Blog From The Bog

Visitor Report

Subject: May Visitor Comments - Hylebos Park

With Hylebos Day and the Buds & Blooms Festival, not to mention, lots of publicity about th park in the local news.  It's not surprising that visitors has been flocking to Hylebos Wetlands Park this month.  Thank You , Thank You for the new signs at the park and restroom!  I've seen many more families with strollers and seniors at the park this month. 

457 visitors took the time to sign-in from April 27th - May 16, 2008

Most Distant Visitors: Riverview New Jersey, Garney NC, Chicago IL, Texas, California, Victoria BC

WA and Puget Sound Visitors: Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Duvall, Edgewood, Federal Way, Maple Valley,Oak Harbor, Renton,  SeaTac, Seattle, Spanaway, Tacoma and Yelm

Group Visitors:

Mrs Bartons Biology Class, Auburn (10)

Girlscout troop 1049, Federal Way ( 15)

Cubscout Pack 391 - Des Moines (12+)

Scout Troop - pack 3113 - Federal Way (10)

3 Classes  from Panther Lake Elementary (78) Panther lake students had a tour of the Historic Cabins, Wetland/Wildlife Walk and released Salmon fry into Hylebos Creek

Favorite Comments from Visitors

"Brings you from Citylife to a treasure."

"I thought I only knew about this park"

"Thankyou for the new trail & all the upkeep.  It's nice!"

"Always nice to return to this quiet wetland refuge!"

"Handsdown Awsome!!!"

Spring Field Trip

Field Trip to West Hylebos Park and Cabins

Seventy-five students and three teachers from Panther Lake Elementary visited the West Hylebos Wetland today, Thursday, May 15, 2008.  Three members of the Federal Way Historical Society opened the Barker cabin and gave the kids a talk about the history of the cabin, the history of Federal Way, and logging.  I led the kids and their teachers on a tour of the wetland, during which they saw wild rabbits, two red-legged frogs at the deep sink, land snails, and wooly-bears.  I told them about the formation and mining of peat, about the various kinds of wildlife that live in the park, where they live, and how to find them.  We also found and identified dwarf bleeding heart, false lily-of-the-valley, salmonberries, twinberries, stinging nettles, horsetail ferns, root wads and the miniature ecosystem created by them, piggyback plants, vining maple, salal, and many other plants.  During their wetland tour, the children set three buckets of salmon fry free in West Hylebos Creek.  The kids concluded their visit to the wetland with a picnic lunch in the orchard.  Everyone learned a lot and had a great time.  I overheard many of the kids telling one another that they could hardly wait to bring their parents and siblings to the wetland so they could show them all the things they learned today.  What fun!

Teri Lenfest

Brooklake on Hylebos Day!

My husband Mark and I had a good time hanging out at the Brooklake viewing area on the 1st ever Hylebos Day!  The rain didn't dampen our spirits and the ducks on the water didn't mind at all.  We set up our spotting scope and brought extra pairs of binoculars so visitors could get a closer look at two striking male Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall and Mallard.  Most all the birds on the water were drakes, so we're hoping the hens are on the nest nearby.  In past weeks we've seen pairs of all the above birds at Brooklake.  A Great Blue Heron and Bald Eagle put in guest appearances, by performing a brief flyby.  A flock of 20 Yellow-rumped Warblers were flitting in the willows around the lake.  Song Sparrow, Steller's Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco were seen during the afternoon.

We got to meet Mike, who built the beautiful new boardwalk and personally thank him for a GREAT JOB! Renewed friendships and met many new faces.  It was really a fun afternoon.  After we the event, we realized how wet and cold we were and packed up a group of friends and headed to the Olive Garden for dinner.  Just as we left wouldn't you know the sun came out! 

Dreams of Many Friends Comes Full Circle

The news that West Hylebos Wetlands park is our favorite place in Federal Way, may come as no surprise to you.  We first walked the muddy path 23 years ago with Ilene Marckx and Thais Bock on a birding fieldtrip with the local Audubon group.  We immediately fell in love with this fantasy woodland bog in the midst of Federal Way. 

Now the vision of so many friends has come full circle with the renovation of the parks boardwalk.  Our letter today comes with heartfelt thanks for all the Friends and partnerships that came together to attain funding for the parks new boardwalk and other needed  improvements. This project was a huge undertaking and the results are “First Class”!  Cheers to all who worked to make this possible!

It has been wonderful to see the park at West Hylebos Wetlands evolve over the years. We loved the muddy adventure path in those early days.  Building the first boardwalk allowed us to visit the park year-round, so we could witness the changes in the wetland by season.  Now the new path is safer and fully accessible. Parking improvements will accommodate school buses, allowing new learning opportunities for students and groups of all ages.

             On our many walks along the Hylebos boardwalk, we have not only refreshed our own spirits, but have seen the same wonder and joy in the faces of those we have met along the trail.  Families, seniors, scout groups, school groups (pre-school to college) and happy individuals from all areas of Puget Sound and beyond.  All walk the same route; each visitor walking away with their own memories of delight.   That’s what keeps us coming back to this wonderful place!  Thank you so much for your part in making lasting improvements to this park.

Thankyou Ilene and Francis Marckx for planting the seeds of this magical place!   

Adele and Mark Freeland

Federal Way WA