Sad News...Drastic Cuts to Carkeek Park & Its Public Programs

The Seattle City Council took its final votes on the 2011-2012 budget last Friday. 

Unfortunately, as per a recent email from a Councilmember's Aide,

the Council DID NOT alter the Mayor’s proposal for 

Carkeek's Environmental Learning Center (ELC) and its public programs.  

Carkeek Environmental Learning Center WILL BE CLOSED to the public - 

and its public programs will NO LONGER CONTINUE - 

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2011. 

Official announcement of these closures will be made Monday, November 22nd. 

Sadly, Here's what Seattle residents will loose because of this ill-guided decision:

·                    Carkeek Park and Llandover Wood trail maintenance & development

·                     Piper’s Creek Orchard care

·                     Carkeek Park Beach Docent Program

·                     Master Foresters Program

·                     Salmon Stewards Program

·                     Demonstration gardens

·                     Preschool environmental education programs (Tot Treks/Tyke Hikes)

·                     Senior environmental education programs 

·                     An outstanding staff Naturalist

And to make matters worse, in a surprise decision from the City Council,

The Carkeek ELC will be open for rentals ONLY. 

School day programs will NO LONGER CONTINUE at Carkeek Park.

School programs will continue ONLY at Discovery Park and Camp Long

The Parks Department states that it is reaching out to partners in the community that will hopefully be able to use the ELC for educational programming.  If you’d like to get more updates on this, please stay in touch with Councilmember Sally Bagshaw’s office, as she Chair’s the Council’s Parks Committee.


Contact information for Councilmember Sally Bagshaw is below:

	Sally Bagshaw Position: 4 In office since: 2010 Current term: 2010-2013 Chair: Parks & Seattle Center; and Alaskan Way Viaduct & Seawall Replacement Project Phone: (206) 684-8801 Email: sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov Staff: Kathy Nyland and Philip Roewe

Save Carkeek Park's "Nature Play" Program for Preschoolers!

There is, in our local Piper's Creek watershed, nestled between 

ferns and conifers and among Nature's critters, 

a Special Place for you and your child to explore and learn....

Carkeek Park's "Nature Play" (a.k.a "Tot Treks" or "Tyke Hikes") are engaging, outdoor adventures for preschoolers ages 2 to 5.  They are a wonderful mix of creative play and environmental education that forms a respect for Nature for a lifetime.  

Carkeek's "Tot Treks" run every Thursday morning from 10:00-11:15.  They are led by trained Naturalists who capture the interests of  children and adults alike.  So far this season we've learned about animal habitats, spiders, soil and plants, fall colors, salmon and much more.  

Recent Tot Trekkers helped restore parts of Carkeek Park by planting native species such as Low Oregon Grape and Western Hemlock.

The program has drawn hundreds of preschoolers in recent years and is a source of income for Seattle Parks and Recreation.

CARKEEK'S "TOT TREKS" PROGRAM,

HOWEVER, IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK AS PART OF THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS FOR 2011.

This email came from a concerned mom regarding the proposed budget cuts to Carkeek Park's environmental education programs for preschoolers.  It was sent to the Seattle City Council and is posted here as well:

Dear Seattle City Council Members, 

I learned last week that Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center will be closing its doors come January as a result of the Mayor's proposed budget for 2011.  I want to express my profound sadness and disappointment over this public service cut.

I am the mother of two young boys aged 3.5 and 1.5. We attend the Carkeek Park preschool program "Nature Play" weekly.  They love it!  They love the teachers, Stephanie and Brian.  They love running through the meadow.  They love hugging the trees.  They love learning about the salmon.  They love planting new Western Hemlocks in the tot garden.

How can we expect the next generation to care for the our home, planet earth, without having this kind of interaction with our outdoor world and nature?  I am of the opinion that this type of education and public service is priceless and what sets our community apart from others.  My husband is a student at UW and we don't have the money to send our little ones off to an expensive, indoor preschool.  

Personally, I think this incredible outdoor preschool experience is so much healthier for their little brains and bodies anyway.

I know I do not stand alone on this issue.  I would stand up with the other mothers that feel the same way and together we say:

 "The future of our earth is in the hands of our children!  

We need these programs and education to 

instill our youth with a respect for Mother Earth. 

Do not underestimate this simple, public service. 

Please reconsider cutting environmental education for the young!"

- Sara Egbert

Carkeek's Master Forester Program, by Lex Voorhoeve

On November 6th, 2010, thirty volunteers worked at the South entrance of Carkeek Park, fighting invasive, non-native blackberries and replacing them with new native plants.  Such an event would be impossible were it not for the experience of five lead graduates from the Carkeek Park Master Foresters classes.  (There would have been seven leads but two were directing another work party.) 


