By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor
Trees were the major topic of this month’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting at the North Highline Fire Station in White Center.
Here’s what was discussed in what NHUAC’s Barbara Dobkin promised would be a “very informative meeting”:
COUNTY PARKS URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM: Program managerJoanna Nelson de Flores brought information about trees in local parks. The program’s goal is to “retain and increase tree canopy.” North Highline is a “low canopy” area, she said. The program is focused on NH and other urban unincorporated areas in the county, which total about 125,000 residents; unincorporated Skyway-West Hill is a “low canopy” area too. Since her program’s launch two-plus years ago, they’ve had paid youth tree trainings, schoolground tree planting, education, community outreach, internships, and a “living” mural (in Skyway).
They’ve also done tree giveaways, in recognition of most of the canopy being on private land. In Skyway they’ve given 365 trees to 100 properties; a White Center giveaway is coming up December 5 (more on that below). And park restoration – they’ve cleared and treated weeds on five acres, and planted and watered more than 500 trees. North Shorewood Park is among the places where they’ve worked. In the past few months, they’ve worked on removing invasives; the areas may look “messy … but we’re not done,” she said. There’ll be more work parties to organize, with dates forthcoming. Dick Thurnau Memorial Park also has planting sessions ahead and has been undergoing invasives removal. More than 450 native plants will be installed and mulched this winter. She also brought information about Glendale Forest, with the same type of plan – invasives taken out, native plants to be installed.
Dates to note for cleanup/planting/restoration:
Dick Thurnau Park, January 9
North Shorewood, February 6
Glendale Forest, February 20
All are 9 am-noon, Nelson de Flores said. Go here to sign up to help:
parksvolunteer.kingcounty.gov
Also ahead in 2027 – the results of a canopy-cover assessment; community input “to shape program priorities”; street trees; ongoing park restoration.
Now, more on the aforementioned tree giveaway – it’s set for 10 am to 2 pm Saturday, December 5, at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd) for unincorporated-area residents/businesspeople who have someplace to plant up to four trees, first come, first served. They’ll have a variety of native, fruit, and/or flowering trees, small and large.
One other topic of note at the NHUAC November meeting:
RECONNECT SOUTH PARK: Maria Guadalupe Ramirez brought an update on the effort to figure out how to reduce the effects that Highway 99 has had by bisecting the South Park community; only 10 percent of people in SP even use 99, she observed. Among other detrimental effects, it’s hurt health – people living near the highway live 11 years shorter, on average, than others not far away.
Reconnect South Park is a community-rooted effort, but it has gained some government funding along its four years of existence. They’re running a survey right now online regarding the “four preferred options.” (See the website.) They’re going to have a “mapping event” soon. Otherwise, they’re currently canvassing people about the four options, to hear concerns, ideas, etc., in conjunction with the Seattle city Office of Planning and Community Development. “They’re supportive,” Ramirez said.
As for an overall timeline, she says they just got some new funding that will cover about three more years of planning/visioning work like this. But it’s long-range, she acknowledged – “We’re doing this for our kids and grandkids.”
NHUAC meets many months on the first Thursday, 7 pm. We publish meeting notices when they’re received.
Two weeks from tomorrow, the multi-site volunteering event known as 
