When you look at a map of Ballard, something surprising might jump out — there are very few public natural areas for residents to enjoy.
The Seattle neighborhood has its fair share of single-family backyards and gardens, but for the increasing number of residents who live in apartments or condos in Ballard’s downtown core, there aren’t many public green areas.
A University of Washington graduate student saw green-starved Ballard as an opportunity to call attention to areas in the neighborhood that have restoration potential. Her new report, the “Ballard Green Spaces Project,” identifies 55 sites that could be restored as natural areas for people and wildlife, increasing the neighborhood’s total amount of accessible green spaces.
The report also identifies landowners and contacts for each site to make it easier for residents, community groups, the city or nonprofits to tackle a restoration project in Ballard.
“My goal is to put this information out there and show people the possibilities in case they want to do a project,” said Theresa Yoder, a UW graduate student in environmental and forest sciences. “I think it’s important to give people a connection to nature. If you’re not surrounded by it and can’t experience it, you’re not as likely to see its intrinsic value.”
Read more at UW Today »