The Green Kirkland Partnership (GKP) is an active volunteer and non-profit alliance that is committed to restoring more than 400 acres of natural areas in the city of Kirkland.
First time and long-time volunteers are a constant presence in Kirkland’s parks and open space areas, removing non-native invasive plants and planting species that are compatible with the native plant life. Dedicated volunteers will be participating in GKP’s Martin Luther King, Jr. “Day of Service” park restoration events on Monday, Jan. 19.
The theme of this year’s “Day of Service” is “Make it a Day On; Not a Day Off” and the GKP hopes to engage at least 100 volunteers. Volunteers are invited to participate at Crestwoods Park, 1818 6th Street, from 1-4 p.m.; Everest Park, 500 8th Street South from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Watershed Park, 5000 block of 112th Avenue NE, south of Northeast 53rd Street, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Volunteers are encouraged to dress for the weather and bring food snacks. Tools and gloves will be provided. Event information and volunteer registration is available online at www.greenkirkland.org, by emailing greenkirkland@kirklandwa.gov or by calling 425-587-3306.
“Volunteer restoration efforts have had an amazing impact on the health of our parks,” said Sharon Rodman, GKP Supervisor. “The energy volunteers bring to each event, and especially to “Day of Service,” is so exciting that we want more people to experience it. It would be awesome to have 100 volunteers be a part of the day.”
Kirkland’s “Day of Service” has expanded from one park site to three sites this year. Last year it was hosted at Crestwoods Park and 60 volunteers contributed almost 200 volunteer hours, clearing over 3,000 square feet of invasive blackberry.
As part of the GKP program, volunteer Green Kirkland Stewards manage weekly events and major events such as Day of Service, Arbor Day and Earth Day. On Jan. 19, the stewardship efforts at Crestwoods will be led by two neighborhood Stewards, by a student from the University of Washington/Bothell Restoration Ecology Network at Everest Park and by GKP staff at Watershed Park.
