McAuliffe Park is one of Kirkland’s oldest homesteads with only two different families owning the land from 1877 until the city of Kirkland finished purchasing it in 2001. A 2005 Master Plan for the park called for not only preserving its heritage, gardens and unique characters, but it envisioned sustainable gardening, education and volunteer programs and enhancements to amenities within the park. An agreement, between the city and Seattle Tilth will bring an urban agricultural center to the park. Seattle Tilth’s proposal is to create an “Urban Farm” offering Master Recycling Composting training, organic gardening courses, cooking and nutrition programming, urban farming, and connections with the Edible Kirkland and Kirkland Nourishing Networks programs. Activities will begin in early 2015. The Kirkland City Council unanimously approved the agreement on Nov. 18.
McAuliffe Park encompasses 13 separate parcels located primarily on the northeast corner of Northeast 116th Street and 108th Avenue Northeast in Kirkland’s South Juanita neighborhood. It was home to a family-owned nursery and landscape business from 1957. The city purchased a small portion of the property in the 1990’s and the remainder in 2001. The site is currently used by the public primarily for informal picnicking and walking. Limited recreation classes are held on-site. The Park also has a community garden (“pea patch”) with 36 individual lots, a native plant nursery managed by Green Kirkland Partnership volunteers, trails, and well groomed landscaped areas.
“McAuliffe Park is one of our special gems and this partnership with Seattle Tilth will complement our goals to provide quality opportunities,” said Jennifer Schroder, Director, Parks & Community Services Department. “We are excited about the hands-on learning and events Seattle Tilth will bring, as they have been very successful in other communities.”
Seattle Tilth’s proposal is available online at www.kirklandwa.gov/parks (Search: McAuliffe Park Master Plan). For information on programs and how to get involved, contact Melissa Dison, Assistant to Programs and Administration,Seattle Tilth, at melissadison@seattletilth.org or 206-633-0451.
