Levy Dollars in Action: Ridge to River’s West Duwamish Greenbelt Community Vision/Concept Plan
By Yordanos Tesfazion
Spanning more than 500 acres along a four-mile stretch from West Seattle to White Center, the West Duwamish Greenbelt is Seattle’s largest contiguous forest—and the site of a community-led project that’s been in the works for over 20 years.
Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Tribe, the West Seattle peninsula and surrounding Duwamish River once offered a wealth of resources to the region’s first people. The European-American settlers’ arrival in 1851 marked the beginning of Seattle’s industrialization that concurrently strained the habitats, natural resources, and ecosystems that had thrived alongside the Coast Salish Peoples for tens of thousands of years.
When the Duwamish River was straightened out in the 20th century, it became a major shipping hub. The river was also used to dispose of toxic wastewater, stormwater runoff, and chemicals from surrounding businesses and manufacturers. This destruction and heavy pollution eventually led to the river being declared a Superfund Site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2001.
Present Day
Through a series of long-term projects, the Duwamish Tribe aspires to heal the unceded land and water their ancestors once had agency over. In the process, they are establishing stronger connections with the communities that now reside in the area. The Duwamish Ridge to River Trail is one of many projects the Tribe has initiated with the support of their neighbors. The project aims to “help the Duwamish Tribe and partners identify and analyze an environmentally safe loop trail that will link the Duwamish Longhouse with the existing network of trails within the West Duwamish Greenbelt.”
Today, the Duwamish Ridge to River Trail project is a collaborative effort of the Ridge to River Coalition (R2R). Formed in 2019, R2R is a coalition of community groups, leaders, and neighbors who are committed to fulfilling the Tribe’s vision to restore the land and water of the Duwamish Valley.
Their Executive Steering Committee consists of folks from Pathfinder K-8, South Seattle College, Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, Duwamish Alive!, Highland Park Action Committee, West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails (WDGT) members, and Duwamish Tribe leaders. Under the leadership of Co-Chairs Paul West and Alison Pugh, they work to familiarize community members to the Greenbelt as they conduct research and request feedback for the West Duwamish Greenbelt Community Vision/Concept Plan.
R2R became a fiscal partner of Seattle Parks Foundation in 2023 because their vision for the West Duwamish Greenbelt aligns with our strategic priorities: Equity, Health, and Community. Particularly, our partnership supports the group’s engagement with the Duwamish Valley and West Seattle communities to articulate a vision for the Greenbelt as a natural and cultural resource.
Their ongoing project is funded through an Open Space – River Corridors grant, made possible by the voter-approved 2020-2025 King County Parks Levy. $22 million in Parks Levy proceeds were allocated to the Open Space – River Corridors grant program to fund efforts toward flood risk reduction, habitat restoration, open space, and recreation in river corridors, such as R2R’s West Duwamish Greenbelt Vison/Concept Plan project.
Breaking the Cycle
A significant portion of the Greenbelt is within the Duwamish Valley, home to the most diverse communities in Seattle. Most residents living in the area are non-white and more than 30 languages are spoken in local schools. In addition to the health disparities residents experience due to their proximity to a Superfund site, the Duwamish Valley also faces economic hardship and has one of the lowest mean household incomes in the city.
Communities with higher percentages of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and low-income residents are more likely to experience environmental injustices such as disproportionate exposure to pollution and inadequate natural infrastructure. These challenges can exacerbate the impact of climate-related natural disasters.
Duwamish Valley residents recognize the threats they face because of climate change. In addition to the toxic pollution that comes from nearby manufacturers and freight traffic, some neighborhoods also face intense flooding. The Duwamish Valley Climate Resilience Survey revealed that South Park and Georgetown households cited environmental impacts as their top concern.
In 2022, the Duwamish River overflowed into the South Park neighborhood, flooding homes and businesses while displacing over a dozen families. Leaving South Seattle shaken up, the flooding was a stark reminder that because the climate crisis is in our backyard right now, climate-forward solutions must be implemented right now.
R2R’s grant-funded Greenbelt Concept/Vision Plan project disrupts a historical cycle of neglect and exploitation in the Duwamish Valley, setting the region up for a future of climate resiliency.
