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The Wetlands pages are now located on the Neighbors of Seahurst Park site, clicking the menu items will redirect you there.

What's this all about?
Where are these work parties?
Complete list of events in Seahurst, Shorewood and Eagle Landing Parks
Seahurst Park Event schedule
Shorewood Park Event schedule
Eagle Landing Park Event schedule
Major Events in all parks
Past Events

Adopt-A-Park work parties are supported by the Burien Parks Department and the Environmental Science Center.
What's this all about?

Burien's Parks and Recreation Department program sponsors volunteer events to help maintain and improve local parks. One of the biggest problems facing parks all over the northwest [and probably the world] is invasive plant species. The worst and most obvious offenders locally are Himalayan Blackberries, English Ivy, English Holly, Old Man's Beard [Clematis] and English Laurel. All of them spread rapidly and overwhelm native species.

One of the most critical things to do is to keep them from spreading, especially preventing them from going to seed. See the Invasive plants section on our wildlife page for more information about some of these plants. Shorewood On The Sound also has an excellent page with information about ivy, why it's a problem, and what you can do in your own yard to help. Unfortunately it's about more than just ivy, there are a number of invasive plants that are beginning to cause huge problems. This Seattle PI article shows how big a problem holly and ivy are, and how much effort is going into controlling them.

Where are these work parties?

Volunteers are needed in several different parks, a Google Map showing the location of the work parties is next to each schedule. There are work parties in Shorewood Park on the second Saturday of every month. The Shorewood work parties are now alternating between Shorewood Park and the Salmon Creek Ravine. There are monthly work parties in Seahurst Park on the fourth Saturday of each month and in Eagle Landing Park on the second Sunday of every month, from 10 to 1.

Tools and gloves will be available for volunteers to use. We have pruners, pruning saws, and hand mattocks as well as rubber palmed work gloves. Most times we'll have a weed wrench or two. Feel free to bring any similar tools of your own if you'd like. If you prefer to use your own gloves, heavy leather gloves are best if you have them.

You can just show up, but if you're bringing a group please try to let us know so that we can be sure to have enough tools. You can contact Lisa at the Parks Department at (206) 988-3700, or <email me> and I'll pass it along.

Complete list of events in Seahurst, Shorewood and Eagle Landing Parks:

Starting in 2010 the Shorewood Park group will also begin working in the Salmon Creek Ravine to reclaim that area and make it suitable for returning salmon. Work parties will alternate between the two areas each month, please check the schedule.

Seahurst Park Events:
Unless otherwise noted all events are 10AM to Noon on the 4th Saturday of the month.

Seahurst Park is large enough that the starting point will vary depending on the project. A link for the location will be added after each date once the project is decided on.

  • Saturday January 23: Ivy [and more] Out in Seahurst Park. Google Map for Seahurst Park
    We worked on both sides of the road near the parking lot entrance and cleared the ivy from the base of about 15 trees, some of which are very heavily overgrown. This will eventually kill the vines further up the trees, hopefully before the berries ripen. Ivy adds thousands of pounds of dead weight and a lot of wind surface to trees, so killing the ivy will help prevent the trees from falling. Watch the ivy die in some of the trees to the right as you pass the stop sign on the way into the park. We also pulled out some small holly trees that were just getting started, and picked up a bunch of garbage.
  • Friday February 26, 2010: Moonlight Beach Walk in Seahurst Park. See the Environmental Science Center's website for more information.

