JUANITA WOODLANDS
Juanita Woodlands: an Urban Forest
As drivers and cyclists head westward on 116th Avenue past Juanita Village and Juanita Bay Park, they ascend on Juanita Drive above Lake Washington’s northeastern shores. Within minutes, the sight of businesses and hillside homes is replaced by towering canopies of Douglas fir trees–a lush 40-acre urban forest amidst the neighborhoods on Big Finn Hill’s eastern slopes. As they pass by, commuters may notice a blue sign that identifies the stand as the “Juanita Woodlands Park.” What they may not know is that just a few years ago, this impressive stand of trees was marked for removal and replacement by a subdivision.
Over a five-year period, the community banded together to save the woodlands. Today, thanks to the efforts of local residents, businesses and government representatives, the grove is now a park that preserves an important habitat for native species and provides countless benefits for humans, including recreational opportunities–not to mention beautiful roadside scenery.
Neighbors Working Together to Save an Urban Forest
For years, the Juanita Woodlands–a 40-acre parcel of woodlands abutting Juanita Drive–was held as Common School Trust Land by the State of Washington as a potential revenue source for the construction of public schools. Managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), this unique and ecologically-rich parcel was a lush urban forest that held stands of second growth Douglas firs, Douglas firs, cottonwoods, maples, madronas and other trees; and was home to an abundance of wildlife such as deer, beavers, and pileated woodpeckers.
In Spring of 2001, the State of Washington made known its intention to sell the parcel for private R-4 (Urban Residential) development, with zoning approved for 160 homes. A property developer immediately expressed an interest in buying the property, but the state was required to first offer it to local authorities. When King County passed on the offer, neighbors stepped in.
DCNA, the City of Kirkland, the Cascade Land Conservancy and King County Councilmember Jane Hague banded together to secure the funding and government support needed to save the woodlands. Councilmember Hague energized the campaign by securing $1 million in appropriations to help secure the land as a public space. The remaining $6-7 million would need to be funded by private sources.
DCNA and the Save the Juanita Woodlands campaign led an effort to convince King County to help fund purchase of the land. On December 15, 2003, the King County Council voted to purchase the woodlands from the Department of Natural Resources, virtually ensuring that the woodlands would be saved for future generations. However, the gift to the community came with an bonus challenge. The $5.5 million acquisition commitment saved all but 5 acres of the woodlands. King County generously offered DCNA and partners five years to raise the the $1.5 million needed to purchase the remaining acreage.
Over the next five years, the campaign secured donations and pledges from private individuals, corporations and conservancy groups to help purchase the land.
In 2008, after the conclusion of a five-year pledge campaign, the King County Council extoled the focused efforts and response of the community with the official dedication of a new urban forest and wildlife habitat preserve–Juanita Woodlands Park.
Ongoing Projects
Tree Planting
A study conducted by the Cascade Land Conservancy diagnosed root rot in several stands of Douglas Fir throughout the Juanita Woodlands. As prescribed by forest pathologists, King County removed the infected trees, so that they don’t pass the fungus to neighboring healthy ones. The good news, however, is that the affected areas can be replanted with a variety of native species, which provide greater diversity, enhance aesthetics over time, and better protect the Woodlands against similar diseases. Volunteers have dedicated hundreds of hours over the last several years replanting the site with more than 4000 trees.
Removal of Invasive Species
English ivy, Himalayan blackberries, and holly are the bane of our urban forests. Seattle has launched a 10-year, multi-million project to rid its parks of these invasive plants, which are slowly choking its trees and native shrubs. Our Woodlands are similarly afflicted, and up to two dozen community volunteers assemble every year to hack, hew, and pull out ivy and other noxious plants.
You Can Help!
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