa Margaret Steele Ron and Larilyn Stenkamp Elaine Stevens Virginia Stout Hugh and Linda Straley Peter Stranton Jared Strote Rodney and Brittney Stryker Laurie Stusser-McNeil and KC McNeil ▲ Lucy Suzuki Swenson/Halperin Family Lee and Judith Talner ▲ Toby Thaler Margaret Thouless and David Thouless Norm Tjaden Jerry Tonkovich Shahn Towers Signa Treat ▲ Heather Trim and Lawrence Jacobson Susan and Jeff Turner Elizabeth Tyree Shirley and Wade Vaughn Nona Voll Kelly Walters Cherie Ware Lee Warnecke and Claire Gifford Reitha Weeks JD and Linda Wessling Barbara Westerfield Mary Jean Wheeler David Wiemer Charles Wilkinson and Melanie Ito ▲ Steve Wilson and Suzanne Heidema ▲ Richard Wilson Richard Wiseman Michael and Wendy Wolf Elaine Wolfe-Bank Daniel Wren Janice Wu Danielle Yung American Institute of Architects Bill Speidel Enterprises Kenmore Air Harbor ▲ Macrina Bakery Makers Architecture and Urban Design P.O.R. Payroll Puget Sound Energy ▲ Regence Blueshield Sand Point Chiropractic Clinic Sand Point Grill Sand Point Pharmacy and Health Services, Inc. The Keith and Mary Kay McCaw Family Foundation United Way of Northern New Jersey Public Support
City of Bellevue City of Seattle Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Seattle Parks and Recreation
In kind Support
Adam Merkl and Hilliard’s Beer Alta Planning + Design American Marketing Company Anchor QEA Barbara Feasey Barbee Crutcher Brian Gerich City of Portland City of Vancouver Cupcake Royale Dr. Howard Frumkin, University of Washington EarthCorps Environmental Coalition of South Seattle Friends of Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands Friends of the Volunteer Park Conservatory James Corson Jerry Tone and Martha Wyckoff Jodi Green and Mike Halperin John Murphy Judith Nitsch and Nitsch Engineering Julie Speidel Laird Norton Wealth Management Lake City Greenways Lake to Bay Loop Stakeholder Committee Margaret Ullman and Mountain to Sound Greenway Mark Johnson Mithun Nyhus Communications Oppenheimer Cine Rentals OUT for Sustainability Pacific Continental Bank Prof. John Pucher, Rutgers Univerity REI Russ Weimer and Seattle Volunteer Naturalists Sea Mar Community Health Centers South Park Area Revitalization Committee South Park Neighborhood Association SVR Design Tenoch Construction The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Urban Systems Design Vulcan Wells Fargo Whole Foods Windrose Landscape Architecture Woody Wheeler Wunderman
Years Giving (5 years ▲ or 10 years ▲▲)
Seattle Parks Foundation Board of Directors President
Brad Kahn Vice President
Charles Nolan Secretary
Jodi Green Treasurer
Jerry Tone Members at large
Ross Baker Bruce Blume Ken Bounds Steve Clifford Bartow Fite Brian Giddens Gary Glant Gerry Johnson Maryann Jordan Carol Lewis Kyle McCoy John Nesholm Roger Nyhus Paul Owen Beth Purcell Doug Raff* Myra Tanita Chris Towne David Victor Huong Vu Doug Walker* Charlie Wright Ex-Officio Members
Christopher Williams Brice Maryman
Community Partners and Projects 12th Ave Square Park Bitter Lake Reservoir Park Fitness Zone Children’s PlayGarden Concord Elementary Playground Counterbalance Park Denny Park Friends of Burke Gilman Trail at Sand Point Friends of Golden Gardens Friends of Lewis Park Friends of Madrona Woods Friends of North Beach Homer Harris Maintenance Fund Jackson Park Loop Trail Lake City Greenways Lake to Bay Loop Lake Union Park Stewardship Fund Magnolia Blvd. Park McGilvra Place Park Melrose Promenade MoMentum Neighborhood House Olympic Hills Greenway Park Rainer Beach Urban Farm & Wetlands Riverside Park Seattle Neighborhood Greenways South Park Green Spaces South West Queen Anne Green Belt Streissguth Gardens Volunteer Park Conservatory Volunteer Park Trust Walking on Logs Waterway 18 Yesler Swamp Trail
Welcome Kelly Huang, Foundation Coordinator Kelly Huang joined Seattle Parks Foundation in May as our new Foundation Coordinator. Kelly manages SPF’s website and social media, assists with daily gift processing, supports office administration, and helps coordinate meetings and events. Having worked with Forterra, the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, and Environment Washington, she shares SPF’s core goal of bringing communities together through public space projects. For her master’s thesis project at the University of Washington, Kelly worked with Forterra on its Cedar River project in Renton, engaging property owners in watershed restoration efforts. She spoke about the importance of grassroots conservation at Town Hall Seattle in March 2012, and she writes about cross-cultural environmental issues for the Seattle Chinese Times and contextChina.com, two local publications providing perspectives from Seattle’s Mandarin-speaking community. Kelly is inspired to work on a wide spectrum of fundraising, development, and public space projects at SPF. “I really like the feeling of engaging volunteers and donors in park projects that make our city a better place,” she says. Since moving to Seattle in 2010, Kelly has been enjoying stand-up paddle-boarding at Lake Union Park, swimming at Magnuson Park, and occasionally biking to work along the Cheshiahud Loop and through the intimidating downtown traffic.