  • Saturday February 27: Ivy [and more] Out in Seahurst Park. Google Map for Seahurst Park
    We'll be working on the main entrance road into Seahurst Park, near the entrance to the upper parking lot. Park just inside the lot, and come across the street to help us clear ivy from trees along the road. This is a good time to kill ivy in the park because the underbrush is down for the winter, allowing relatively easy access to trees that can't be reached later in the year. We'll spend the next few months working this area. Removing ivy from trees is a priority because vertical ivy goes to seed and when the berries are eaten by birds and animals the seeds end up scattered all over the area, spreading the ivy much farther than the vines creeping along the ground can. We'll spend at least 3 sessions in this area.
  • Saturday March 6, 2010: Washington Native Plant Society sponsored walking tour of Seahurst Park.
    Cabin fever? Join leader Jim Branson for an exploration of this great park, where an abundance of Trillium ovatum and Lysichiton americanum (skunk cabbage) should be in full bloom. The nature trail loops from the beach into the upland forest and past wetlands and streams. This leisurely one mile loop walk may be muddy, so wear sturdy shoes. If rain threatens, be sure to bring an umbrella or raincoat. Limit of 20 participants.
    Date & Time Saturday, March 6, 2010; 11:00 a.m. Over by 1 p.m.
    Location: Meet at the lower parking lot at 11:00 am.
  • Saturday March 27: Ivy [and more] Out in Seahurst Park. Google Map for Seahurst Park location
    This session and probably the next two will be along the road into the park, but above the gate on the south side of the road. Look for the Work Party sign on the left as you come down the hill towards the stop sign at the gate. There are a lot of trees with ivy climbing them, and ivy covering the ground. We'll work on this area for a while.
  • Saturday April 24, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Seahurst Park. Google Map for Seahurst Park location
    We'll still be working along the road going into the park. It's on the left side of the road before the stop sign at the top of the park. You can park in the upper parking lot and walk up to the work area, or take a right onto SW 140th at the stop sign, then another right onto 16th Ave SW and park on the side of the road. There's plenty of ivy covered trees left, and lots of ivy on the ground. The area is easy to work, the ivy pulls out pretty cleanly. This is a good area to clean up because it's starting to spread further into the park.
  • Saturday May 22, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Seahurst Park. Google Map for Seahurst Park location.
    In April we were able to kill the ivy on 30 or more trees, pulled some Scotchbroom that was flowering and getting ready to go to seed, and hauled out some garbage that had been thrown over the bank. But there is still plenty of ivy in the area, and since there aren't a lot of nettles in there we'll keep working that area for at least a couple more months. Use the parking instructions from the April session.
  • Saturday June 26, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Seahurst Park. Google Map for Seahurst Park location.
    We worked the same location as March, April and May. There's still plenty of ivy in the area, and it's accessible during the summer, when many parts of the park are so grown up with nettles, salmon berry and other plants that they're unreachable. In June we cleared some ivy from the ground along the side of the road and more trees in that area. A couple of us went down the bank and across the creek where we were able to clear some trees and clean up some ivy along the ground that was just getting started.
  • Saturday July 24, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Seahurst Park. Google Map for Seahurst Park location.
    We had a great turnout in July, and finished most of the area. We removed some ivy from the ground on the south side of the road and the slope on the north side, and killed the remaining ivy in most of the trees both sides. We also took out quite a few holly branches that were covered in berries, which would have been spread by birds. We'll come back to this area in a couple of months to get any ivy trees that we missed and to plant the hillside above the road.
  • Saturday August 28, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Seahurst Park. Google Map for Seahurst Park location.
    Plans have changed, we'll be working along the road into Seahurst Park again, but this time we'll be further down, actually inside the gate. There's some scattered ivy and other invasive plants along the road between the gate and the lower parking lot, so watch for the Work Party sign on the side of the road.
  • Saturday September 25, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Seahurst Park at the top of the North Maintenance Road. Google Map for Seahurst Park location.
    We're going to go back to an area we worked in early 2009. With the help of volunteers and about 200 goats we cleaned up an area at the north end of the Park, where the maintenance road exits into Shorewood. Because we've been busy in other parts of the Park, the blackberries and some ivy have grown up in that area, so we need to go back and knock it down to allow the native plants to continue growing. If you can, bring heavy gloves and a long handled shovel, but we'll have gloves and tools available. Boots, blue jeans and a long sleeved shirt are recommended.
