Riverfront Park: Then and Now

Riverfront Park is a 35 acre property situated at the banks of the lower main-stem of the Skagit River in south Sedro-Woolley. The park was developed in 1984 and now includes a dog park, several sports fields, and a place for RV’s and campers to settle in for the night. 

Funding from the Rose Foundation and Washington State Department of Ecology has allowed SFEG to restore 7 acres of the city park property over the past few years. You wouldn’t know when visiting the park now but the restoration site, adjacent to the dog park, was covered in a swath of Himalayan blackberry and reed canary grass. These invasive species do not promote a healthy and balanced ecosystem, as they create a monoculture, by out-competing all other species that could potentially grow and thrive in the area. 

Blackberry before SFEG restoration

Riverfront after restoration and plantings

Throughout 2018, the site was prepped for the first stage of restoration.  Once the invasive species were removed by chemical and mechanical means, volunteers came out to the park alongside SFEG staff to take part in a number of tasks during the fall of 2019 for Make a Difference Day. Trails were built and a variety of native species were planted to promote a more healthy and stable ecosystem. Further, interpretive signs were installed at the site to inform the community of the purpose and importance of the project and how it enhances salmon habitat.

The side channel that runs through the restoration site

Olivia Hubert leading the pink group section during the Fall 2020 planting

Since the first plantings, vegetation surveys have been conducted to determine the survival of the plants. Staff and crews have weeded, mowed, and mulched to maintain the space around the plants in the summer. While in the Fall of 2020, another volunteer planting occurred in conjunction with the celebration of Orca Recovery Day, to replace the trees that didn’t survive the first season. The trickling stream running through the site is slated for passage barrier restoration in the future. When salmon do return, they will find a healthy riparian buffer that will help provide them with clean, cold, and clear water. This work is just the beginning of making Riverfront Park a bountiful land for all kinds of native species and people to enjoy.

Riverfront Planting  Volunteer Interview