The AMSA building on the west side of Texas Way becomes the new location for Department of Parks and Recreation’s Maintenance Facility, repurposing and preserving one intact building. This opens up the northeast corner of the site for forest and habitat. Osprey and other raptors return to join the neighborhood, especially the rookery of Great Blue Herons, Seattle’s official city bird, through nearly Kiwanis Ravine to Commodore Park.

“Footprints, The Forest Returns” is a place for everyone, especially those wanting a strong re-connection with nature. We can build this now and all future generations will one day wonder, has it always been like this?

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“Forestprints, The Forest Returns“ is our plan to bring back 35 acres of the Pacific Northwest Forest. A formed over thousands of years, harboring trees hundreds of feet tall in their branches and at their feet, an environment for all kinds of life to flourish - including people.

This landscape has until recently been home to Army facilities and now determined as no longer needed. Our vision is to return this land to the public and repurpose it as an urban wilds of greater Discovery Park. It should be a forest, a respite, and a place to turn our eyes and hearts to a place less built.

The forest will progress the goals and aspirations of its earliest designers, like the Olmsted Brothers, Dan Kiley, and others since. The Army’s footprint will not be completely erased. Discoveries remain. Concrete and asphalt are entombed in the undulating topography, giving rise to an observation hill, a place to prospect and reflection,. Giant light poles become raptor nests and perches, old monuments and smoke stacks become icons and curiosities. Some parts of building foundations, steps, and wall remains. The memory is preserved but the site is transformed.

Fort Lawton Reforestation