  • Saturday October 23, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Seahurst Park. Location to be determined.
  • Saturday November 27, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Seahurst Park. Location to be determined.
  • Saturday December 25, 2010: No project this month due to the holiday.
Shorewood Park and Salmon Creek Ravine Events:
Unless otherwise noted all events are 10AM to Noon on the second Saturday of the month. Beginning in February 2010 this is a new schedule, changed from the third Saturday. We'll alternate between Shorewood Park and the Salmon Creek Ravine each month.
  • Saturday January 16, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Salmon Creek Ravine. Google Map for Salmon Creek Ravine
    Our first event in the Salmon Creek Ravine was at the south end, nearest Seahurst Park. We cleared ivy from about 35 trees in the gully along 16th Ave SW between SW 130th and SW 131st St. We also picked up garbage, cut down some holly trees that are going to seed [hopefully the berries will rot before they fully ripen] and removed some of the yard waste that had been dumped in the ravine. See this article and photos in the B-Town Blog.
  • Saturday February 13, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Shorewood Park. Google Map for Shorewood Park
    Come help clean up Shorewood Park. While it's in better shape than many forested parks (thanks to the dedicated work of a lot of volunteers) there are still plenty of invasives to remove. We also hope to be planting more native plants.
  • Saturday March 13, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Salmon Creek Ravine. Google Map for Salmon Creek Ravine
    Our second event in the Salmon Creek Ravine will also be at the south end, nearest Seahurst Park. There are more ivy covered trees and a large blackberry patch in the gully along 16th Ave SW between SW 130th and SW 131st St. We will also be working our way further down the trail into the ravine. Park on 16th SW south of 131st or Shorewood Dr SW on the cutoff to Cove Point Road. Please be careful not to block any driveways. We'll meet by the Shorewood On The Sound sign on 16th SW.
  • Saturday April 10, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Shorewood Park. Google Map for Shorewood Park
  • Saturday May 8, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Salmon Creek Ravine. Google Map for Salmon Creek Ravine
  • Saturday June 12, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Shorewood Park. Google Map for Shorewood Park
  • Saturday July 10, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Salmon Creek Ravine. Google Map for Salmon Creek Ravine location,
  • Saturday August 14, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Shorewood Park. Google Map for Shorewood Park
  • Saturday September 11, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Salmon Creek Ravine. Location to be determined.
  • Saturday October 9, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Shorewood Park. Google Map for Shorewood Park
  • Saturday November 13, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Salmon Creek Ravine. Location to be determined.
  • Saturday December 11, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Shorewood Park. Google Map for Shorewood Park
Eagle Landing Park Events:
Unless otherwise noted all events are 10AM to 1PM on the 2nd Sunday of the month. See the Eagle Landing Park website for details about what to bring and where to go.
Google Map for Eagle Landing Park
  • Wednesday, February 3, 2010 Vegetative Management Plan review for Eagle Landing Park, City Hall, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
    Earthcorps is completing a Vegetative Management Plan (VMP) for Eagle Landing Park and there will be a Public Meeting on Feb 3 at 6:30pm at City Hall to report on the findings. Meeting Location would be Burien City Hall 400 SW 152nd St. Suite 300, Miller Creek Room, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. The VMP involved the collection of data on habitat types and plant inventories in order to summarize the vegetative palate within Eagle landing Park and provide recommendations for future vegetative management focus. The plan will consider short and long term goals and priorities, as well as identifying tasks that are well suited to volunteer efforts or staff and contracted work.
  • Friday February 5, 2010: Ivy [and more] Out in Eagle Landing Park. 10 AM to 2 PM.
    Thanks to the hard work of many volunteers since Eagle Landing Park opened, it's in pretty good shape regarding invasive plants. But it requires maintenance, and this is the time to do it. The work party will last 4 hours, with the first hour spent walking the park and looking at the Vegetation Management Plan. Come for as much of the event as you can. The Parks Department will be providing tools and has some gloves available, but feel free to bring your own gloves.
  • Sunday, March 14, 2010 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Ivy [and more] Out in Eagle Landing Park
  • Sunday, April 11, 2010 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Ivy [and more] Out in Eagle Landing Park
