Dear Friends

Members of Friends of Magnuson Park are extremely disappointed that the Parks Department will commence filling the rich wetlands that so many species of flora and fauna depend on for habitat, to make way for a complex of artificially turfed and artificially illuminated athletic fields.

A federal judge has denied our motion for preliminary injunction to halt destruction of the wetlands. This means that work can proceed unabated despite our pending legal action to prevent locating the fields in sensitive habitat. Obviously, before the case e even goes to court, the wetlands and the habitat they provide will be irreparably damaged.

Friends of Magnuson Park and its many friends and supporters in Seattle will continue to advocate on behalf of using park land for open space and preserving wildlife habitat. We believe that it is time for this city to align its stewardship of park lands with its stated goals of environmental sustainability. Those few healthy wetlands and wildlife habitats in our city should be respected and treasured, and not converted into environmental dead zones just so that adults can play sports at night.

For your refernce...

We tried everything else, now we’re headed for Court

After exhausting all other options, Friends of Magnuson Park has filed a complaint in U.S. District Court to prevent the filling of wetlands in the Park. The action is in response to a recent decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) to issue a permit under Article 404 of the Clean Water Act allowing the City of Seattle to fill approximately 5.86 acres of wetlands for the development of the lighted athletic fields.

The complaint contents that the ACE’s decision violates the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. # 1251), the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. #4321) and the Administrative Procedures act (5 U.S.C. #501.)

FoMP is seeking an injunction to prevent filling of the wetlands, and judgment requiring the ACE to fully comply with these federal laws.

“The law is clear: you cannot fill wetlands for reasons that are not water-dependent,” says FOMP President Peggy J. Printz, who adds, “Seattle doesn’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to protecting wetlands. Citizen action seems to be the only way to make the City do the right thing when it comes to the environment.”

For news reports on the issues please visit http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/347860_magnusonsuit18.html and http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=dige19m&date=20080119 – please scroll down

Artificially constructed wetlands have a very poor survival rate. They must be well maintained and monitored with expert scientific consultation. We don’t believe the City has demonstrated that it has the budget or the expertise to accomplish this task. Besides, the existing wetlands will be demolished long before new wetland areas will be functioning, hardly an advisable way to preserve habitat.

The City’s consultants admit the new wetlands will be permanently irrigated, compared to seasonal wetlands that now exist at the Park. This means different species, including mosquitoes and bullfrogs (which feast on the chorus frogs you hear every spring) will invade Magnuson’s open space areas.

As you know, FOMP members have attended hearings, written emails and letters, made phone calls, helped elect concerned officials, taken politicians on tours of the Park and sent you many Action Alerts and news reports. We will continue our attempts to negotiate a better plan for the Park. We are meeting with City Council members and the new Parks Superintendent in efforts to convince them the current plan is damaging to the environment. We maintain that there are better ways to serve the needs of sports enthusiasts, for example repairing existing fields throughout Seattle, where people of all income groups can enjoy them without traveling across town. The City does not have to fill healthy wetlands so that adult teams can play outdoor games.

Obviously our legal challenge will require substantial funding. Thank you, to all of you who recently sent your tax-deductible donations to FOMP.

For those who have not yet donated, now is when we need your help most urgently. FOMP is an all-volunteer organization. We depend upon your contributions to protect and preserve Magnuson Park for everyone.

Friends of Magnuson Park
Friends of Magnuson Park is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to protecting the natural habitat and beauty of Magnuson Park and ensuring that future development of the Park for recreational or other purposes is consistent with these goals.

Please help us preserve the natural beauty of one of Seattle's premiere waterfront parks.

Friends of Magnuson Park is an all-volunteer, nonprofit corporation dedicated to protecting the natural habitat and beauty of Magnuson Park and ensuring that future development of the Park for recreational or other purposes is consistent with these goals. We represent over 2,500 individuals, community organizations, and community councils throughout the Seattle metropolitan area.