HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSS 2021-03-15 Item 1C - Update - Green TukwilaTUKWILA
PARTNERSHIP
Green Tukwila Program
Summary, January- March 2021
Green Tukwila volunteers, stewards, and partner organizations continue to perform at a high
level to improve and create sustainable urban forests, green spaces, and a healthy Green
Duwamish river.
Tours & Education
• Green Tukwila partnered with the Tukwila's Senior Recreation Program to host monthly
"Nature Walks" in Tukwila. The series discusses topics like sustainable urban forests,
habitat, restoration phases, watershed, site history, while building community and
exercising. The series has been very successful despite cold weather, upcoming walks
include Crystal Springs Park and Duwamish Gardens.
• Green Tukwila joined the Kaleidoscope Play & Learn free program for children 0-5 that
operates on Fridays at Crestview Park, 10:30-12:00 pm. Twice a month Green Tukwila
staff, Olean Perry, will lead nature -based exploration and education.
Volunteer Events
• Volunteer work parties started in February under Governor Inslee's "Healthy
Washington, Roadmap to Recovery" under guidelines for Outdoor Recreation. The work
party schedule is in development for Cottonwood Corner. All public volunteer
opportunities for Duwamish Hill Preserve, Duwamish Alive, and Green Tukwila Day are
posted online, www.Tukwilawa.gov/GreenTukwila.
• Partner Organizations are not hosting volunteer events due to COVID-19 currently.
Partner Work:
• Dirt Corps, EarthCorps, and Forterra continue working on projects funded by the Re -
Green the Green, King County grant. https://www.govlink.org/watersheds/9/pian-
implementation/Re-Green.aspx
o Active locations in the last few months are Tukwila Community Center, Fort
Dent, Bicentennial Park, and Green River Trail behind the Minkler Shop.
• Partner In Employment, https://partnerinemployment.org received funds from the Port
of Seattle Environmental Grant for 2021 to build and implement a "Green Job" program.
Partner In Employment has 1 lead and 5 paid youth each quarter that will work 4 weeks
in Tukwila's parks restoring and planting healthy habitat with Green Tukwila. Youth
work 17-20 hours a week and are paid above minimum wage.
o Mike Perfetti hosted a tour in February of Duwamish Gardens and spoke about
his job and other green jobs that were involved with the development of the
site.
o Parks Staff is hosting a talk with youth about employment in a Parks Department
in March.
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GREEN
TUKWILA
PARTNERSHIP
• Bhutanese Community Resource Center and Summer Search nonprofits were awarded
funding in February through the South King County Environmental Grant Fund to work
with Green Tukwila in 2021. Needs, challenges, and goals are currently being discussed
and planning has started for both programs.
Adopt -A -Spot
2020 Park Stewards continue to work on their own time to clean up litter in adopted parks. In
the last month, three new stewards have signed on to the program.
March 2, Adopt -A -Spot staff, Olena Perry, hosted a one-time volunteer event at Bicentennial
Park on the Green River Trail to clean up litter. The event was a huge success, 10 volunteers
worked for 1.5 hours, pick up 20 bags of trash and other large debris. Parks supported the
event and estimated 6 yards of trash was collected at the event. Participants have requested
more volunteer opportunities in this format.
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