Who?

You! Anyone can help if you can spend a bit of time and muscle power. Whether you like to bike, walk, or just happen to drive by the trail and see others using it, or have never even seen it and want to make Seattle a better place – come on out! We can provide tools (but bring whatever you’ve got that seems appropriate and you don’t mind using, even better if you can share some tools). I’ll centrally collect the litter bags afterwards. We’ll figure out the vegetation disposal. We just need you!

When?

Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 9am to noon and 1pm to 3pm, but your time commitment is flexible, feel free to come and go when you can, but here’s the plan:

• 9am – meet at Herring’s House Park, choose and fan out to different work areas
• 9am to noon – work independently or in teams, do what needs to be done!
• noonish to ~1pm – meet back at the park for a bit of socialization and snacks, eat whatever food people choose to bring, share war stories, discuss ideas for future cleanups, rant about winter, etc., feel free to stay as long as you like, it’s a public park!
• ~1pm to ~3pm – anyone who wants to go back out, centrally collect litter bags (by bike + trailer), do touch ups, etc. as needed, if you’re able!

Where? How do I get there?

Meet at Herring’s House Park on the Duwamish Trail.

Biking to the park is, of course, the best option, and allows you to easily get to other parts of the trail as needed. Bring a bike trailer if you’ve got one!

Bike or scooter share (Lime, Bird, etc.) is also a great option to get there if you don’t have your own bike, since you can use it to get elsewhere along the trail, or leave it at the park to get back afterwards.

Unfortunately, public transit is a big challenge (or impossibility!) for this location. The closest you can get to the park is more than a mile away, Bus 125, RapidRide H, Bus 21 all stop at the north end (Delridge, Chelan). Bus 131 stops at the south end (Highland Park Way). We can probably organize some carpools if needed (just ask!), but maybe bike/scooter share the last mile is better!

There is a small amount of car parking at Herring’s House Park (~12 spaces, but often half full already) if you need, otherwise park elsewhere nearby (legally!) and walk to the park.

Please do not drive on or park anywhere on the trail itself (or alongside it, with limited exceptions)!

What?

The Duwamish Trail, W Marginal Way SW bike lane and sidewalk, and connections from from Alki Trail (Chelan Cafe) down to the 1st Ave S Bridge. There are a few major concerns, depending on the area:

1. Litter pickup. Many sections of the Duwamish Trail are a mess and need a full litter sweep and collection of other detritus (e.g. car parts). I last completed a litter sweep (on my own) about a year ago.
2. Leaf removal. Sections of bike path (and sidewalk especially!) need leaves, sticks, branches, etc. cleared.
3. Vegetation cutback. Sections or the trail bordered by vegetation from planting strips and fence lines need vegetation trimmed back, especially from blackberry vines. It’s best to trim aggressively (or remove completely) so they don’t just grow back into the path within weeks.
4. Reporting of issues. Use the Find It Fix It app to report any problems, or anything too big for us to handle, for example potholes/heaves, downed signs, manhole covers open, larger furniture dumped, etc.
5. Anything you want! If you have other ideas or requests (even if you can’t join) please reach out to me at jeremy@jcole.us and we’ll see if we can do it.

Here are a few examples of what the trail looks like today:

Encroachment on the path:

Face grabbing vines:

Shin-grabbing vines:

Narrowing of the path by overgrowth and leaf matter:

Litter just everywhere:

Because of the linear length of this path (about 3 miles!), it’s a challenge to clean up, and I’d love to organize regular work parties to do it with me. It should probably be done quarterly, ideally. Consider this the inaugural!

Why?

The Duwamish Trail is a major bike and walking/rolling connection north-south on the west side of the Duwamish Waterway/River in West Seattle, and sees moderate recreational and commuting bike traffic. It also serves as a necessary detour for the Spokane Street swing bridge connecting people outside of cars to the 1st Ave S bridge. Aside from its active transportation utility, Herring’s House Park, həʔapus Village Park & Shoreline Habitat, Kellogg Island, and the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center are important culturally and historically to Seattle. It deserves to be nice!

Okay! I’m in!

Awesome. Please RSVP using this Google form so I have an idea who’s coming and what they want to do – it’s not required, but I’d love to get an idea. If you want to play a bigger part in making this even happen, reach out to me by email at jeremy@jcole.us.

See you there!