Now that the final parcel of land has been purchased to complete the City of Bothell’s North Creek Forest, another area of wooded land is coming into focus: the Shelton View Forest (also known as the Shelton View Woods).
A dedicated group of volunteers has come together as the Shelton View Forest Stewardship Association (SVFSA) to help preserve the woods in northern Bothell.
The group maintains the trail system within the forest and makes improvements to it, including the recent addition of a new kiosk at the 234th Place SE trail head. The association is hosting a work party for invasive species removal and trail maintenance at that trail head from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 25.
The group also encourages participation in a weekly “Families in the Forest” event organized by other members of the community at 10 a.m. every Sunday, with hikers of all ages meeting at the Seventh Avenue W trail head.
In total, the forest sits on more than 100 acres owned by a variety of different parties.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which currently owns 26 acres of the forest, has given the city a period lasting through 2018 to raise the funds to buy the land, which has a price tag between $2.6 and 3 million, according to figures provided to City of Bothell Parks and Recreation Director John Keates last year.
Keates plans to meet with the new commissioner of public lands, Hilary Franz, and her staff in the next few weeks to affirm the state’s interest in seeing the forest land go to the city.
“I’m making sure it’s still on the radar for them,” Keates said. “I’ll bring the new people up to speed.”
Before the Bothell City Council approved the city’s 2017-23 Capital Facilities Plan at the end of last year, it was amended by staff so $250,000 was set aside to look into the city acquiring a park in northern Bothell. The plan indicates that the city is looking to acquire and develop a community park that is at least five acres in Snohomish County.
Keates is in the process of filling out a Snohomish County Conservation Futures Program grant application for Shelton View Forest, with the assistance of SVFSA members. The application is due Feb. 28, and Keates estimated he’ll know whether or not they have the grant funding by late spring or early summer. Bothell’s North Creek Forest project came to fruition with help from the Conservation Futures programs in Snohomish and King counties.
Some SVFSA members went to Olympia on Monday to meet with legislators to discuss funding for purchasing the forest, according to SVFSA Board Member Bob Rorabaugh. Keates also went to Olympia that day to discuss a variety of issues related to parks as part of Parks and Great Outdoors Legislative Day.
More information about the forest and the SVFSA can be found online at sheltonviewforest.org.
Shelton View Forest Stewardship Association (SVFSA) board member Bob Rorabaugh holds a slug in the forest. CATHERINE KRUMMEY / Bothell Reporter
Shelton View Forest is located in northern Bothell. CATHERINE KRUMMEY / Bothell Reporter
A volunteer added rocks identifying various species of plants in the Shelton View Forest. CATHERINE KRUMMEY / Bothell Reporter
Shelton View Forest is located in northern Bothell. CATHERINE KRUMMEY / Bothell Reporter
Shelton View Forest Stewardship Association (SVFSA) board members Hillary Sanders (left), Cheryl Stanford and Bob Rorabaugh go on a hike through the forest. CATHERINE KRUMMEY/Bothell Reporter
