Proof that, despite the recent soggy gloom, Spring is really here – amazing video of a male Chickadee building a nest by digging rotten wood out of an old alder stump near Eagle Landing Park:
This video courtesy of YouTube user 98166n.
| Apr ’08 |
| 12 |
| 10:00 am |
| Apr ’08 |
| 13 |
| 11:00 am |
For all you green and muddy B-Towners, be sure to mark your calendars for this Saturday and Sunday (April 12th and 13th), as the Trust for Public Land (Washington) will be at Seattle’s Green Festival representing MudUp.
The Burien area is rich with gorgeous parks and beaches, so we all need to keep them clean.
MudUp is the Alliance for Puget Sound Shoreline’s public engagement campaign to show Seattle how it can pitch in to protect and clean-up our Puget Sound shorelines.
Everyone loves mud, either on your face or your boots, so get out and help keep our native muds clean…
WHAT: Seattle’s Green Festival
WHEN: Saturday, April 12, 10am-8pm and Sunday, April 13, 11am-6pm
WHERE: The Washington State Convention and Trade Center, 800 Convention Place, Seattle, WA
Stop by the MudUp booth to find out what we’re all about, pick up a sticker, and find activities for you and your family down on the shoreline. And keep your eye out for the Mud Monster!
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| Apr ’08 |
| 16 |
| 10:00 am |
Burien Parks and Recreation will be celebrating Arbor Day at 10am on Wednesday, April 16 at Shorewood Park, and all B-Townians are invited to attend.
The idea for Arbor Day originally came from Nebraska in 1872, when pioneer J. Sterling Morton first proposed a tree-planting holiday to be called “Arbor Day” at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture. The date was set for April 10, 1872. Prizes were offered to counties and individuals for planting properly the largest number of trees on that day. It was estimated that more than one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.
And now, the tree-planting tradition continues. All Burienites are encouraged to plant a tree on this day, as well as take part in the Burien Parks ceremony. In 2007, Burien was named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
The Shorewood on the Sound Community Group led by park board member Jean Spohn will be on hand to plant a Native Dog Wood Tree at the entrance to the park. Jean will also be awarded a certificate of appreciation for all her efforts organizing and leading the community group in Shorewood Park restoration efforts.
Shorewood Park is located at SW 119th Street and 28th Ave. SW in Burien:
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As if you haven’t seen it enough already, here’s a video (courtesy Burien Parks) of the infamous “Birthday Bus,” only this time moving (albeit slowly) and with actual people on top of it:
Some new photos from Saturday’s big B-Town 15th B-Day Bash, courtesy Burien Parks:
Plans for the new Burien Community Recreation Center are now online for your review, and are available for download as PDF files:
The Community Center, “where the community comes together”, will unite the City through a celebration of its cultural diversity, multi-generational active and passive recreational experiences, and a variety of amenities and programs.
From an email sent out by Michael LaFraniere:
As one of the City Council’s goals pertains to sustainability, we thought we would take a “green” approach in providing these documents to the public. To reduce the impact of printing nearly many thousands of pages, with your support and understanding, we are circulating these documents via web links rather than printed copies. You may download these documents as PDF files for further review as well as keep the files for reference. An advantage of electronic distribution is that it can make these documents more accessible to people. We encourage you to share these links and forward this email to your contacts and associates. Printed reference copies will also be available to the public for viewing at Burien City Hall, the Burien Community Center and the Burien Library. We will continue to host these reports, related documents and project development news on the Project Webpage, located at www.burienparks.net/center.htm.
In addition to you as a subscriber to our interest list, this message is being sent to the many stakeholders, organizations and individuals listed on the Acknowledgements page in the Summary Report. We greatly appreciate your participation in development of the Plan, and we continue to work toward making a wonderful recreation facility a reality for the citizens of Burien.
Thank you,
Michael Lafreniere, Director
Burien Parks and Recreation
| Mar ’08 |
| 29 |
| 12:00 pm |
Burien’s Big Birthday Bash will kick into high gear this Saturday, March 29th, starting at Noon and going until 4pm:
WHAT: Burien’s 15th Birthday Party!
WHEN: Saturday, March 29th from 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm
WHERE: Highline High School Cafeteria at 225 S. 152 Street
HIGHLIGHTS: FREE Commemorative Birthday T-Shirts to The First 100 Kids Who Arrive!
