New park for LFP? Update and Saturday walk

No guarantee you'll see him Saturday
but he's a regular visitor

Learn about community efforts to create an urban forest park with trails

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF) invites the community to join us for “A Walk to 5 Acre Woods Event” at 10:30am on Saturday, August 12, 2017. An update on the project will be provided.

The City of Lake Forest Park is now streamlining a plan to acquire 5AW to develop as an urban forest park.

Seattle Public Utility (SPU), the property owner, has engaged a commercial real estate broker and the 5AW is now on the market. 

However, SPU and its broker confirm that they will not evaluate bids until the first week of September.

The City of Lake Forest Park has been working hard to put together a plan that will allow the City to place a competitive bid for 5AW within the time frame.

With much assistance from the LFPSF, the City has applied for King County Conservation Future grants, one of which was awarded in 2016 and another than is recommended for approval this year.

Together these grants will cover about 50% of the purchase price. The incredible outpouring of citizen support for 5AW in the form of pledges for the acquisition, is now over $125,000, approximately 10% of estimated purchase price.

From a previous Walk Through The Woods

There are other funding sources to which application has been made, and will be made, to secure funding for the remainder. Some of these, especially those related to legislative action, can’t be applied for yet.

The City’s willingness to find a way to make an offer now, if successful, will create a window of time in which to secure the final funding. The outpouring of communication to the Mayor and Councilmembers from the many LFP citizens who favor the 5AW park creation has been another essential factor in the City decisions and commitment supporting the acquisition of 5AW. The community support to preserve this space as a park is needed now more than ever.

The 5 Acre Woods site is the largest remaining mature forest within the area. It includes a wetland, a tributary of Lyon Creek, and serves as an important wildlife corridor.

If you would like to contribute to the LFP SF’s community fundraising efforts, please contact Brad Keefe to donate, pledge or volunteer for fundraising.

To join us at the Walk to 5 Acre Woods, meet in front of the Lake Forest Park Elementary School (18500 37th Ave NE, Lake Forest Park – parking available in the school parking lot) and proceed along the pedestrian walkway on 40th Place NE, to take a short walk to 5 Acre Woods. 

Refreshments will be provided at the end of the walk courtesy of Honey Bear Bakery and the Seattle Green Space Coalition.

The walk will occur rain or shine at 10:30am on Saturday, August 12, 2017. See the 5 Acre Woods Facebook page for more information. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Lisa Pedigo

--LFPSF