Three of such Master Forester classes were offered, in 2005, 2007 and 2009.  Each class stretched out over eleven Saturdays between June and February, so that all seasons were covered. Each class lasted from 8.30 - 12.00, with about 40% of the time indoors and 60% of the time out in the field - a real "hands on" curriculum.  


In addition, students were assigned a project area, for which they had to make an assessment: What vegetation is there, what native plants are there, what invasive plants are there?  What needs to be done with the vegetation? Is planting needed?  How many of which species need to be ordered?  All in all a rather involved project. 


Unique to these classes was that they often attract new people, without much volunteer experience.  And many, as said in the beginning, become leaders of work parties, sometimes for special days like today (November 6, 2010) or during the regular monthly STARS work parties. (STARS is an acronym for "Streams, Trails, and Restoration Stewards.")


And some start new activities, like the two Master Foresters that initiated a Golden Gardens volunteer group. Continuation of these once-every-two-years classes is vital for keeping volunteer input in Carkeek Park - and elsewhere - alive.

Decision Time Is Near....

Soon Mayor McGinn and the Seattle City Council will make their decision regarding the proposed closure to Carkeek Park's Environmental Learning Center, as well as the proposed elimination of the staff and public programs housed there.  

A final decision date of November 22nd, 2010 mentioned at the budget hearing meeting at City Hall back on October 26th.


We ask supporters of Carkeek Park, the ELC and its public programs to voice your concern over the proposed closures.


Below is the contact information for Mayor McGinn's office and Seattle City Council Members.  Emails, letters, phone calls -  let your voice be heard and help keep Carkeek Park's ELC and its programming open to the public.


Click here to contact Seattle's Mayor, Mike McGinn.


Click here to contact the Seattle City Council.  (Council Member information and contacts are also listed below.)

Note that Councilmember Sally Bagshaw chairs the committee overseeing Parks.  

Contacting Ms. Bagshaw directly can help 

make a positive change in the Mayor's proposed budget.

You may also contact Seattle Councilmembers by mail at:
Seattle City Council
P.O. Box 34025
Seattle, WA 98124-4025

	Richard Conlin, Council President Position: 2 In office since: 1998 Current term: 2010-2013 Chair: Regional Development & Sustainability; and SR 520 Phone: (206) 684-8805 Email: richard.conlin@seattle.gov Staff: Elaine Ko, Phyllis Shulman and Sara Nelson

	Sally Bagshaw Position: 4 In office since: 2010 Current term: 2010-2013 Chair: Parks & Seattle Center; and Alaskan Way Viaduct & Seawall Replacement Project Phone: (206) 684-8801 Email: sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov Staff: Kathy Nyland and Philip Roewe

	Tim Burgess Position: 7 In office since: 2008 Current term: 2008-2011 Chair: Public Safety & Education Phone: (206) 684-8806 Email: tim.burgess@seattle.gov Staff: Betsy Graef, Nate Van Duzer and Rebekah Papé

	Sally J. Clark Position: 9 In office since: 2006 Current term: 2008-2011 Chair: Built Environment; and Alaskan Way Viaduct & Seawall Replacement Project Phone: (206) 684-8802 Email: sally.clark@seattle.gov Staff: LaTonya Brown, David Yeaworth and Dan Nolte

	Jean Godden Position: 1 In office since: 2004 Current term: 2008-2011 Chair: Finance & Budget; and Budget Phone: (206) 684-8807 Email: jean.godden@seattle.gov Staff: Tom Van Bronkhorst, Monica Ghosh and Dawn Wagner Todd

	Bruce A. Harrell Position: 3 In office since: 2008 Current term: 2008-2011 Chair: Energy, Technology & Civil Rights Phone: (206) 684-8804 Email: bruce.harrell@seattle.gov Staff: Vinh Tang, Jennifer L. Samuels and Michael Jerrett

	Nick Licata Position: 6 In office since: 1998 Current term: 2010-2013 Chair: Housing, Human Services, Health, & Culture Phone: (206) 684-8803 Email: nick.licata@seattle.gov Staff: Newell Aldrich, Lisa Herbold and Frank Video

	Mike O'Brien Position: 8 In office since: 2010 Current term: 2010-2013 Chair: Seattle Public Utilities & Neighborhoods Phone: (206) 684-8800 Email: mike.obrien@seattle.gov Staff: Esther Handy, Sierra Hansen and Sahar Fathi

	Tom Rasmussen Position: 5 In office since: 2004 Current term: 2008-2011 Chair: Transportation; and Alaskan Way Viaduct & Seawall Replacement Project Phone: (206) 684-8808 Email: tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov Staff: Brian Hawksford and Maia Harris