Music & Dance Performances:
- Danza de los Viejitos—Festive Latino clog dancers adorned with masks and costumes
- YouthSounds NW Choral
- New City Dance Company
- Hi Liners Youth Musical Theater
- Mexican American Assn of Baile Folkorico
• Birthday Cake and Punch
• Participatory Art Creations
• Design your own party hats, crowns, vests, or capes
• Carnival Games & Kids’ Inflatables
• Excitement and fun for kids of all ages
• Community and Food Booths
MORE INFO: (206) 988-370 or here
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Do you smell any rotten eggs around your house or yard yet?
Have you eaten the heads off all your chocolate bunnies?
Do ya feel like re-living Easter even though it’s only been a few days?
Well, you’re in luck with this video, courtesy of Burien Parks:
Thursday night, March 20th, about 28 or so B-Towners showed up and did what few others dare to do – they Zumba’d!
And we’ve got video proof right here:
| Mar ’08 |
| 22 |
| 9:00 am |
NORMANDY PARK – This Saturday, March 22, from 9am – Noon, volunteers are needed to help eradicate ivy from the Walker Preserve along Walker Creek in Normandy Park.
Here’s a Q&A courtesy Burien Parks:
Q: Why are we doing this stewardship project?
A: English ivy is creeping into the Preserve. Ivy is bad because it:
- Strangles trees
- Creates more weight and “sail area” that can topple trees in high winds
- Provides a home to rats
- As ivy kills native trees, it opens up areas for more non-native weeds to invade the exposed ground. This prevents new trees from getting started. If left unchecked, ivy will destroy the urban forest along Walker Creek.
Q: What will the volunteers do?
A: Stewardship on March 22 will focus on removing ivy from the lower trunks of trees and creating ivy-free rings around the base. We’ll also remove other weeds such as Himalayan blackberry. We’ll use a mix of hand tools to perform these tasks. Volunteers of all ages are welcome but children need to be accompanied by a parent or an adult.
Q: What do volunteers need?
A: The requirements are simple:
- An eager attitude
- Sturdy shoes or boots
- Leather-palmed gloves (if you have them; we also will have plenty to loan)
- Filled water bottle
- We provide tools and snacks!
Q: Who’s organizing this event?
A: This project is a cooperative effort of the Cities of Normandy Park, Burien, and SeaTac; the Port of Seattle; and King County. These governments are working with residents to improve water quality and create healthy streams in the Miller and Walker Creek basins.
Driving and Parking
To avoid causing street access problems during the event, volunteers who are driving should park at Normandy Park City Hall (801 S.W. 174th St.). We will run a shuttle to get you to and from the Preserve. This shuttle will be available throughout the event if you need to leave early.
Sign Up and Questions
Advance sign up is encouraged to help us plan. Please contact Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward ASAP via email dennis.clark@kingcounty.gov, or call 206-296-1909.
This is a great opportunity for people in Burien and SeaTac to see a hidden part of the stream basin downstream from their communities.
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| Mar ’08 |
| 22 |
| 9:00 am |
The City of Burien is holding its annual Easter “Eggstravaganza” this Saturday, March 22nd, from 9am to 11:45am.
Activities include a $3 “Bunny Breakfast” (no, they’re not serving wabbits – it’s pancakes, ham, juice and coffee) from 9am-10:45am, with $3 Bunny Photos at the Burien Community Center Auditorium at 425 SW 144th. Tickets sold at the door.
Following the breakfast will be the traditional “Spring Egg Hunt,” starting at 11am, with staggered start times for different-aged kids.
The “big kids” will have their own hunt at 11:45am at Dottie Harper Park, which is located at 4th SW and SW 144th (we’re not sure why they get their own hunt but we suspect it’s ‘cuz they’re “bigger kids”).
More info here:
| Mar ’08 |
| 15 |
| 12:00 pm |
Courtesy Michael LaFraniere of Burien Parks:
Volunteers are needed to help clean up various B-Town Parks, starting this weekend:
3/15/08 10am – Noon @ Shorewood Park:
Shorewood Park is located at 28th Avenue SW and SW 118th Street (Follow Ambaum to 116th Street, turn left so you are heading west on 116th Street and follow to 28th Avenue SW make a left and go 2 blocks, the park entrance is on your left side). The group may be working in the lower half of the park so follow the short trail around. Jean Spohn will be leading the effort on Saturday so be sure to get signed in with her. You do not have to stay the whole time – come for as long as your schedule allows. If you have loppers bring them along.
