Happy Earth Day! Since EW was founded on the very first Earth Day in 1970, this day has held a special place in our hearts. (Wondering about our header? For a time, EW called its home Earth Station 7.) Read on about one of our favorite recent sustainability-minded EW projects, the Edmonds Waterfront Center and Edmonds Waterfront Redevelopment Project. We share some ways we like to celebrate nature, including visiting geocaches where we've dropped limited-edition EW stickers for you to find. And, we introduce a fantastic natural play area you can help create at Voices of Tomorrow Child Care Center, our 2021 GiveBIG partner!
The Edmonds Senior Center's 50-plus-year-old building was falling apart. Meanwhile, the community's older adult population was skyrocketing. And, the City of Edmonds had identified the key goal of a new community center. This confluence of needs gave rise to the beautiful new Edmonds Waterfront Center and Edmonds Waterfront Redevelopment Project, designed by EW's Architecture and Landscape Architecture teams respectively. The Center's and restored beachfront's awesome sustainability features make them a great local Earth Month destination.
The Edmonds Waterfront Center's flexible design will allow for programming for older adults during weekdays, and for the whole community on evenings and weekends, making it a truly multi-functional and multi-generational gathering space.
EW Director of Architecture and Waterfront Center Project Lead Sally Knodell notes that the building generates on-site renewable energy thanks to a 100 kWh photovoltaic array on the roof, while also optimizing energy performance. And, there is now zero petroleum-based resource usage on site! These elements contributed to the Waterfront Center attaining LEED Gold certification.
EW's Landscape Team, led by Director of Landscape Architecture Nic Morin, designed the Edmonds Waterfront Redevelopment adjacent to the Waterfront Center. Previously, a parking lot on a creosote-soaked bulkhead dominated the site. The bulkhead and fill were removed, and replaced with two new beach staircases, an accessible ramp for hand-boat launching, and clean sand and boulders. The beach restoration integrates several glacial erratic boulders linking the site to its geological history. It also features soft shoreline stabilization with anchored logs, supporting animal habitat and beach health.
The redevelopment activates a 280-foot stretch of the City’s waterfront, restoring its habitat and adding artistic and recreational elements for all users. It also integrates key environmental remediation and green stormwater infrastructure that will protect this sensitive site’s use and beauty for decades to come. Last week, the Washington Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects honored the waterfront redevelopment with an Award of Merit.
Check out the Edmonds virtual grand opening happening today, featuring a video tour with Rick Steves.
Another incentive to visit the Edmonds Waterfront project in person: its on-site food options! The Potlatch Bistro is open for lunch every weekday, and Shore Pine Coffee & Gelato is open daily 9 am to 3 pm.
Looking for a fun, safe outdoor activity in your neighborhood? Try Geocaching! Download the free Geocaching app, turn on your phone’s location function, and follow clues in the app to track down a “cache” – a weatherproof container, usually with a small logbook and trinkets to exchange. Our staff have hidden limited-edition EW stickers at several geocaches around the Seattle region (each geocache's ID number follows its name). Hunt some down, and send us photos of any you discover!
In Hillman City: on 47th south of Brandon, at the "P-patch poker" geocache (GC95XAT)
In the Arboretum: near the E. Newton St. entrance, at the "Billy Goats back again" geocache (GC8CECV)
In West Seattle: near Erskine Way, at the "Erskine Guardrail Peek" geocache (GC1MXEH)
In Ravenna: north of Ravenna Blvd. on 17th Ave. NE, at the "Ravenna Troll Booth" geocache (GC6WAMJ)
On Bainbridge Island: at the south end gem of Lytle Beach (GC7P1N4); and, about a mile north of the ferry at the "Bus Stop" geocache by Ferncliff Road (GC8Y25F).
Other ways our staff like to celebrate nature:
Voices of Tomorrow Child Care Center is a Somali-English dual-language, culturally responsive early learning program serving East African and other South End families. For our 2021 GiveBIG campaign, EW is partnering with VOT to raise money to transform an asphalt lot at the center into an enriching and fun natural play area! Give now through May 5 to support a great project for a great community. Plus, all supporters will be invited to join us for a volunteer build day this summer!
