The volunteer restoration event held by the Green Seattle Partnership in the Discovery Park took place on November 18, 2012. A great number of enthusiastic people gathered at the Environmental Learning Center at 3801 W. Government Way at 1 pm (“Green City Partnerships” par. 1, 2). The work, aiming to “help to restore a meadow and a forest along the MAJOR boulevard in Discovery Park”, continued until 4 pm (“Green City Partnerships” par. 1).
The Green Seattle Partnership is a non-profit partnership working on restoring the city forest parks (“Green Seattle Partnership” par. 2). All the work, planned by the Green Seattle Partnership, is accomplished by volunteers. The Green Seattle Partnership was organized in 2004. This organization is managed by a nine-member Executive Council, which is chosen by the Mayor. “Green Seattle Partnership is a partnership between Seattle Parks and Recreation, the owner of the land, Cascade Land Conservancy, the non-profit seeking funds, and the community” (“Green Seattle Partnership” par. 3). “Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment, and Seattle Public Utilities are the three key City departments serving in the Green Seattle Partnership” (“Green Seattle” par. 3). The enthusiasts of this organization have new restoration projects in Seattle on a regular basis. During the last period of time, the most important projects of this organization were Colman Park Reforestation Project and Seward Park Reforestation Project. Projects, such as these ones, are regularly held by the partnership on weekends from 10 to 12 am. Not long ago, the Green Seattle Partnership began a new project in the Discovery Park.
The Discovery Park is the largest park in Seattle that has an area of 2.2 square kilometers (“Parks and Gardens” par. 1). This park strikes its visitors not only by its immense sizes but also by its panoramas of incredible beauty. Among the most popular sites in the Discovery Parks are the Olympic Mountain, the Cascade, tidal beaches, sea cliffs, and active sand dunes. The main function of the Discovery Park is of course, in providing the city inhabitants with a chance to spend a great time in the open air with family and friends. Besides, the park aims to have a function of nature life and Indian culture sanctuary as it includes a huge Indian center.
As has been already mentioned above, the Green Seattle Partnership is a non-profit and voluntary organization. For this reason, its activity is impossible without help from the community. Reflecting on the experience of participating in the volunteer project in the Discovery Park, it is important to note that the significance of this work for environmental protection is great. All the participants of the event were actively engaged in planting new trees with the aim of restoring the forest and were working on the meadows to help restore the grass canopy. These activities are of critical importance for the environmental situation in Seattle. This is explained by the fact that the city is one of the first cities in the country, where the development of heavy industry took place. Beginning from the end of the nineteenth century, the environment of Seattle had been threatened by the intensiveness of industry in it (“Municipal Medal Winners” 39). Besides, the city has a dense transportation system. Of course, this leaves its negative trace on the state of affairs with the air pollution in the city. Thus, it is clear that now is the high time to actively engage in measures that are directed to the improvement of the environmental situation in the city. Planting trees and restoring the grass canopy of the city’s meadows is by far the most effective way to do so because these green plants produce the biggest amount of oxygen, which is so important for the atmosphere. Besides, these plants absorb harmful chemical joints from the air and even from the land and water around them (“Municipal Medal Winners” 39). Thus, the importance of the project by the Green Seattle Partnership in the Discovery Park can be hardly underestimated.
In conclusion, the project by the Green Seattle Partnership in the Discovery Park, aiming to restore the tree coverage in the park’s forest and grass coverage within its meadows, is of great importance for the city and its multiple inhabitants. First of all, by means of reforestation and the renewing of the grass canopy, the quality of air in the city will be improved. Secondly, the citizens will acquire an excellent opportunity to have an even more beautiful and even more comfortable place for the rest with their family and friends. The two points, mentioned above, are very important, which is explained by the consequences of early industrialization in Seattle. Reflecting on these factors, it is clear that the event, that took place in Discovery Park, was very important. However, the immense work on this project could only be done by volunteers because the municipal budget did not have funds to finance this activity. Therefore, it is pleasing to note that what we did on November 18, 2012, had a great significance and could not be accomplished without our help.
References
Green City Partnerships. 2012. Web.
Green Seattle. 2012. Web.
Green Seattle Partnership Reforestation Projects. 2012. Web.
“Municipal Medal Winners.” American City & County 125.1 (2010): 36-39. Print.
Parks and Gardens: the Discovery Park. 2012. Web.