Community Corner
Viewfinder: North Mercerdale Restoration
Park steward continues long-term solo effort to clean up park
Rain or shine, Mercer Island park steward Rita Moore has spent the last several years, throughout both winter and summer, working to restore the woodlands of North Mercerdale Hillside Park. The longtime Island resident can often be found pulling out invasive plants like blackberries, creeping buttercups and an aptly-named weed called "Stinky Bob," replacing them with native plants, like ferns and young Douglas Firs, that will help the overgrown ravines thrive.
Moore has funded her project through a King County Small Change Grant. She gets occasional help watering from the Mercer Island Parks Restoration and Trail Crew, and this season she is joined by Mercer Island High School student Stuart Burke, who is dedicating his summer to improving the park as well.
"I really want to see this island in better shape for the next generation," says Moore.
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If you want to help, you can join Moore and Burke (bring gloves and clippers, if you have them) at North Mercerdale every Tuesday and Thursday from 1-4 p.m.