Hello Commissioners. I am Rick Harwood, speaking on new business item 10A. I’m a
member of the Defenders of the Highline Forest, formerly known as Defenders of North
SeaTac Park. I’m speaking as an individual. I am also a retired Highline SD high school
principal, active member of the Rotary Club of SeaTac-Tukwila, and a volunteer working
with asylum seeking families at Riverton Park United Methodist Church.
I want to express my appreciation and support for the proposed order of the Port
Commission dealing with the future of North SeTac Park.
In all my experiences working, recreating, and developing relationships in the SeaTac
and Tukwila communities I have seen a great concern and commitment by residents to
the quality of life in their community, especially as they live, work, and play as neighbors
of SeaTac airport living under the flight path of aircraft that pass overhead every 3
minutes of their lives.
The order is a step in the right direction of preserving a small but important part of the
natural environment of the Highline community.
I want to highlight a few statements in the order that I hope will continue to be the true
intent of the commission.
In the introduction, the order states that “the Port Commission sees North SeaTac Park
as an important natural asset for the environment, for recreation, and for community
use.”
The order directs the Port Executive Director to develop plans that meet with the
requirements of the FAA Reauthorization Act, stating that
“The Executive Director shall also consider supporting additional environmental
restoration work in the park,” and the order claims that
“The Port and the surrounding communities both acknowledge the essential importance
of parks and open space – as a key ingredient to provide clean air, to protect against
climate change, and to allow for recreational and community uses that contribute to
human health and quality of life.”
To be consistent with these statements, the Port Commission must truly commit not just
to a park for recreational use, but to protection of and increased tree canopy,
preservation of bogs and creeks, and a full commitment to no further development for
airport related commercial use. The SAMP and the Real Estate Development plans
need to be revised to be consistent with the intent of this order.
I look forward to seeing where this order leads.
Rick Harwood
4028 34
th
Ave. S.
Seattle 98118
206-790-7650