  • Sunday, May 9, 2010 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Ivy [and more] Out in Eagle Landing Park
  • Sunday, June 13, 2010 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Ivy [and more] Out in Eagle Landing Park
  • Sunday, July 11, 2010 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Ivy [and more] Out in Eagle Landing Park
  • Sunday, August 8, 2010 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Ivy [and more] Out in Eagle Landing Park
  • Sunday, September 12, 2010 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Ivy [and more] Out in Eagle Landing Park
  • Sunday, October 10, 2010 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Ivy [and more] Out in Eagle Landing Park
  • Sunday, November 14, 2010 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Ivy [and more] Out in Eagle Landing Park
  • Sunday, December 12, 2010 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Ivy [and more] Out in Eagle Landing Park
Major Events in all parks:
Past Events:
  • Saturday March 7, 2009: Washington Native Plant Society sponsored Nature walk through the north end of Seahurst Park.
    Leader: Jim Branson
    We joined Jim for an exploration of the park, where trillium (Trillium ovatum) was just starting to come up and skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanum) was in full bloom. The nature trail loops from the beach into the upland forest and past wetlands and streams. We had a chance to identify lots of native and invasive plants. There are quite a few Pacific Yew trees in the park including one that is estimated to be about 400 years old. Another appears to be about 150 years old and has a large scar where it was probably scraped while it was still small when the area was logged in the late 1800s.
  • February through May 2009: Ivy [and more] Out in Seahurst Park, North Maintenance Road Google Map
    Early in the year the City of Burien had hired goats to come in and clean up a section along the road that was covered in blackberries and ivy. The goats did a great job, but there needed to be some more cleanup done afterwards. Among other things garbage [mostly bottles and cans] that had been covered for years was exposed when they ate the brush. So we picked up a lot of that, cut down a bunch of holly and English Laurel [goats don't like either of them] grubbed out some blackberry roots, cut back some stems that were too big for the goats, girdled the ivy that went up trees too far for the goats to reach, and generally opened up the area. We also knocked down some nearby patches of ivy, laurel and holly, plus we were able to get a couple of infestations of Old Man's Beard [Clematis]. There's more to do in the area, including some stinky bob, blackberries, ivy patches and more, but nothing that can't wait for a while, so it's off to the beach.
  • June through November, 2009: Ivy [and more] Out in Seahurst Park, near the South Shelter. Google Map
    As part of the south beach restoration native plant beds were put in along the shore near the south shelter. After a couple of years there were a lot of volunteer alders coming up that would shade out the plants we want. Other invasives including blackberries, Morning Glory, Japanese Knotweed and more were also starting to move in. There were some alders planted there that we wanted to leave, but the volunteers and invasives needed to removed. Many of the natives are doing great, including large patches of coastal strawberries. During the summer sessions volunteers cleaned up most of area from the bridge to the end of the planting beds. In October we were helped by about 15 volunteers from a Cub Scout Troop and a Boy Scout Troop. In November we finished removing a large patch of Scotchbroom growing on the beach just north of the new restrooms.
For a number of years groups have been sponsoring Moonlight Beach Walks in Seahurst Park. The events continue to grow in popularity, with as many as 60 or more people showing up in all sorts of weather. This is a unique opportunity to see the beach and the things that live on it. At low tide during the day many plants and animals disappear to protect themselves from the light and predators. But at night they remain more visible. All you need is a flashlight and warm clothing. The Beach Naturalists will help you find and identify things. And provide information about Beach Etiquette so that we can protect the life on the beach. Thanks to The Environmental Science Center, People for Puget Sound, the City of Burien and the Seattle Aquarium for helping to sponsor this event.See the Environmental Science Center's website for more information.
Seahurst Park Celebrated National Coastal Clean-up Day Saturday, September 20, 2008
This event was sponsored by the City of Burien, REI, the Environmental Science Center and Volunteers for Outdoor Washington.

The event was a great success with over 50 people showing up to pitch in.

The group pulled ivy off of the old caretaker's house and a couple of nearby trees, removed several large holly trees, including one that was going to seed, and cleared blackberries and other invasives from two areas near the North Shelter. In one area ferns were planted to replace them. There's a photo album in our Photo Gallery.
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Content updated August 13, 2010
Minor update March 26, 2009