The Kirkland Highlands Cotton HIll Park Trail is officially open. It’s beautiful, ready, and waiting for walkers, runners, and the kids crossing to school.  A collaborative effort between the City of Kirkland, Kirkland Highlands neighbors, and other citizens, the park and the trail have been recognized by the University of Washington Restoration Ecology Network.  This phase of the project started with goats eating the invasive plants and was completed by approximately 38 volunteers. The UW program will join with Kirkland to continue the park and trail restoration.

 The trail is dedicated to super volunteer Stu Clarke who ran with the idea and was instrumental in getting the process started.  He donated many hours of work to building the Cotton Hill Park trail.

Official ivy cutting opens the trail by Stu Clark and Jeff Rodder from Kirkland’s Parks Department.

The dedication organizers, Sharon Rodman, Environmental Education and Outreach Specialist, Colleen Cullen chair of the Kirkland Parks’ Board, Karen Story from the Kirkland Highlands, and Jeff Rodder from The Kirkland Parks Department.

The crowd included Bob Kamuda, president of The Kirkland Highlands Association and Park Board member,  Mayor Jim Lauinger, Kirkland City Council members Bob Sternoff, Dave Asher,  Jessica Greenway, and City Manager Dave Ramsay. Dave Ramsay is particularly appreciative of the trail as he uses it on his walking commute to work!

 Karen Story, The Kirkland Highlands organizer, thanks Walter Shimoda for all his hard work.