Hi. Westcrest is a park on the west side of the Duwamish river valley; it is above Boeing Field. I made a trip out there several months ago to inspect the park. It is a remarkable 90 acres of second-growth conifer forest--remarkable in that very little conifer forest is left in the Duwamish Industrial corridor. The park is home to a barred owl, red-tailed hawk, golden-crowned kinglets, black capped chickadees and other birds of the foreswt, madrone, woman-high stands of salal, mullein, bleeding heart, hemlocks, western red cedar; it also provides habitat for a pair of bald eagles. The park is accessible to the handicapped.

I include below a summary of the situation, and how park activists might support Westcrest's legal challenge. Yes, the citizens are suing the city, and if they win their suit, an important legal precedent will be established regarding city "takings" of public trust land.

Please note that when the city first proposed siting the police horse barns at Westcrest, the city told the community that the barns would be constructed on the other side of the park, the site of an asphalt dump. The community signed off on this site. Last summer the city decided park land was cheaper, and without notifying the community, began to survey Westcrest Park. The city is now offering the asphalt dump as compensation for loss of park land.
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Westcrest Defense and Preservation Fund
9409 - Sixth Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98106

December 1998

Dear Neighbor,

Nearly two acres of Westcrest Park is being taken for horse barns for the police. This is not necessary as enough land is available immediately adjacent in the area used by the city street department. Taking the park property violates an initiative against taking park property for nonpark purposes and an agreement to preserve the park's open space and natural features as part of Forward Thrust money which was used to purchase it. Most importantly, the proposed horse barns would interrupt the existing trail which provides handicapped access through the old conifer forest. This trail now extends for nearly a half mile from Cambridge Street through the park and around both sides of the reservoir. It was established in 1917, is part of the park's master plan, and is included in the King County bikeway system map.

The Westcrest Defense and Preservation Fund has been formed to test this taking in court on the belief that if the park is allowed to be carved up for nonpark uses eventually there will be no open space of natural area left to preserve. The fund has been chartered as a nonprofit organization to preserve and promote Westcrest Park. Court costs could run as high as $5,000, even with attorneys working pro bono. which has been arranged. Two attorneys have agreed to take the case to court and feel that they have a good chance of winning. Experts have volunteered to provide alternative site analysis, evaluations of the forest, wildlife and native plants. Everyone involved is a volunteer.

In the belief that this cause should be supported citywide and that "many hands make light work," we are asking for your support. The $5,000 needed to defend the park can be raised if 250 people can be found to contribute $20 each. All contributions are tax-deductible, and every dime will go to the preservation of the park and greenbelt. Checks should be made payable to "Westcrest Defense Fund" and mailed to 9409-6th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98106.

Please help in any way you can. If you have questions or could volunteer some help, call Kris Liljeblad at 206/689-3975 or David Watkins at 206/762-6533.