The Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) last weekend presented the City of Kirkland with its “Stewardship Legacy Award” in honor of a “tireless commitment to the restoration of forested natural areas and parks through the Green Kirkland Partnership.”

A regional land trust and stewardship organization operating in Washington State with headquarters in Seattle, the Conservancy recognized Kirkland with a ceremony June 14 at Kiwanis Park (before a Green Kirkland Partnership work party at the park).

Many of Kirkland’s parks are overrun by invasive species such as English ivy and blackberry. Kirkland joined with the Cascade Land Conservancy — and created the Green Kirkland Partnership — in 2007 as a way to combat the invasive plants and replant parks with native trees and shrubs.

Since its inception, more than 2,000 volunteers have contributed their time and energy to the partnership, saving 130 trees, planting over 1,000 native plants and clearing about 93,000 square feet of invasive plants (more than 2 acres).