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3/15/08 Noon – 3pm @ Eagle Landing Park:
Eagle Landing Park is located at 2500 SW 149th street. If you follow SW 149th street west you will come to Eagle Landing Park on the left side of the street (no sign at street level yet, but there is a kiosk inside the small parking lot). The park has very limited parking so we may be overflowing into the neighborhood – please use respect and care when parking in the neighborhood! Also it is important not to block the park driveway access as we share the access with an adjacent neighbor’s driveway. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Please note that Eagle Landing does NOT have restroom facilities so plan ahead before you arrive (the closest restroom is at Lake Burien School Memorial Park and SW 149th and 16th Avenue SW).
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These parks are in neighborhoods and do not have specific parking so please use care when parking in the neighborhoods. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Just a reminder, both parks do not have restroom facilities.
The updated Adopt-a-Park schedule for 2008 is now available online here.
For more information, contact:
Lisa Aumann
Department Assistant
Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services
425 SW 144th Street
Burien, WA 98166
Phone: 206-988-3700 (W-F)
Fax: 206-243-2784
lisaa@burienwa.gov
www.burienparks.net
We believe that the Groundhog was wrong – spring is in the air!
Lean into your monitor and take a deep whiff of this video of Seahurst Park, then tell us you don’t smell it:
SOURCE:
FRIENDS OF BURIEN PARKS Needs You!
Do you enjoy:
- Watching Burien keep getting better and better?
- Enjoying a summer sunset over the Olympic Mountains on the beach or hiking the forested trails at Seahurst Park?
- Relaxing at Lake Burien Park evening concerts?
- Bringing the kids to the new play equipment at Manhattan Park?
- Playing soccer or baseball at Moshier Park?
- OR participating in one of the City’s 300 arts, sports, health, environmental education, or special interest recreational programs, trips, or events?
If so, consider meeting new friends and neighbors by joining the Friends of Burien Parks.
Since 1993, this non-profit organization has enhanced park facilities, recreation programs, and cultural services.
Currently, the group’s focus is assisting with the new Town Square and Jacob Ambaum Park.
Your ideas, assistance, and energy is needed!
Please consider getting involved by contacting Gloria Gould-Wessen at (206) 241-8142.
Relive last Saturday’s Daddy/Daughter dance without having to hassle with building your own time machine:
UPDATE: Got word that the slideshow wasn’t embedding properly, so here’s a video recap instead:
SOURCE:
| Feb ’08 |
| 4 |
| 7:00 pm |
Burien officials will be presenting the final preferred plan and results of a community survey concerning a proposed new community recreation center at a City Council meeting at 7pm on Monday, Feb. 4.
The meeting will be held at the Highline School District Administration Building (located at 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W. in Burien).
The public will be able to learn more about what features the facility will provide, including fitness facilities, a leisure pool, senior center and programming space for youth and families.
Housed in a 1950s-era elementary school, the existing Burien Community Center was formerly known as the Chelsea Elementary School which closed in 1976. It was sold to King County in 1982 and operated as the Highline Community Center for several years until it was taken over by the City of Burien following incorporation.
Burien officials are considering a public vote on a bond measure for construction of the new facility. In addition to a capital construction bond, funding for the project could involve a variety of other resources, including banked property taxes that will go toward the senior program portion of the facility, capital improvement program funds, revenue bonds that are based on facility and user fees, and other forms of public and private resources.
SOURCE:
You can almost smell the first blooms of Spring.
Or is that simply the smell of wet gloves?
Regardless, it’s always a good sign when Burien Parks releases schedules for upcoming Youth Sports Leagues!
From Burien Parks:
Due to a recent break-in and theft, our Youth Program has been very negatively impacted.
The City of Burien Parks and Recreation Teen Program would greatly appreciate the following donations …
Guitars
Art & School Supplies
DVD Player
Playstation 2 and Nintendo 64, including games and memory cards
Scrapbooking Supplies
Yarn and Plastic Canvas Supplies
Movies, Rated G, PG, or PG-13
If you have any of these items to donate, please contact Meagan at meaganb@burienwa.gov or call 988-3700.
