Friends of Discovery Park

08/21/2026

The City is listening. Now speak up for Discovery Park! 🌲📣

For the first time, the Mayor’s Office and Seattle Office of Housing have included an all passive parks alternative for Fort Lawton in their latest environmental study.

The new “Alternative 2” proposes parkland at the Fort Lawton parcel and locating the housing at a shovel-ready site at Stone Ave N and N 130th Street.

But the future is not decided. The original proposal for approximately 500 housing units with 375 parking spaces next to Discovery Park remains under consideration. This plan removes 40+ mature trees, cuts off a vital wildlife corridor, and overloads an already fragile habitat.

There are two public comment opportunities on Thursday, August 27:

💻 Attend virtually (Zoom)
10 a.m.
30-minute City information session followed by public comment
SIGN-UP HERE: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=RR7meOtrCUCPmTWdi1T0Gwfcfqka-4RErcvhwzY1ahNUQTZGNUtHTEI1UUc2UkhQUjdYN01BQzZMTi4u&route=shorturl

🏛️ Attend in person
12–3 p.m.
Seattle Municipal Tower, Third Floor Lobby
700 5th Ave., Seattle

You can also submit written comments through Tuesday, September 8 at [email protected].

We support affordable housing, but not at the expense of Discovery Park’s irreplaceable natural habitat and open space.

Join us virtually or in person on Thursday, August 27, email your comments to the City, and tell them to Keep Discovery Park Wild! 🌲💚

08/14/2026

Discovery Park made National Geographic’s list of the best things to do in Seattle with kids! 🌲🌊

“Discovery Park is Seattle’s largest park, transformed from a former military fort into a retreat of forests, meadows, bluffs, and nearly two miles of tidal beaches overlooking Puget Sound. Keep an eye out for bald eagles and great blue herons while making the scenic walk to the historic West Point Lighthouse."

We’re proud to see Seattle’s largest park recognized as a place where families can experience the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest right here in the city.

Read more from National Geographic:

Blending urban exploration with outdoor adventure, Seattle invites families to experience its waterways, neighborhoods, and cultural landmarks in exciting ways.

08/07/2026

"Discovery Park is the largest park in Seattle, boasting more than seven miles of trails. It has multiple habitats: ponds, meadows, forests, and saltwater beaches. We like the Loop Trail (2.8 miles), which has several habitats and remarkable panoramas of the Cascade and Olympic Mountains. From this trail, you can go to the seaside for beachcombing." 🌲🌊

Seattle's Child recently featured Discovery Park as one of the Seattle area's best family-friendly beach hikes!

READ MORE:

From Carkeek to Point Defiance, explore scenic beach trails near Seattle perfect for family walks, tidepooling, and kid-friendly fun.

08/07/2026

Our August newsletter is out! 🌲☀️

August brings the height of summer to Discovery Park, when wildlife is abundant, meadows are alive with color, and the Park's rich natural and cultural history continues to inspire exploration and stewardship.

In our August 2026 newsletter, we reflect on our Fourth of July flag-raising ceremony, celebrate the volunteers and partners who help care for the Park, and share ways to discover and protect Discovery Park's remarkable wildlife and habitats.

READ MORE: https://mailchi.mp/fodp/august2026

08/04/2026

"Discovery Park is the largest park in Seattle, boasting more than seven miles of trails. It has multiple habitats: ponds, meadows, forests, and saltwater beaches. We like the Loop Trail (2.8 miles), which has several habitats and remarkable panoramas of the Cascade and Olympic Mountains. From this trail, you can go to the seaside for beachcombing." 🌲🌊

Seattle's Child recently featured Discovery Park as one of the Seattle area's best family-friendly beach hikes!

READ MORE:

News A win for WA school and local university mental health grants Court order blocks DOE attempt to cancel grants at least through August 24

07/30/2026

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: 8/15/26 Capehart Forest Restoration 🌲🌿

Join Friends of Discovery Park on Saturday, August 15, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help restore one of the Park's most wildlife-rich areas.

