Hillwood Neighborhood Association unveils display panels to celebrate completion of wetlands project

One of the wetland area signage boards
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

On Saturday, September 14, 2019 on an appropriately drizzly day, volunteers from the Hillwood Neighborhood Association held a formal unveiling of display panels marking the creation of a wetland meadow in Hillwood Park at NW 190th and 3rd Ave NW in Shoreline.

Jocelyn Curry removes the protective
covering from the sign
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Three newly completed and installed display panels illustrate Park property history, habitat biology and the comings and goings of Hillwood Creek waters. 

Panels were funded by a City of Shoreline Neighborhood mini-grant.

Jocelyn Curry, local artist and member of the Hillwood Neighborhood Association, volunteered her time to design the wetland area signage boards.

Volunteers brought refreshments and put up a canopy to protect the home made goodies from the lightly falling drizzle.

The wetland meadow project was spearheaded by Boni Bieri, who noticed a naturally occurring stream that appeared in the park during rainy periods.

Marshaling volunteers and working many hours herself, she created a wetland meadow to return the area to a natural condition.

Jocelyn and Boni speak to the crowd
Eric Friedli, Parks Director (far right, yellow coat)
spoke next. Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Over three dozen people, many of whom had volunteered in the work parties, came to the ceremony and listened intently as Boni gave a guided tour of the plants and explained the function of each in absorbing and cleaning the water.

Boni Bieri talks about the meadow
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

The first planting was in the fall of 2014 and the area was expanded through the fall of 2017. 

See previous article by Pam Cross

From an occasionally muddy spot in the park, the area is now a wetland meadow with many varieties of plants, grasses, ferns, and wild flowers.

Work parties were held twice a month, from May to September, with individuals, and groups such as the Glitter Girls scout troop (see previous article by Boni Bieri)

Maintenance, collecting, and controlling invasive plants will be ongoing.