Thanks!
| Mar ’08 |
| 14 |
| 6:30 pm |
From Burien Parks:
Courtesy of Michael Lafreniere, Director of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services for Burien Parks comes this excellent Flickr slideshow of artwork around B-Town:
From Burien Parks comes this handy-dandy Flash file showcasing proposed art work for the Burien Town Square:
[click on the art to go to the next page]
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Flash video.
So…whaddaya think?
Leave your comments below…
Link to large Flash file here.
| Jan ’08 |
| 19 |
| 7:00 pm |
Burien’s Seahurst Park is the place to be on a chilly night, especially if that chilly night is this Saturday, January 19th.
If you dress warm, you’ll learn that the beach can be as much fun in January as it is in July.
Check out the ambience of a living treasure hunt during an upcoming night time beach walk at Seahurst Park.
After the walk stick around for a hot drink by the bonfire.
For more about Seahurst Park, watch this video:
WHAT: Seahurst Park Moonlight Beach Walk
WHEN: Saturday, January 19, 7pm – 9pm
WHERE: Seahurst Park, Shorewood Drive South, Burien:
WHY: ‘Cuz it’s cool to do something outside when it’s cold!
Sponsored by the Environmental Science Center, Burien Parks & Recreation, and the People for Puget Sound.
For more information, call (206) 382-7007 or email dmiller@pugetsound.org.
SOURCE:
From the King County Miller and Walker Creeks Stewardship Page:
We all can be good stewards of Miller and Walker Creeks!
Whether you live right next to the streams or a mile away, your actions can help improve water quality and reduce stormwater runoff. This, in turn, will help our region’s efforts to improve Puget Sound.
There are many ways that you can contribute:
Control invasive weeds:
Take care of your car:
- Fix oil leaks in your car
- Keep your car tuned up
- Wash your car on the lawn, not in the street, or use a carwash
Conserve water:
- Think about easy ways to save water, such as turning off the tap when brushing your teeth (external link)
- Install low flow showerheads, faucet heads and toilets (external link)
- Use timed watering and avoid overwatering your yard (external link)
Put household hazardous waste in its place:
Reduce runoff/practice “low impact development”:
- Plant trees
- Plant a rain garden (Adobe Acrobat 20 MB) (external link)
- Minimize paving
- Reduce runoff to storm drains
Keep soap suds and grime out of storm drains:
- Take your car to a commercial car wash
- Wash your car on the lawn or gravel driveway
- Use a car wash kit for your charity car wash
Protect native streamside (“riparian”) vegetation:
- Use native plants for beauty, water conservation, and ease of maintenance
- Keep streamside areas naturally vegetated
Volunteer at an upcoming restoration project:
- Stewardship projects will be posted here in 2008
- Stewards of the Cove every second Saturday of the month beginning March 2008 (external link)
Basin Steward Available to Help
Contact basin steward Dennis Clark, 206-296-1909, if you want to:
- Volunteer to help plant trees and control invasive weeds
- Improve your streamside property with natural yard care and use of native plants
- Arrange a presentation for your school, community group, or faith community
- Report fish sightings or non-emergency problems with the creeks
[On a personal note, the Editor of this here blog decided long ago to never use pesticides on his lawn or garden; more recently he decided never to wash his car again in his driveway, but then again, he lives just about 300 feet from Puget Sound]
BURIEN PARK: “Me want Mama. Me want Dada. Me need hewp!”
YOU: “Aw, such a cute little park…yes you are!”
BURIEN PARK: “Mama?! Dada??!!”
YOU: “Can we keep it? Can we? Huh? HUH?”
Yes, now you too can become a proud parent to a Burien-area park.
Adoption papers are available right here.
From Burien Parks comes a Winter iteration of “Camp Craz,” which we know from personal experience is quite a load of fun for the kiddie-o’s:
Week 1: Snowball Express – Click here to register
December 24 – December 28 $95 (no camp 12/24)Week 2: Sunshine & Summertime – Click here to register
December 31 - January 4 $95 (no camp 1/1)Scholarships Available
Call (206) 988-3700 for more information!
The Burien Parks Winter Program Schedule has been released, and is available by clicking and going here.
From the Burien Parks Dept.:
Immerse yourself in the chilly ambience of a living treasure hunt this winter during two night time beach walks at Seahurst Park. After the walk stick around for a hot drink by the bonfire.
Saturday, December 22: 7:30PM – 9:30PM
Friday, January 19: 7:00PM – 9:00PM
Well-done videos courtesy Burien Parks about the restoration of Seahurst Park:
