Transforming Urban Space

Volunteer staff members from the National Wildlife Federation spread 10 cubic yards of soil within what was originally a six-foot by 114-foot turf grass parking strip. The strip was divided with bricks into four sections planted in individually themed habitats.

Landscape architect Susan Black donated landscape design services to transform a bare sidewalk in Seattle into a garden flowing with four themed native plant habitats.

The transformed sidewalk is located in front of the Northwestern field office of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) building at 418 First Avenue West in Seattle, Wash. Susan Black, principal of Susan Black and Associates, a local landscape architect firm, donated her time to design a landscape plan to convert the building?EUR??,,????'???s six-foot by 114-foot turf grass parking strip into a wildlife habitat demonstration plot that showcases four different Northwest habitats.

The meadow edge habitat grows with serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), beach strawberry (Fragraria chiloensis), evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum), kinnikinnick (Arctostaphyllos uva ursi) and red twig dogwood (Cornus stolonifera).

A dry upland/wetland habitat features scouler willow (Salix scoulerana), longleaf mahonia (Mahonia bealii), blooming lupine (Lupinus russell hybrid chandelier) and snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus).

The coastal habitat includes shore pine (Pinus Contorta), beach strawberry (Fragraria chiloensis), nootka rose (Rosa nootkana), snowberry (Symphoricarpos alba) and kinnikinnick (Arctostaphyllos uva ursi).

A woodland habitat uses vine maple (Acer circinatum), salal (Gaultheria shallon), sword ferns (Polystichum munitum), twinberry (Lonicera involucrata) and nootka rose (Rosa nootkana).

Themed habitats were chosen to provide food, cover and places for small animals to raise their young. The green space provides neighborhood residents, pedestrians and nearby offices with an oasis amidst the concrete lined streets and is a living example of a beautiful alternative to pavement and traditional ornamental gardens.

A Pacific Northwest wildflower mix blooms in the coastal habitat. To help with the plants?EUR??,,????'??? happiness and ease their transition from pots to the ground, a truckload of rich, organic compost was spread throughout the beds. A ground-level birdbath is a source of water for small animals.

Habitat Contributors

The NWF habitat was made possible by First & Republican Apartments building owners, Susan Black and Associates landscape architects, Crown Management (Bill and Marilyn Cleveland), Pacific Topsoils, Inc., Cedar Grove Composting, Inc. and Swanson?EUR??,,????'???s Nursery.

The National Wildlife Federation

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) works to conserve the environment and its endangered species through education and grants. For news updates, green tips or information on programs in your area visit NWF at www.nwf.org.