Stewardship Foundation details decades of volunteer restoration, fundraising and park projects

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation presented an overview of its volunteer restoration, habitat and education work to the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board during the meeting.

The foundation is a local 501(c)(3) that has helped acquire and protect roughly two dozen acres of parks and open space in Lake Forest Park, provided ongoing stewardship and raised what the foundation’s treasurer described as about $850,000 over its lifetime to support local park projects. Kim Jossend, the foundation’s president, told the board the group also uses donations, grants and partnerships to support work in parks, creeks and school programs.

The foundation’s work includes restoration at Grace Cole Nature Park, the campaign to preserve 5 Acre Woods, stream monitoring and environmental education such as “salmon in the schools.” John Brew, the foundation’s secretary and treasurer, said the organization purchases materials, pays for insurance that covers volunteer work parties and funds stipends for local researchers and students.

"We do volunteer efforts, grant writing and collaboration with the city to maintain and improve these parks," Jossend said. She noted volunteers helped remove invasive ivy, install boardwalks and plant native species.

Board members and foundation volunteers described recent accomplishments at 5 Acre Woods, including extensive ivy removal and trail work. The foundation reported about 400 volunteer hours at that park in the last year and said trails were sited to avoid wetlands. Jossend said the group is coordinating with the city on future trail and signage work.

The foundation also reported new plantings and that it purchased more than 26 cedar trees, each about 6 to 8 feet tall, that are being cared for off-site until they can be planted; the trees were obtained at a substantially reduced cost through the Muckleshoot Tribe, Jossend said. The foundation said it plans to plant many of those cedars where invasive black locusts are being removed.

Volunteers and staff also discussed wildlife and habitat restoration projects: stream restoration and culvert work, placing large woody debris to improve salmon habitat, a daylighting project and the recent presence of a beaver family at Grace Cole. Jossend and Brew said the foundation funds and coordinates stream water-quality testing alongside volunteer streamkeepers and university partners.

The foundation described its fundraising mix as monthly donors, larger annual gifts, community events and grant sources including King County programs and collaborations with university researchers. Brew said a $25,000 donation from the Cole family was earmarked for Grace Cole projects and has been used for benches and site improvements.

Tyler Dittman, chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, thanked the foundation for the work and encouraged board members to coordinate on priorities such as surveying park boundaries and addressing access and signage issues.

The foundation invited board members and residents to volunteer and to a forthcoming reception at Red Sky Gallery that will showcase tree-themed artwork and serve as a community meet-and-greet.