Though plans were approved in 2000, The Friends took their first step in making this daylighting project a reality in the summer of 2003. They applied for, and received, a City of Seattle Neighborhood Matching Fund grant for $6,300 to do a survey to get the project started. The match was provided by approximately 375 hours volunteered by adults and school children. A $16,000 grant from the Starflower Foundation funded conceptual design of the project, which was completed in 2003.

The Madrona Park Creek project is important for four reasons. One, it is the first example in Seattle of reconnecting a creek to Lake Washington. Two, it will provide significant habitat improvements for salmon. The downstream portions of the creek, including a restored Lake Washington shoreline, will be enhanced and monitored for salmonid rearing and refuge, including the endangered Chinook. Three, the creek will be a living laboratory and outdoor classroom for the Friends' Environmental Education Program. And four, the project has united a wide cross section of the community (spanning generations, socioeconomic status, etc.) to work towards and donate to a common goal – the Daylighting of Madrona Park Creek.

Madron Park Creek daylighting was funded by a partnership of local, city, county, and national sources and is complete. Water began running through the culvert to the lake in November 2007. The full stream was connected from the upper Madrona Woods Ravine in October 2008. A recent allotment of $25,300 made by the Madrona Community Council from a generous bequest from Mimi Krause for Madrona parks and recreation will enable us to pay off our final debts incurred during the stream daylighting and go forward from here.