Trees are a integral part of Redmond's Saturday Market culture, as you can see by the sign
OPINION: Invaluable improvements to traffic circulation around and through the downtown will be achieved once the Bear Creek Parkway Extension is completed. Unfortunately, the removal of significant trees near the Saturday Market is noticeable. According to city Project Planner Lisa Singer, 13 trees were removed from the Saturday Market gateway. As you enter Redmond on Leary Way the Saturday Market has lost it's park-like appearance. I haven't been to the Market recently to see how it feels. Please comment on this post if you have strong feelings about the changes.
Below, is a short clip of the parkway construction's impact to the Saturday Market, Heron Rookery, and Gateway. Councilman Vache' was noticably absent during the Council's 4-2 decision to go ahead with this unpopular roadway alignment. Councilman Cole was forced by Vache's absence to change his voting preference to keep the project moving forward. Councilmembers David Carson and Kimberly Allen voted against this alignment. Below is a 2 min. clip of the construction around the Saturday Market and heron rookery. Opinion and photos/video By Yoder
Below, is a short clip of the parkway construction's impact to the Saturday Market, Heron Rookery, and Gateway. Councilman Vache' was noticably absent during the Council's 4-2 decision to go ahead with this unpopular roadway alignment. Councilman Cole was forced by Vache's absence to change his voting preference to keep the project moving forward. Councilmembers David Carson and Kimberly Allen voted against this alignment. Below is a 2 min. clip of the construction around the Saturday Market and heron rookery. Opinion and photos/video By Yoder
As I biologist that has been studying the Heron (Ardeidae) in the Redmond and surrounding area over the last 10 years and being very familiar with the Redmond Town Center Rookery, I will say this. The removal of such said trees will not harm the local population, in fact by removing these trees I believe it will improve the area adjacent to them by allowing sun exposure. Thus making the area a better habitat.
ReplyDeleteAs a biologist who has observed the Great Blue Heron in Redmond for the last 6 years I beg to disagree. According to Cathy Bearm, environmental planner for the COR the Leary Heron Rookery heron were chased away from the rookery by crows and eagles over the years. There is no longer a colony in the "Heron Rookery" at Leary Way. The wader birds we see in the Redmond area migrate from the Issaquah rookery colony to forage here. As for the RTC "rookery" you allude to -- it's my understanding there was never a "Safeway" or RTC rookery. The other rookery was located on Avondale along Bear Creek. BTW, there are no protections required for this wader...only "guidlines" for management....according to the city and WDFW.
ReplyDeleteAssuming that this trail will connect two high use bike/ped trails, it needs to be hard surface to accomodate the narrow bike, stroller, wheel chair etc tires used on the trails being connected.
ReplyDeleteNO. Blacktop hard surface "trails" or "paths" (as the city describes them) are not "needed" other than: 1) the city gets grants for for 12 ft. blacktop roads, 2) Parks has installed these "backbone trails" as a standard all over the city, 3) road bicycles are encouraged as an integral component of multi-modal transportation and blacktop facilitates their use.
ReplyDeleteHowever, alternate soft-surface crushed gravel trails with fines can be compacted to ADA standards and use by strollers and road bikes. Several citizens have presented ADA approved soft surface trails to Parks to no avail. Soft surface trails are less invasive, fit better with the lay of the land, and may be cheaper to build.
Finally, look at the "trails" in Idlewood Park. The northern beach was redeveloped a few years ago but the 10 foot gravel trail has never been improved to meet federal ADA and stroller use standards. The trail connects a beautiful picnic area by the lake to a hard surface "trail", road and sidewalk. It appears the Parks Dept. has implimented a double standard that has serious implications. Parks Dept. needs to update their 4 year old ProParks Plan before all our parks get paved over.