Hi. Here's a letter I wrote to Jan Silver of the Washington Park Bulletin=
. If
you're interested, keep reading...if not, hit the delete key. If any of y=
ou
are at all interested in the future of the Washington Park Arboretum, ple=
ase
get involved.

Wallis Bolz
******************
text of letter:

February 20, 1997

Dear Jan Silver,

Recently I had the opportunity to study a sketch of the Master Plan for t=
he
Washington Park Arboretum. The sketch I refer to was part of the Arboretu=
m
exhibit at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. In this letter you will =
find
my thoughts on aspects of the Master Plan presented at the Northwest Flow=
er
and Garden Show.=20

Before I begin my critique of the Master Plan, let me explain why I=92m
interested in it. I am a resident of the neighborhood immediately to the =
west
of the Japanese Garden. I have lived in Seattle for fifteen years and at =
East
Ward Street for the past three years. I own my home. Proximity to the
Arboretum was a key factor in our home purchase; both my husband and I pr=
ize
open space. In addition, I am a birder and a member of the Seattle Audubo=
n
Society. As you may well know, the Arboretum provides critical habitat in=
an
extensively developed urban environment, and is thus an asset beyond meas=
ure
to the Seattle birding community. Another of the pleasures of living in t=
his
neighborhood is that it is not immediately defined or contained within th=
e
intersections of freeway and arterial, as Montlake, Roanoke, and portions=
of
the North End have become. In addition, my neighborhood is one that suppo=
rts
a range of housing options, which attracts a diverse population.=20

Here are my comments on the Master Plan:

I heartily support improving pedestrian travel in the Arboretum. This mig=
ht
be easily achieved with the installation of pedestrian-activated lights a=
t
key crossing points in the Arboretum (at the intersection of Lake Washing=
ton
Boulevard and Arboretum Drive or at the intersection of E. Interlaken and
Lake Washington Boulevard). I am more reluctant to support the constructi=
on
of a footbridge; a reluctance that might be overcome if this footbridge i=
s
constructed in the style of the existing footbridge or in some other equa=
lly
pleasing form, doesn=92t steal open space from the Arboretum, and doesn=92=
t
interfere with the sheer physical pleasure of long expanses of open space.
I=92m not a fan of footbridges; most often they are uninviting with their
fortress-like combination of mesh and concrete and uncomfortable exposure=
of
the pedestrian to weather and the traffic below.

I support maintaining and improving existing plant collections, as well a=
s
expanding the array of plant collections.

And frankly, I am alarmed by other elements of the Master Plan. I am not =
at
all pleased to see that an increase in parking space is viewed as a means=
to
increase access to the Arboretum. I oppose developing additional parking
areas in the Arboretum; as a frequent visitor to the Arboretum, I have on=
ly
seen an increase in use of parking lots on Husky Game Days and sunny
weekends. On these days, the only parking lots that approach full are tho=
se
that line Lake Washington Boulevard and Foster Island. Arboretum Drive
parking spaces are usually empty; during the week, the spaces that line L=
ake
Washington Boulevard, Arboretum Drive, and Foster Island are largely
unoccupied. The Washington Park playfield parking lot is used in the even=
ing
by sports teams, but even then, there are plenty of free spaces.

An increase in parking space is only necessary if the Master Plan is exam=
ined
as an effort to redevelop the Arboretum from tree museum to branch campus=
of
the University of Washington. The construction of classrooms, a tea room,=
day
use structures, and other buildings point very much to an expansion of th=
e
Center for Urban Horticulture into the Washington Park Arboretum. If this=
is
indeed true, I am most distressed by the loss of valuable habitat and
precious open space. The areas targeted for redevelopment include Foster
Island and the holly grove on Arboretum Drive. Foster Island is a fragile
area that supports a large water bird population; the holly grove sustain=
s a
great number of other birds, including robins, varied thrushes, and jays.
=20
I=92m also curious about a vague remark penned on the sketch: =93Improved=
access
to SR 520.=94 What does this mean?

I=92m an advocate for maintaining the Arboretum as open space. The Washin=
gton
Park Arboretum is one of Seattle=92s great parks; as such, it is a vitall=
y
important open space in a neighborhood increasing under assault. The prop=
osed
expansion of the university into the Arboretum presents a unique problem =
to
the surrounding neighborhoods. I appreciate the Arboretum=92s intent in
developing a Master Plan, but I must express my deep reservation regardin=
g
one identified problem--increasing access, and the proposed solution--par=
king
lots and buildings. The solution draws heavily on traditional responses a=
nd
focuses narrowly on the needs of one institution: the University of
Washington. I learn an immense amount from a daily walk in these city woo=
ds
and I am loathe to surrender one precious portion of this wood; I have
learned how to restore a streamside habitat by examining the progress of =
the
Rhododendron Glen; I now recognize eco-mat and how to use it; I have seen=
the
importance of mass plantings of Sorbus and Ilex to the berry-eating bird
community; and I discern the preferred habitat of Golden Crowned Kinglets=
,
Bushtits, hummingbirds, wrens, and towhees. I would have to oppose the
conversion of green, open space into a spot where one might buy an espres=
so
on the way to class.
=09
I have read your plea in the Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin for commu=
nity
involvement in the Master Plan process; I=92d like to learn more about th=
e
Master Plan in order to do so. The sketch displayed at the Northwest Flow=
er
and Garden Show lacked detail and I=92d like to obtain a document that
describes in more detail the intent of the Arboretum Foundation, the
University of Washington, and the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreat=
ion.
Does one exist and can you provide it?

With best regards,

Wallis Bolz=09

Cc: John Behnke, Arboretum Foundation
Ken Bounds, City of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation
Clement W. Hamilton, UW Center for Urban Horticulture
Peter Staten, Montlake Community Club=20
Paul Stoms, Madison Park Community Council=20
John A. Wott, Washington Park Arboretum
Madison Valley Community Council
Seattle Audubon Society