b'Grant for Nature Trails Park!T he City of Normandy Park recently receivedthe park overall and improve the northeast corner a grant to restore a 2-acre portion ofof the park located along 8th Ave SW, near the main Nature Trails Park. The grant will pay forentrance and trailhead.restoration work to remove invasive species likeRestoration work will aim to remove noxious weeds English Ivy, Himalayan Blackberry, English Laurelfrom a 2 acre portion of the park and replace the and Holly. The grant funds are provided by theweeds with 100 native conifers and 100 shrubs to Improving Indoor Air through Forestry (IIAF)help stabilize the ecosystem and support biodiversity. funds from King County and through the ClimateBy setting the stage for planting and helping fund Commitment Act (CCA).the purchase of supplies and plants, this project will Historical imagery from 1936 indicates that theaddress these challenges and lay the foundation for park had been completely cleared of trees. As aa long-term restoration effort. Work crews will begin result, the current structure of the forest is in ain April this year. Would you like to know more about relatively early successional state and generallyor help participate in the improvement of this park? lacking in diversity. Past land use coupled withWatch for more details about a volunteer planting ongoing disturbance and fragmentation of theevent in fall 2025 to help the City install new trees surrounding area has left these natural areas heavilyand shrubs. invaded with non-native invasive plant species andThe City plans to plant conifers, including trees like in various stages of decline. In 2016 the city beganDouglas fir, Western Red Cedar, Western Hemlock, working to restore this park and now, with the grantSitka Spruce, and Ponderosa Pine. As for the shrubs, funds earned we can continue to make an impact inwere looking at Ferns, Kinnikinnick, Salal, Oregon this park.Grape, Oso Berry, and Flowering Currant. Imagine The presence of widespread invasive speciesthe park teeming with these native species, a vibrant generally reduces the urban forests overalltestament to our commitment to biodiversity.biodiversity and ecosystem function. They suppress native plant growth, vigor, and natural reproduction. These grant funds will help change the outlook for Marvista Elementary students visit Nature Trails Park where they get to learn about the outdoors from Kevin atSouth Sound Nature School.24 Normandy Park City SceneSpring 2025'