On December 6th, at the Alki Bathhouse, the University of Washington's Master of Landscape Architecture studio presented their designs for the future of Schmitz Park. Sponsored by SchmitzParkCreekRestore.org, the presentation outlined visionary plans to connect the park's creek to Puget Sound, restoring the natural flow of water and salmon to the area.

The event began with an introduction by Dan Nye, a longtime resident of West Seattle and a driving force behind the project. He emphasized the sacred nature of the land, acknowledging the indigenous people who stewarded the area for centuries before it became a park. Dan highlighted the importance of honoring this legacy through the restoration efforts.

He expressed gratitude to various individuals and organizations involved in the project. This included:

● David Buerge, tribal historian from the Duwamish tribe, who provided valuable insights on the indigenous perspective of the park.

● Members of the Schmitz family, whose ancestors donated the land for the park in 1908.

● Bruce Stotler, a city employee who advocated for the inclusion of his property int the park.

● Seattle Parks, for their encouragement and support.

● Seattle Public Utilities, for their expertise and potential financial support

● Mary Pierson, who with her late husband city councilman Charlie Chang, spearheaded a restoration project in the College Street Ravine, a tributary to Schmitz Park creek.

The presentation then transitioned to Paul Peters, the instructor of the University of Washington Master of Landscape Architecture studio. Peters explained that his students, divided into three groups, focused on the forest, the park (Whale Tail Park), and the beach areas. Each group explored the potential of bringing salmon back to the forest while considering the unique opportunities and challenges of their assigned area.

Forest Group: Mending the watershed

The forest group, emphasizing their concept of "mending the watershed," presented their vision for restoring the natural flow of water throughout the park and surrounding neighborhoods. Recognizing the interdependence of the creek, forest, and wildlife, they proposed:

● Unpaving hardscapes and converting a parking lot at Schmitz Park Elementary School into a bog to increase water infiltration and restore a historically significant feature.

● Expanding the forest into the surrounding community to create connecting corridors to other green spaces and increase permeability.

● Creating a more meandering creek network to enhance salmon habitat and reduce sedimentation.

● Building a system of elevated boardwalks to minimize human impact on the forest floor and protect salmon habitat.

● Developing three distinct corridors within the forest: the Creek Walk, the Forest Walk, and a suspended Canopy Walk to offer visitors a variety of experiences.

● A system for residents to cultivate native plants from the forest to support restoration efforts.

Park Group: Connecting Spaces and Honoring History

The park group focused on transforming Whale Tail Park into a space that connects the forest to the beach and fosters community stewardship. Their key proposals included:

● Creating a clear pathway for salmon to travel from the forest to the Sound.

● Designing the park to be resilient to future flooding and sea level rise.

● Honoring the potential for indigenous burial grounds through thoughtful design and elevated boardwalks.

● Incorporating a diverse range of habitats, including brackish water zones, wetlands, and meadows, to support a wider variety of species.

● Engaging the community in willow staking initiatives along the creek to enhance salmon habitat.

● Relocating the iconic Whale Tail play structure to a new play area elevated above potential flood levels.

Beach Group: Reimagining the shoreline

The beach group focused on reimagining the shoreline to accommodate the reconnected creek and create a welcoming space for both humans and wildlife. They proposed:

● Developing areas for recreation and gathering, including seating, lounge areas, and tide pools.

● Creating a ring garden with play areas for children that also functions as a bio-retention area.

● Enhancing the sandy beach with canopy coverage and lounge seating.

● Creating dunes as a gateway experience to the beach.

● Breaking up the seawall with reef structures to create habitat for eelgrass and mitigate storm surge.

The presentation concluded with an invitation for attendees to explore the models and drawings in detail, ask questions, and provide feedback on the proposed designs. This event marked a significant step forward in the effort to revitalize Schmitz Park, bringing together passionate residents, community organizations, and the University of Washington in a collaborative effort to reconnect the park to its natural heritage.