Maury Island Open Space: Legal Agreement Amendment

1. I wanted to note that the Friends of Maury Parks group has previously suggested that King County Parks construct a new trail from the new parking lot on 260th, to the north to connect to the existing capped trail which starts and ends on 260th an...↓d forms a broad arc. The parking lot was intentionally located on the site of the former skeet range as a sort of "2-Fer" - It capped the lead from the old range and provides parking. However, the lot is not ideally located to any of the most used access points - eg Bluffs TH, Mountain Bike Trails, or the old main entrance to the pit. Adding a short connector to the existing trails north of 260th would facilitate aesthetically pleasing loops which avoid walking on the road, and hopefully incentivise more use of this lot (and get cars off the shoulders).
2. I would like to add a note to encourage keeping the conveyor apparatus in place. Similar to Gas Works Park in Seattle it provides a striking history lesson at a glance, with opportunity to expand via interpretive signage.
3. The Dept of Ecology's mandate applies to a portion of a larger Parks complex including The Maury Island Natural Area, Dockton Forest, Dockton Park, Maury Island Marine Park. Actions and decisions related to the "Maury Island Open Space" should consider the broader complex. Together these parks form a significant regional asset with over two miles of shoreline, many hundreds of acres, more than a dozen miles of interconnected trails, and irreplaceable madrona forests, which may be the largest in the state. As an example - it is perplexing to have intimidating signs on the million$ capped trails warning to stay out of the toxic forest, only a few hundred feet from high school kids digging new BMX trails in the dirt. (The bike trails are fantastic, my intent is to point out what seem to be glaring inconsistencies in actions based on which side of an imaginary line)↓

[In the attachment referenced, sensitive cultural resources information has been redacted.]

Hi Ian,  

Attached are the Duwamish Tribe’s comments regarding the cleanup site on Maury Island. Feel free to use this email address for future calls for comme...↓nting and communication.  

Just curious, was there an archaeological survey done for this site a few years ago?  

Thank you and have a great day!  

-Nancy  

Nancy Sackman

Cultural Preservation Officer

206-856-2564 Mobile

206-431-1582 ext 104 Longhouse↓

Thank you for this clean-up and preservation of a fantastic natural resource!

Most of the trails have been capped with gravel but, as I was told, funding ran out before the layer of mineral soil was applied. Please, please cover all the gravel t...↓opped trails with soil! The crunch, crunch while walking takes away from the natural experience, significantly. (The forest animals must find it annoying, too...)

The report mentioned no use of the ground water. In fact, this forest, I believe, is a watershed supplying water that Dockton Water distributes to 400 homes. Awareness of and protection of this area as a watershed is very important, especially during remedial work.
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I hope to see more care and purpose in the "clearing and replanting" aspect of the next phases. The capping of the trails went well with minimal destruction of existing trees. When the parking area was put in, it was totally cleared rather than purpo...↓sefully leaving a few of the old madronas in place and navigating the parking area pleasingly around the trees. Leaving some trees would have helped make the area harder for teenagers to do donuts, as we know was an issue. When proceeding with the next two phases of clearing and replanting, please leave as many native trees in place as possible.
It is important to remember the original intent of this land acquisition was minimal development with low impact users. I see another city park style bench going in. This type of development needs to stop. Maury Island Natural Area is not an urban park. Any benches such as these plastic and concrete ones are not only eyesores but also do not comply with minimal impact and development.
It is important to enforce no off leash dogs. In addition to being a nuissance, off leash dogs disturb the contaminated soils off trail, chase birds and disturb the natural area. In addition, dog poop is left on and off the trails introducing another type of contaminant.
Please remember to keep Maury Island Natural Area as undeveloped and undisturbed as possible while fulfilling the necessary remediation actions.↓

I support these amendments. It's important that this site not be developed further, even for recreational purposes, beyond the trails that already exist (with removal of spurious social trails, as noted in presentations on the amendment). There's j...↓ust too much risk of spread of contaminated soils. King County faces intense pressure from county residents to expand out amenities (picnic shelters, play areas, etc.), and so it is hoped this amendment will discourage these developments at such a compromised site, for the health of Island residents and the County generally. Thank you.↓