UW-Restoration Ecology Network

Grasslawn Park, Redmond

A 28.5-acre site of mostly playfields and expansive lawns, this park also contains a perimeter nature trail that winds through shrub and tree-dominated vegetation islands. Many of these more natural elements are integrated into the local stormwater control system and are presently dominated by aggressive non-native vegetation.

2002 - 2003

2002 - 2003
Project name	Grasslawn Park: stormwater retention pond restoration
Location	Redmond
Client	City of Redmond Parks and Recreation Department
Students	A. Rheaume, A. Mintz, W. Golden (UW Bothell; Environmental Science), D. Schmitt, E. Gerlach (UW Seattle; Environmental Horticulture), C. Martin (UW Seattle; Landscape Architecture)
Site description	a 300 ft 2 stormwater retention depression dominated by non-native species (mostly reed canarygrass and Himalayan blackberry) and its bordering forest patch were selected as a demonstration restoration of the vegetation islands along the nature trail.
Restoration challenge	Client wished to remove non-native species and create diverse native plant communities along a hydrologic gradient from the center of the depression to the forest edge. This was intended to promote habitat and nature study while retaining stormwater control functions and provide a demonstration of such an ecological restoration for future park projects.
Restoration approach	UW-REN students, working with Redmond city staff and local community members, removed non-native species and applied mechanical and chemical control treatments and added mulch to control recolonization. Native trees, shrubs, grasses, and herbs were added with a focus on species to (1) rapidly establish a shade canopy to control reinvasion by non-native species and (2) promote establishment of diverse riparian forest and shrub communities appropriate to different expected hydrologic regimes.