Maple Leaf's Waldo Woods now Permanently Preserved

The Maple Leaf Community Council sent out a press release announcing the wonderful news that Waldo Woods has now completed the process of being approved as a conservation easement:

Ordinance 116794 was passed by the Seattle City Council Monday, March 8. Confirmation was received today that Seattle Mayor Michael McGinn has signed the legislation. This ordinance represents the last step in the process where the Seattle Parks Department takes possession of a conservation easement for Waldo Woods. The effect of the conservation easement is the permanent preservation of Waldo Woods, an urban grove of mature, native Douglas firs. 

Wondering what the heck is a conservation easement? Simply put, it's a legally enforceable preservation agreement between a landowner and government agency; in this case the two players being the Menachem Mendel Seattle Cheder Day School and the City of Seattle.

Though this type of easement puts certain restrictions on land use by the owner, it doesn't make the property automatically available to the public. Luckily the day school has graciously agreed to make a portion of Waldo Woods available to the public so all may enjoy the 85-year-old forest.

Congratulations to the Maple Leaf Community Council, the Waldo Woods Working Group and all Maple Leaf residents who worked for over three years to save this important piece of city green space.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dbaron/ / CC BY-SA 2.0