The Bigger Picture, Cutting down trees, Wellington Hills Park, We are ALL NIMBYs

Globally, about 15 billion trees are cut down every year.

I suspect there were politicians, business people and bureaucrats offered valid reasons and a whole lot of rationalizations about why so many trees "needed" to be cut down.

If you consider Wellington Hills ex-Park as an example....

• For decades it was a small, open to everyone, 9-hole golf course. The mature trees in Wellington are about 100 years old.

• King County gave Snohomish County $70 million so that King County’s Brightwater sewage plant could be built in Snohomish County.

• King Co and Snoco agreed to build a community park for the residents near Brightwater.

• Snoco then decided a “park” meant a regional sports complex.

• Community activists and your average homeowner stood-up and said there was no reason to cut down a 100-year-old forest and destroy the peaceful and rural Wellington Hills community.

• After many years Snoco tossed their plans to build a regional sports complex on the Wellington site.

• Instead, Snoco secretly sold the site to Northshore School District.

• Northshore School District bureaucrats decided, despite the fact they need new schools in other areas of their domain, they would build several schools on the Wellington site.

• Oh, and don’t ignore this – Northshore will be busing children to Wellington from other areas because this area doesn’t have the population to fill new schools.

• It’s expensive to build schools, $130+ million is a good ballpark number for a K-8 school, and architects don’t do “organic” architecture when it comes to blueprinting a school… they cut down trees, flatten the ground and then build the new schools.

• Contrary to the words of a Northshore bureaucrat, the Wellington site is not, “Flat, Dry & Cheap”.

• All the rationalizations in the world do not justify cutting down a rare 100-acre forest. Especially since it may be the last of its kind in the ever-developing Eastside.

• For a moment consider that forest are obstructions to development.

••• Do you like nature walks? Picnics under shady trees? Do you like peaceful walks with your children while pointing out butterflies, different birds or simply sitting on the ground and giving names to the overhead puffy white clouds?

••• Do you think we should have nature places, other than zoos, as homes to native animals and birds?

••• Do you think, if the Wellington site is developed; the deer, coyote, bobcats, bear, bald eagles, owls, hawks, assorted small birds and all the insects will simply pack their little suitcases and move to another forest?

••• Do you think to yourself, “Trees are just trees and if I want one I’ll go the nursery and buy one.”

Or

••• “If I want to see a forest I’ll pack the car and we’ll drive to the Cascades or Olympics.”

For over six years your neighbors have kept the Wellington Hills ex-Park as an open and natural place.

Citizen action works.

People can make a difference.

If you fear the negatives of development:

Excessive traffic, higher taxes, increase in crime, light and noise pollution…

Consider helping Neighbors to Save Wellington Park.

Every donated dollar goes to attorney fees – because that’s where the battle is – in the legal system.

When you drive 240th, we hope you take a moment and look at Wellington because, despite NSD now owning it, for over 6 years NSWP has fought to keep Wellington as you now see it.

Enjoy the view, stop and walk through it.

Then donate to NSWP.

We will prevail.

Resuming Blogs

We typically blame someone or some thing when there's glitch or disruption of a service.

So, blame the lack of blog posts on the holidays, the weather, the National and State elections, time spent on Facebook or blame it on just being too busy with efforts geared to saving the Wellington Hills site (in bureaucratic-speak, "ex-Park").

As you drive through the Wellington Site... Know This: The small metal sign may say "Undeveloped Site" and the place looks pretty much the same as it has for the past years...

But don't believe your eyes, despite the serene appearance, a war is going on for the continued existence of the Wellington Hills site - And that war will continue until we deflect the callous and inappropriate plans that will devastate more than just the Wellington Hills site.  The very nature of our community is threatened by urbanized development plans for this area.

What began as an effort to "Save the Park" has revealed our area's vulnerability to speculators and profiteers.

Now's a good time to get involved with "Saving Our Community".

Giving Tueday

Please remember NEIGHBORS TO SAVE WELLINGTON PARKon "Giving Tuesday" we greatly appreciate your donations and support!

