Now fast forward to the modern day. Seattle has sprawled, and much of the surrounding area is developed. UBNA is a small haven among a highly developed community, and if not for the suggestions from UW faculty, this plot of land may have been turned into another neighborhood or collegiate ball field. Part of the reason this area is so rich in bird diversity is because of its location and native habitat. Much of the shore of Lake Washington is filled with boat docks, houses, and non-native plants; UBNA provides a native wetland habitat refugium. In turn, UBNA is a large and widely successful restoration project. While it is still a work in progress-continuing down the path, you will see newly planted growth with bright green tags-many who go there wouldn’t even be aware of its dirtier past. The area is still surveyed and sampled to monitor remediation efforts. And, UBNA may expand to cover what is currently the E5 parking lot, due to the 520 construction’s destruction of Marsh Island.
By providing public access and a gravel path through the park, UBNA allows humans to interact with nature, and observe it without damaging it. It can be argued that experiencing natural areas can build a conservation or environmental ethic. Simply walking in a natural area has been proven to be a helpful break from work and even improves information retention. You should be able to remember a lot from this walk! Seattleites are lucky to have many natural parks within reach. UBNA is also a great resource for education, of college students and the community alike. A wide variety of classes are brought to UBNA every year, and often get hands on experience, pulling blackberries or bird watching. UBNA is a unique place in the U-District area that draws people and nature together.
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