• Introduction
• Meadowbrook Pond-City of Seattle
• For More Information
• Environmental Purchasing Program

Introduction

The City of Seattle undertook a project a few years ago to restore the Thornton Creek watershed in the north end of the city. The main focus of this project was to rehabilitate the site of the old Lake City Sewage Treatment plant and to build a detention pond for flood control. This project integrated the whole community with efforts from community leaders, artists, environmental specialists and local government, including the horticulture program of Nathan Hale High School. Meadowbrook Pond, as this project came to be known, was completed in 1998.

Our program first learned about this project in 1996, because the City was building a 400-foot pedestrian bridge out of recycled plastic. We were intrigued by the magnitude of this project, because the whole bridge including the pilings, joists and decking were made of recycled plastic - what an undertaking. So we brought County people and others out to see this bridge, when the Pond was still a construction site. We soon realized that Meadowbrook Pond is an important project that incorporates the restoration of the watershed and wildlife habitat, and serves the public as an educational resource.

Meadowbrook Pond is situated on a nine acre site. Before the Lake City Sewage Treatment Plant was built on this site in 1952, this area had been a wetland which provided natural flood control within the watershed. A pristine, natural environment, it was home and habitat to many forms of wildlife. After only a few short years, and because of the creation of Metro and other Sewage Treatment Plants, it was no longer needed. The site was used mainly as a storage facility and auto shop for Nathan Hale High School. It wasn't until 1989 that planning began for Meadowbrook Pond and until 1990 that the sewage treatment plant was demolished.

The Meadowbrook Pond Project was initiated in response to several issues. First and foremost among these was the increased flooding that was taking place in the area. Construction began in 1996 and was completed in 1998.

Project Accomplishments and highlights:

• A detention pond was built to reduce flooding
• Earth berms were created using the material excavated in digging out the pond and now function to guide visitors through the site and reduce noise from surrounding areas
• fish habitats were enhanced
• a pedestrian bridge was built out of recycled plastic
• the site was landscaped with hundreds of species of native plants
• art was built containing a series of environmental features focusing attention on the changing seasons and the sight and sounds of water
• educational programs created
• flora and fauna have returned to this area

Once again, this site is providing flood control for the watershed, as well as habitat for a diverse population of plant and animal species.

Please see the City of Seattle's website for more information about and pictures of this project:

Special thanks to Pamela Miller, Meadowbrook Pond project manager for sharing this great project with us and keeping us in the loop.

Meadowbrook Pond web-site