Tomorrow is Arbor Day in Kirkland.

Kirkland Highlands’ President Karen Story sent out an email this afternoon asking for more volunteers to help direct traffic and to help with snacks and warm drinks for the volunteer workers.  If you able to help direct traffic, find Karen by 8:30 AM to help with the traffic.  Feel free to bring snacks, too!

From Sharon Rodman’s announcement for Arbor Day:

The Kirkland Mayor has proclaimed November 14 as Arbor Day.  We request your help to plant over 400 native trees and plants that day. Please join the Green Kirkland Partnership for our forest restoration event and special Arbor Day tree planting ceremony. Some invasive plant removal may be included.

Kirkland Highlands Cotton Hill Park

Date: Saturday November 14

Place: Cotton Hill Park (110th Ave NE & NE 98th St., Kirkland).

Event Time: 9 a.m. until Noon
Arbor Day Ceremony: approximately 11:50 am

Suitable for: Adults, Teens, Families. Minors under the age of 14 years must be accompanied by an adult. Minors 14 to 17 years should be accompanied by an adult, or bring a signed waiver form, or a parent/guardian to sign you in. Youth waiver forms can be obtained in advance from the City website or through EarthCorps.

Refreshments will be sponsored by park neighbors and Village Mart on Juanita Drive.

Tools will be provided (you could bring a shovel in case we run out). EarthCorps will be managing the event. Please sign up at the EarthCorps website. Advance signup is important for planning purposes. However, volunteers who show up on the day are also welcome. Please contact project manager Lina Rose if you have questions about the event, lina@earthcorps.org, 206-322-9296 x 225.

Continuing the Green Kirkland Partnership is made possible through a grant from King Conservation District. For more information on the Partnership please check out the city’s Green Kirkland web page and Cascade Land Conservancy’s web page. Please check these websites for other volunteer opportunities.

What to Bring

• Sturdy shoes or boots for mud
• Work gloves
• Layers of comfortable clothing
• Water bottle
• Travel mug for tea/coffee
• Rain gear (if necessary)
• Shovel – if you have one and please put your name on it

*** WATERPROOF BOOTS and RAIN GEAR *** that can get muddy.(if you are dressed warm and dry, working in the rain or cold is actually FUN!) from Karen Story who has been the key reason for the transformation of the park and its chief volunteer.

Driving Directions

• Cotton Hill Park (110th Ave NE & NE 98th St., Kirkland):
• From I-405, take the NE 85th Street/WA-908 exit (exit 18) and go west towards downtown Kirkland.
• Turn right onto 6th Street (light at bottom of hill)
• Turn right onto 12th Avenue.
• Cross the railroad tracks and park at the dead end straight ahead.
• Please consider walking, bicycling, carpooling, or taking the bus

Sincerely,
Cotton Hill Green Kirkland Partnership Team
Highlands Neighborhood, City of Kirkland, EarthCorps, UW Restoration Ecology Network, Cascade Land Conservancy