An Exciting Update on Our Delridge Wetland Park Project
We are beyond excited to announce that DNDA has finished major construction on our long-awaited Delridge Wetland Park project!
Before (June 2023) and after (September 2023) photo of the Delridge Wetland Park project showing construction progress.
Our primary contractor on the project, Titan Earthwork, wrapped up their work last week, and the site now has proper sidewalks, walking trails, and functional green stormwater infrastructure. In the coming months, we’ll be continuing to polish the project, including extensive revegetation, building out structures, and improving site access paths.
The Delridge Wetland Park, located on 23rd Ave SW and SW Findlay St, is a project spearheaded by DNDA to protect, restore, preserve, and expand the existing wetland to improve water quality in Longfellow Creek, while developing the space as a public park for all to enjoy. Besides restoring its wetland functions, the project aims to improve the park as an outdoor classroom for local students and the community to learn hands-on environmental science and wetland stewardship.
DNDA has been pursuing the project for nearly a decade. The property once served as an electrical substation for Seattle City Light, and was acquired by DNDA as a surplus property.
The Delridge Wetland Park serving as an outdoor classroom for children in a class taught by DNDA in 2016.
This has been a high-value project because of its potential to capture pollution that would otherwise enter Longfellow Creek. The natural physical features of the local land direct runoff from much of the surrounding neighborhood into the wetland, but over the years, the wetland itself had degraded and was moving water quickly through a ditch system and straight into the creek. The restoration work has involved installing a series of settling pools, bioswales, and other infrastructure that will retain water longer and ensure the drainage that exits into Longfellow Creek is cleaner.
Our work over the years was initiated by Willard Brown, former DNDA staff member and board member, and has been led by Caroline Borsenik, DNDA’s Environmental Programs Director, and Peggy Gaynor of Gaynor Inc. Jules Hepp, our Environmental Education Coordinator, has been utilizing the site for hands-on environmental science and wetland stewardship educational activities for local youth and community members.
We also want to give a big thank you to our numerous funders who have worked with us over the years on this project: King County Flood Control District, King County Wastewater Treatment Division, the Garneau-Nicon Foundation, King County Parks, and the taxpayers of Washington State.
DNDA’s Nature volunteers helping with the Delridge Wetland Park project in September 2023.
— Written by DNDA’s Restoration Program Manager Ben Antonius