greenspaces, natural areas, slow nature4 Comments

Slow Nature

January 15, 2015January 27, 2018 Denise

Slow Nature is catching on fast. “Slow” Movements are really popular right now: Slow Food, Slow Fashion, Slow Parenting, and many more. Now, there’s Slow Nature. (It’s about time, right?) Why Slow? Slow Nature isn’t claiming there’s anything wrong with speeding through a forest or natural area. It’s fun to sail through a forest canopy on a zipline, hurtle over obstacles on a mountain bike, or run really fast on a trail. You get your exercise and your nature-fix all in one brisk outing. It’s like killing two birds with one stone. But, when you … Continue reading Slow Nature

communication, guest post, natural areas, urban issues10 Comments

The Year of Density

December 10, 2014August 18, 2015 Mark Ahlness

(guest post from Cass Turnbull) The year of 2014 in Seattle has been the year of density, specifically density without infrastructure, including green infrastructure. The development of Urban Villages and single family in-fill was breath-taking in its speed, the immense … Continue reading The Year of Density

cheastyPAT, communication, natural areas, urban issuesLeave a comment

Update re: Seattle’s Natural Areas – requests for policy info and more

December 9, 2014 Mark Ahlness

An update to our post Seattle’s Natural Areas – requests for policy info and more… We had asked city officials when the public would be allowed input on developing the new greenspaces policy. We also asked that the Cheasty PAT be either dismissed or postponed, until a greenspaces policy was in place: Revised permanent use policy for Seattle’s Natural Areas and Greenbelts (pdf) Acting Parks superintendent Williams wrote back that there was “no need” to postpone or dismiss the Cheasty PAT. He said we could write to somebody if we had if we had any questions about the “upcoming process” for … Continue reading Update re: Seattle’s Natural Areas – requests for policy info and more

cheastyPAT, communication, greenspaces, natural areas, outreach, urban issues1 Comment

Seattle’s Natural Areas – requests for policy info and more

November 25, 2014 Mark Ahlness

Today Seattle Nature Alliance sent a letter to the City Council and several other organizations. We asked for information on development of the new greenspaces/natural areas policy that Parks Superintendent Williams mentioned last August. We also recommended the Cheasty PAT be dismissed or postponed until AFTER the new natural areas policy has been developed and approved: Revised permanent use policy for Seattle’s Natural Areas and Greenbelts (pdf) Feel free to distribute it, and please let the City Council know how you feel. Thanks! Continue reading Seattle’s Natural Areas – requests for policy info and more

natural areas4 Comments

How the Culture of Fear threatens Nature

October 31, 2014June 12, 2015 Denise

Would you walk down this path alone? Those of us who spend a lot of time in nature would say yes, of course! We feel comfortable in shadowy forests because we’re familiar with them. We’d probably feel safer in an … Continue reading How the Culture of Fear threatens Nature

cheasty, development, natural areas10 Comments

Mitigating the Loss of Nature, part 1

October 24, 2014January 27, 2018 Mark Ahlness

It might not seem like that much – say, 5,000 square feet, the size of an average city lot in Seattle. But when you look at what once was living there and the current deadness of the space surrounded by a vibrant forest, well… This horseshoe pit in Lincoln Park was built in the mid 1930’s by the WPA. It has not been used regularly in decades. Its most frequent activity these days is a weekend beer party in the summer. See over 100 pictures taken there in the last eight months. There are six trees growing within its chain … Continue reading Mitigating the Loss of Nature, part 1