The Ridge to River Coalition has announced a series of community open houses to explore options for a long-range vision plan and pilot project for the West Duwamish Greenbelt, Seattle's largest remaining forest. Extending from the West Seattle Bridge to White Center, the natural area provides vital habitat for birds and wildlife alongside local recreational walking trails.
The upcoming events build upon feedback gathered from outreach sessions and a 2025 community survey. Community members attending the open houses will have the opportunity to share ideas regarding trail access, safety, environmental stewardship, and cultural connections. Coalition leaders intend to use participant input to guide public agencies and elected officials as they make future decisions.
Organizers have scheduled two in-person sessions and one virtual session:
- Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026 (English): Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in West Seattle
- Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026 (Spanish): Duwamish River Community Hub in South Park
- Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026 (English): Virtual Open House via Zoom from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Attendees can register online using the official event registration form. The Zoom link for the virtual meeting will be emailed to participants after completing registration.
The in-person gatherings run for three hours, starting with arrival and independent review of display boards from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.. Overview presentations will take place at 6:00 p.m. and repeat at 7:00 p.m., while breakout group sessions by topic run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. Participants are encouraged to drop in for at least an hour to focus on specific topics or areas of interest. Food will be served, and childcare for children ages 3 to 15 is available upon request when registering. Qualified language translators, including ASL interpreters, can also be requested during registration with at least one week of advance notice.
The Ridge to River Coalition includes local residents, community organizations from West Seattle and the Duwamish Valley, and the Duwamish Tribe. Funding for the planning effort is provided by a King County Parks Levy Fund grant, with sponsorship from the Seattle Parks Foundation in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation. Technical assistance is provided by the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, earlier environmental studies were funded by the King Conservation District, and current planning is led by Herrera Environmental Consultants. Following these open houses, the coalition plans to return in 2027 with a preferred option for additional community feedback before publishing a final plan
