The National Wildlife Federation has a program that is becoming quite popular in our region. The Backyard Habitat Certification Program encourages development and maintenance of natural habitats on private property, public facilities and business sites. Several local cities and neighborhoods including Alki in West Seattle, are participating.

Natural habitats can be created by replacing grass lawns with native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees to provide a refuge for wildlife which may attract songbirds, butterflies and frogs.

To educate communities on how easy and beneficial these habitats can be, Kara Whittaker and Greg Whittaker who are the owners of Alki Kayak along with organizers from the Alki Wildlife Habitat Project have initiated a project to certify Seacrest Park in West Seattle as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat and Demonstration Garden. Seattle Parks and Recreation Department is co-sponsoring this effort. 

The Alki Wildlife Habitat Project has been named the 31st NWF Certified Community Wildlife Habitat in the country. A celebration is being planned for this spring. The Alki group hopes to be a leader and a resource for the community by having habitats created in other neighborhoods.

As this type of improvement to neighborhoods occurs, local organizers want to challenge all of us to make the state of Washington the leader in the number Community Habitats within the state. Right now Washington only trails the state of Texas.

This article appears on Council member Rasmussen's Web site.