Lake Forest Park volunteers plan phased cleanup, native-planting at Blue Heron Park

Linda Holman, chair of the Lake Forest Park Park Board, told the Tree Board that she and community partners plan a phased cleanup and native-planting program for Blue Heron Park and asked the Tree Board to assist with a site walk and tree recommendations. The project will begin with volunteer cleanups and small work parties in September, then move to planting and longer-term stewardship.

Holman said the park’s plantings from prior efforts are overgrown, that invasive blackberry and dense volunteer stems now block sight lines and pathways, and that police have expressed concern about visibility in parts of the park. “This is primarily has turned into nothing but sword first,” she said, describing dense undergrowth, and later said, “we did find out that there actually is water there,” noting a watering hookup that could support planting efforts.

The Tree Board and city staff discussed limits and sequencing. Elizabeth (assistant planner for the city) and other board members said the board can contribute outreach, education, tours and planting events. Board members emphasized a cautious approach around the creek to avoid disturbing the riparian ecosystem and asked for participation from members with tree expertise to identify which small trees should be removed and which larger trees to keep. Holman requested at least one Tree Board member to do an on-site walk-through with park volunteers and city staff; board members said they would coordinate that walk.

The plan described by Holman includes: starting with cleanups on the upland planting beds to open inviting, visible areas; retaining larger evergreen trees while removing small, crowded volunteer stems (Holman identified many small stems she was told were quaking aspen); working with master gardeners and stewardship partners to improve irrigation and native-plantings; engaging Lake Forest Park School third-graders who already adopted two tiny planting areas near the creek; and recruiting Eagle Scout projects and other volunteers for larger tasks. Holman said the work will be staged so grass areas that currently help hold soil are not removed prematurely.

Board members and staff noted implementation details the group should confirm before removal or planting, including permitting rules and what sizes of trees can be removed without a city permit (the board discussed a 6-inch diameter threshold as the standard referenced in the meeting), and whether work near the creek will require stream/critical-area coordination. Several participants offered to help organize outreach and to include the project at fall tabling events to recruit volunteers.

No formal motions or funding decisions were made at the meeting; members agreed to follow up with a site walk, to coordinate volunteers, and to begin small community work parties in September if logistical details are confirmed.

Linda Holman said she hopes the project will involve a broad partnership: “I’m bringing together people with a wide variety of interest and knowledge base and commitment to do this and make it really a community project.”

Board members closed the discussion by offering to help publicize the work and to schedule the requested walk-through with the member who knows local tree species.

The Tree Board made no formal decision on removals or plantings at this meeting; next steps are an on-site assessment and a volunteer schedule to begin in September if city coordination and permitting allow it.