Since their formation and with the support of the King County Parks Levy and other forms of funding, R2R has accomplished the following:
- an environmental and geotechnical analysis of the northern 2/3 of the West Duwamish Greenbelt for evaluation of potential trail routes and environmental contamination due to cement kiln dust dumping. Funded by King Conservation District
- the completion of the Safe Crossing project at the Duwamish Longhouse that included the installation of a traffic light, marked crosswalk and sidewalks from the Duwamish Longhouse to ancestorial lands and river at Herring’s House and Həʔapus Village Parks and the Duwamish Trail and Duwamish River. Funded by Seattle Department of Transportaion
- monitored the water quality in Greenbelt streams with the help of youth volunteers, coordinated by University of Washington faculty. Funded by King Conservation District
- determined route feasibility and options for the Seven Cedars Trail pilot project, linking Puget Ridge and the Pathfinder School to the Duwamish Longhouse. Funded by King County Parks Levy: Open Space – River Corridors grant
- established strong relationships with Seattle Parks & Recreation, the primary land manager in the Greenbelt.
As R2R focuses on restoring and healing the forest and streams, while also connecting communities via a trail system accessible to a wide range of people, they’re enhancing the quality of life in West Seattle and the Duwamish Valley not just for current residents, but for generations to come.
R2R’s Vision/Concept Plan strives to address community concerns as they map out a safe path that connects the Duwamish Longhouse to current and potential trails within the Greenbelt. Following 20+ years of community engagement and partnerships, the West Duwamish Greenbelt Vision/Concept Plan is now in its first year and expected to be completed by 2027, as follows:
2025: Request community input, conduct site assessments, and begin landowner outreach.
2026: Develop options based on community input and integrate community feedback on drafted options.
2027: Complete a final draft of the Greenbelt Concept/Vision Plan.
Collaborating with Community
Community involvement is foundational to the West Duwamish Greenbelt Vision/Concept Plan project. The R2R Executive Steering Committee coordinates meetings and activities for neighbors who want to share their thoughts about or explore the Greenbelt.
WDGT hosts educational guided hikes that cover the history and proposed plans of the Greenbelt, with opportunities for participants to share their ideas about its future. R2R also seeks feedback from community members at farmers markets and community meetings held by neighborhood coalitions throughout West Seattle and the Duwamish Valley.
This past March, the Duwamish Tribe hosted a community brainstorming session at the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center. Leaders from a dozen organizations and folks representing Seattle Parks & Recreation, the National Park Service, and Seattle Parks Foundation gathered to pinpoint what issues would be most important to center when reaching out to different communities in West Seattle, White Center, South Park, and Georgetown.
They concluded that the following were topics of concern and interest that the R2R Executive Steering Committee should prioritize in their outreach:
- Accessibility & Inclusivity
- Environmental Health & Stewardship
- Community Connection & Cultural Representation
Next Steps
In the coming years, R2R will shift their focus from creating a community-centered draft of the Greenbelt Vision/Concept Plan to finalizing a draft plan that the City of Seattle can approve and carry out. Until then, they’ll continue with community outreach efforts to ensure that all voices are considered during the beginning stages of the Greenbelt Concept/Vision Plan project.
In the coming years, R2R will shift their focus from creating a community-centered draft of the Greenbelt Vision/Concept Plan to finalizing a draft plan that the City of Seattle can approve and carry out. Until then, they’ll continue with community outreach efforts to ensure that all voices are considered during the beginning stages of the Greenbelt Concept/Vision Plan project.
R2R has several upcoming events where folks can offer their insight on the Greenbelt Vision/Concept Plan project and learn more about Seattle’s largest stretch of urban forest. Can’t make it to an event? Invite them to a community gathering to help spread the word about their project!
Save the Date: Primary Election Day, August 5
R2R’s West Duwamish Greenbelt Community Vision/Concept Plan is just one of many projects that is supported by the $810 million King County Parks Levy. The levy is set to expire at the end of the year, but King County voters can vote for its renewal on August 5, 2025.
This time around, the main themes of the levy are: Maintain, Enhance, Grow & Connect. If renewed, $1.45 billion will cost homeowners $16.38 per month, only $2.50 more than what folks are currently paying for the 2020-2025 Parks Levy.
Investing in the maintenance and enhancement of outdoor open spaces creates more opportunities for community members to grow and connect with nature and each other.
Mark your calendars and set a reminder to vote on Tuesday, August 5, so critical projects like the West Duwamish Greenbelt Community Vision/Concept Plan continue to receive funding for the next six years!
Sources:
How the Duwamish River defined Seattle — and could again, Mandy Godwin
Duwamish Valley, University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health