Advisory Board
Deirdre Black Barbee Crutcher* Barbara Feasey* Hope Garrett C. David Hughbanks Gretchen Hull Bob Ratliffe Scott Redman Chris Rogers Stu Rolfe Maggie Walker Steve Wood Jane Yerkes * Founding Board Member
Staff Becca Aue Thatcher Bailey Betsey Curran Kelly Huang Shava Lawson Solynn McCurdy Lee Warnecke
Seattle Parks Foundation staff (from left to right) Thatcher Bailey, Betsey Curran, Kelly Huang, and Lee Warnecke
Volunteer Spotlight Yalonda Gill Masundire Yalonda is a member of Seattle’s Parks Legacy Plan Citizens’ Advisory Committee, which was created by the mayor and the city council to develop a 2014 ballot measure supporting a more sustainable park system. She is also—along with her husband, Peter— a board member of the Friends of Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands, and she serves on the Capital Campaign Leadership Group for the redevelopment of the farm property. What motivates you to volunteer? My cause is sustainability. Preserving parklands, public space, and recreational activities ensures that Seattle will continue to be a thriving, attractive city. We are fortunate that our founders possessed the foresight and vision to leave us with such a rich legacy. Now it’s time for us to return the favor for future generations. Why are you so passionate? Growing up in Seattle, I assumed that every city in our nation had beautiful landscapes and places for children and families to play, learn, and experience year-round recreational activities in community centers, outdoor fields, courts, and waterways. But having traveled to cities around the world, I now realize how lucky Seattle is to have what other municipalities don’t—natural habitat, scenic views, beautiful paths, access to waterways, and diverse recreational opportunities all year long. What do you hope the Parks Legacy Plan Citizens’ Advisory Committee will accomplish? My hope is that the Legacy Committee will identify the best practices and needed financial tools to sustain our remarkable park system for another 100 years. We must ensure that Seattle Parks and Recreation can hire the finest talent, create and maintain the most innovative programs and services, and acquire and maintain new parklands and facilities to meet the needs of a growing and changing population. My vision for our city is that both resident and visitor be afforded the opportunities to take advantage of these remarkable assets. Why is Rainier Beach Urban Farms and Wetlands so important to you? This is a community-bred and community-led effort that serves neighborhoods, area schools, families, seniors, immigrant and refugee communities, local businesses, and more. Located in one of the most diverse zip codes in the U.S., the Rainier Beach community is ripe for a project that provides new learning opportunities in growing, cooking, and eating healthy food; job skills for youth; creative activities for children; and a hub for volunteering and experiential learning about wetlands and the environment. Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands is a source of community pride for a neighborhood that has been at times marginalized but is now soaring with unlimited possibility.
To the 367 donors who contributed so generously to the restoration of the Volunteer Park Conservatory.
Seattle Parks Foundation Thanks to you, the campaign
Connections
is complete and restoration of this beloved icon will begin in the spring of 2014.
Connecting Seattle through public space
105 South Main Street, #235 Seattle, Washington 98104 seattleparksfoundation.org
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