It's because of donations we've been able to thwart development of the Wellington site. Let's continue the fight and keep unwarranted development out of the Wellington Hills area... and in the process, save the park for generations to come.

Thank you!

Mail checks to
“Neighbors to Save Wellington Park”,
PO Box 1805,
Woodinville, WA 98072

For NSWP's PayPal direct donation button, see the column on the right side of this blog.

Northshore School District and Wellington Hills Park

October 2015 (almost a year ago) we discovered there had been secret meetings and a deal between Snohomish County bureaucrats and Northshore School District bureaucrats at which Snohomish County would sell Wellington Hills Park to Northshore School District. for $11.2 million. 

The public was never informed or asked for comments on this "deal".

As citizens we've attended all sorts of Snohomish County meetings, we've followed the flow of ECAFs (Executive/Council Approval Form) ... we've regularly contacted various County offices and inquired, "Anything new concerning Wellington?"

Not once was there a peep, hint or statement concerning the County's plan to sell the Park.

Now, back to that School Board meeting.

That evening the School Board was asked to vote their approval on the purchase agreement for Wellington Hills Park.

It was painfully obvious - the Board was not aware of many of the issues and details associated with Wellington Hills Park... such as, there were existing lawsuits in existence concerning the site.

Two board members wanted more time to look into the matter ... they were voted down (3 to 2).

To justify the potential purchase, an enthusiastic bureaucrat declared to the Board:
For new school property, we look for 'cheap, flat and dry' land.

At that point, I thought to myself -

"It doesn't sound like the Board has all the facts concerning the Wellington Hills site, its particular uniqueness or its value to the local community - yet they voted to purchase it, how odd."

My second thought, "I wonder if I could sell them the Brooklyn Bridge?"

I have many more photos of the "flat and dry" Wellington site.... but that's enough for one post.

Important NSWP Event - September 22, 2016

New sign for Montevallo Estates

Within every community there are particular and memorable words with unique meaning to local residents.

It might be the name of a pioneer monument, an old bridge ... maybe a small lake or totem pole. Sometimes those "words" were in the news and perhaps they became a rallying call - but those words also produce an acute awareness whenever the words are spoken.

Locally, the Wellington Hills community (in Woodinville WA) is very aware of the words,
"Wood Trails-Montevallo".

The Wellington Hills community spent 10 years and a lot of money in a fight over the Wood Trails-Montevallo land development plan ... if you want to read more about that, see the webpage: Concerned Citizens of Wellington

It's with that background someone call me and said, "Did you see the new sign on 156th Street?"

I'm posting photos of the sign, not as a criticism or objection ... it's about awareness:

Montevallo Estates is in King County and located next to the county line with Snohomish County.

Wellington Hills Park is a Frisbee toss from Montevallo Estates into Snohomish County.

I hope everyone involved with the sale - both buyers and sellers - have adequate information concerning the status and issues currently happening with Wellington Hills Park.

The way it was & how it should be

The beauty of a park is more than the sum of its trees, grass and vistas. For most people, parks are pleasant places to visit... parks lift our spirits and we used infrequently used words: Relaxation, Calmness, Refreshed, and Serenity.

Have you noticed; towns and cities that have natural parks usually take great pride in "their" parks. Parks often become focus points of civic pride … proof of that, take a look at the advertising cities use to promote themselves ... almost always they mention or feature their parks.

Wellington Hills Park is an island in the swirl of nearby development and urbanization – This is the time to save it - because once it is gone it won’t be replaced when we become nostalgic for touches of nature – and serenity.

.........................................

Not too long ago the unnecessary gate into Wellington Hills Park was mostly open and people came, enjoyed themselves, met-up with friends and then quietly went about their days ... it was quite pleasant.

And before the parks dept. decided to stop mowing the grassy-weedy open areas (they called it "naturalization) ... it was indeed an open and easy place for walking, strolling and playing with friends, children and dogs.