Community Corner
Mercer Island Volunteers Sought for Mountains to Sound Greenway Forest Restoration
The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is seeking volunteers for ecological restoration events on Mercer Island the next two Saturdays, Aug. 10 and 17.
Mountains to Sound Greenway volunteers will join Mercer Island Parks for ecological restoration events on the next two Saturdays, Aug. 10 and 17. Mercer Island is graced with 35 parks, over 300 acres of natural areas, and more than 50 miles of trails, but relies on the community for upkeep and maintenance.
Here's the details on two summer restoration efforts by the Greenway Trust:
Mercerdale Hillside
Popular among joggers, walkers, and families, Mercerdale Hillside provides an urban open space experience for residents of all ages. However, the natural area has become over-run with non-native ivy, laurel and holly which threaten its ecological diversity. Volunteers will be crucial to the restoration of this local forest by returning over the next few years to remove invasive plants, plant native conifers, and support the growth of these young trees. Through these persistent and targeted efforts by volunteers, Mercerdale Hillside will be become, once more, an ecologically diverse forest.
Here's the schedule for the Mercerdale Hillside cleanup:
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Morning team 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Afternoon team 12 - 3 p.m.
Luther Burbank Park
Luther Burbank Park is an important rest stop for many species of migratory birds and is home to at least one family of beavers. During the volunteer event, we will be removing various invasive species such as blackberry, ivy, holly, and more to ensure the survival of the native vegetation in the wetland area.
Here's the schedule for the Luther Burbank Park cleanup:
Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Morning team 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Afternoon team 12 - 3 p.m.
About The Mountains to Sound Greenway:
The Mountains to Sound Greenway is the 1.5 million-acre landscape connecting Puget Sound and central Washington that has sustained generations through the abundance of its natural resources. Alpine peaks, wilderness lakes, and lush forests connect by road, rail and trail to rural towns and city high rises, where local residents live, work and play in communities deeply rooted to the land around them.
Twenty years of conservation have protected the natural heritage of the Greenway. Today, this network of parks, forests, farms and cities is both our history and our way of life.
The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust leads and inspires action to conserve and enhance this landscape, ensuring a long-term balance between people and nature. Founded in 1991, the nonprofit Greenway Trust works to promote public land acquisitions, connect a continuous regional trail system, teach people of all ages about the importance of conserving forests and wildlife, improve recreation access, create new parks and trails and mobilize thousands of volunteers.
For more information, contact Tor Bell, Stewardship Director, 206.849.4331, tor.bell@mtsgreenway.org or Jema Hayes, Volunteer Program Coordinator, 206.373.1600, jeanmarie.hayes@mtsgreenway.org.
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