Call To Action

Dear FNCF Supporter,

We are writing today to urge you to contact your legislators and ask them to support two important conservation measures that have a direct impact on North Creek Forest and our broader community. Please email your legislators in Olympia today and request that they:

1.     Retain the current WWRP allocation formula and

2.     Fund the No Child Left Inside Grant Program.

It was with great disappointment that we learned of the Senate’s proposal to discard the allocation formula that has been key to the success of WWRP, and instead prioritize local parks and trail projects over habitat-related projects.  While the funding for North Creek Forest remains intact under the Senate’s proposed plan, we feel strongly that this change threatens the values that allowed our local park to draw supporters from throughout the region and could jeopardize the integrity of WWRP.  WWRP does a good job allocating scarce assets in ways that have long been recognized as fair and effective and this allocation formula is key to that process.

We share the belief expressed by the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition and the Washington Recreation and Park Association that if changes are to be made to the allocation formula, it should be done in a thoughtful, independent and scientific process that involves all stakeholders. WWRP land acquisitions provide a very high return on investment.  These lands provide habitat for fish and wildlife, ecosystem services, and support the ecotourism and outdoor recreation industries. Delays in the program would result in far greater spending to achieve comparable results.

Similar considerations lead us to applaud the Legislature’s commitment to support outdoor recreation in the state and we are pleased to see the Senate fund the No Child Left Inside Grant Program. The No Child Left Inside Act identifies environmental literacy and unstructured outdoor playtime in nature as important priorities. There is tremendous potential for North Creek Forest to help develop both with support from the No Child Left Inside Grant Program.  We request that the House of Representatives join the Senate and include funding for this program.

Washington’s amazing natural areas and wildlife make our state attractive and unique. As our population grows, we will not be able to maintain this quality of life without ongoing support for land acquisition for both habitat and recreation. To protect the quality of life of our posterity, future leaders must develop environmental literacy while they are young.  WWRP’s current formula and funding for the No Child Left Inside Act would make both possible.

Your timely emails sent to our legislators will have an impact. You can look up your local Senators and Representatives and their contact info here: leg.wa.gov. Thank you for helping support our natural areas and their future.

Jeanie Robinson
President, Friends of North Creek Forest