In the past nine years, Friends of Madrona Woods has restored portions of Madrona Woods to a natural habitat.   Before we began our work in the park, ivy, holly, blackberry, English laurel, and other exotic invasive plants smothered everything in their path.  Now native plants (Oregon grape, ferns, red currant, huckleberry and trillium) thrive in areas we've cleared and revegetated.

There is much more to do before the job is done.  That’s where you can help.

Your online donation will be made to the Madrona Neighborhood Association, the nonprofit which is our fiscal agent. Go to the Network for Good website to donate. Designate Friends of Madrona Woods.

Our current major project is the “daylighting” of Madrona Creek.  Early in the 20th century,  city engineers put almost all of the city’s creeks into underground pipes. Most of Madrona Creek hasn’t seen the light of day since.  “Daylighting” is the process of liberating a stream from its underground 'prison' and restoring it to its natural state.  When we complete this project, there will be an observation area at 38th Avenue and Spring (where the stream emerges from the ravine hillside), culverts for the stream to flow under 38th Avenue and Lake Washington Boulevard, a pool on the west side of Lake Washington Boulevard where you may see native fish species like salmon, and trails and bridges  through Lake Washington Park (adjacent to Madrona Beach) where the creek will drain into Lake Washington through a newly created wetland cove.  We will restore the creeksides and the cove area with native plants.

Invest in Mother Nature

All this will take money, lots of it.  We’ve already received generous grants from King County and other funders.  But any foundations we approach will ask--what does the community think of what you're doing?   Before Seattle Parks and Recreation provides the permits necessary to begin this work, they want to know how many neighbors have contributed or volunteered.  They want to know how many neighbors have attended our open houses. Does the community support this project?  The more donors and volunteers we have, the stronger the case we can make that ours is an important community environmental project.

Give, Then Give Some More...

Won’t you please take a moment to click on the Donation link on this page and make a generous donation to support Friends of Madrona Woods?  Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted.  Your gift will be channeled through our 501c3 fiscal sponsor, Madrona Community Council, and is tax-deductible.