Capehart Forest is the most biodiverse habitat in Discovery Park. Together, we'll remove invasive plants, mulch and aerate the soil to encourage healthy forest fungi, and plant native shrubs and groundcovers that support wildlife for years to come.

All ages are welcome! Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or joining us for the first time, we'd love to have you.

What to bring:
💧 Water
🧤 Gloves (optional—we'll have extras)
👢 Ankle-high work boots (recommended for uneven terrain)
🌤️ Dress for the weather
🌱 Favorite hand trowel or clippers (optional)

Where to meet:
Meet at the entrance to Capehart Forest on Discovery Park Blvd. (near the street's only stop sign). Parking is available in the East, North, or South parking lots, with about a 10-minute walk to the site.

Help us Keep Discovery Park Wild by restoring healthy habitat for the plants and wildlife that call it home.

Sign up here via Green Seattle Partnership: https://seattle.greencitypartnerships.org/event/44413/

07/27/2026

Keeping Discovery Park Wild: Rethinking Mowing in Our Prairies

Discovery Park is one of Seattle's last great refuges for native wildlife, and how we manage its grasslands has a profound effect on the plants and animals that call the Park home. Friends of Discovery Park believes it is time to thoughtfully reduce routine mowing where appropriate, while continuing to provide for public safety, fire protection, and access.

Western Washington's native prairies are among the rarest ecosystems in North America. Once widespread across the Puget Lowlands, less than one percent remains in anything close to its original condition. Discovery Park contains valuable remnants of this increasingly scarce habitat, supporting a remarkable diversity of native plants, insects, reptiles, birds, and small mammals.

Many of these species depend on tall grasses and undisturbed vegetation to survive. Ground-nesting birds such as Savannah Sparrows and Spotted Towhees build nests directly on or near the ground, where frequent mowing can destroy nests, expose eggs and young to predators, and reduce available cover. Many species that forage on the ground, including White Crowned Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos, benefit from diverse grasslands that provide insects, seeds, and shelter.

READ MORE from our July newsletter:

In this month's newsletter, we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary and the enduring values that have shaped it. We also take a closer look at the native green bee, raise awareness about the damage fireworks and fires can inflict on Discovery Park's fragile ecosystem, and step back through nea...

07/23/2026

A beautiful reminder of who calls Discovery Park home. 🦌 This healthy buck was recently spotted in Capehart Forest, one of the Park's most wildlife-rich areas. Keeping Discovery Park wild means protecting habitat for moments like these. 🌿

🎞️ Phil Vogelzang

07/16/2026

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY 7/26: Join Friends of Discovery Park for a habitat restoration work party in Capehart Forest on Sunday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 🌱🌲

Capehart Forest is one of the most wildlife-rich areas in Discovery Park and has been the focus of years of restoration work. Join us as we remove invasive plants, spread mulch to improve soil health and support beneficial fungi, and plant native shrubs and groundcovers that help increase biodiversity.

This is a great opportunity to make a lasting difference for Seattle's largest park while spending a summer morning outdoors with fellow volunteers.

What to bring:
💧 Water
🧤 Work gloves (optional)
🥾 Ankle-high work boots
👖 Long pants and long sleeves recommended
✂️ Optional: Favorite hand trowel or clippers

Meet-up location:
The entrance to Capehart Forest is next to Discovery Park Boulevard’s only stop-sign. The site is about a 10-minute walk from the north, east, or south parking lots.

Learn more and sign up via Green Seattle Partnership: https://seattle.greencitypartnerships.org/event/44201

If you are under 18 and attending the event without a parent or guardian, please come to the event with the waiver below signed by a parent or guardian.

07/14/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our June work parties last month, including the Summer Solstice! Volunteers supported us removing invasive blackberry, caring for native plantings, and helping restore habitat in and around Capehart Forest.

Want to lend a hand this summer? Check out opportunities through Green Seattle Partnership (Filter by 'Discovery Park' here: https://seattle.greencitypartnerships.org/event/map/)