Environmental activists worried about Shoreline’s Hamlin Park
Sep 11, 2017, 5:02 PM | Updated: Sep 12, 2017, 9:02 am
Environmental activists are worried about the potential loss of park space in Shoreline’s 80-acre Hamlin Park to make room for a maintenance facility.
“There are hundreds and hundreds of trees,” Janet Way told KIRO Radio. “It’s very healthy. There is no reason to take out this section of forest. And if you ask, there are thousands of people that come to this park every year.”
As a former council member herself, Way says there are several other sites where the city could house the facility.
Way organized a demonstration at the entrance to Hamlin Park on Monday, just as city council members were scheduled to tour the area that could be used for the new facility.
Shoreline’s Director of Public Works says the proposal is far from being finalized and citizens still have plenty of time to comment before the city council makes a decision, which could occur next year.
“It is important to note that the City Council has not made any decisions on locating a new City maintenance facility in Hamlin Park,” the city said in a statement.
But, Way says it should never get that far and that the city shouldn’t be wasting time and resources on a plan that is so clearly not in the best interest of the community or the environment.
The City of Shoreline explained that it has been looking for a new site to accommodate both the Ronald Wastewater District and the Seattle Public Utilities’ water system in Shoreline. The current maintenance facility at Hamlin Yard isn’t adequate to absorb more staff and equipment, according to the city.
Shoreline paused the development of a new site near Brugger’s Bog Park in 2016 after learning of too many challenges, such as proximity to wetlands, ground water, and possible contamination. It began identifying possible alternative sites, including Hamlin Park, the North Maintenance Facility, James Keough Park, the Ronald Wastewater District, the Brightwater portal, and the current maintenance facility at Hamlin Yard.
MyNorthwest’s Stephanie Klein contributed to this report.
