White Center Ponds Redesign Project

Project Overview

The County has reached 90% design for the project, which includes the proposed project elements:

• Excavating the existing ponds to make them wet year-round
• Removing invasive weeds and replanting with native plants in a way that maintains sightlines
• Create a loop trail with lighting by adding a new multiuse pathway on the east side of the pond.

Location

White Center Ponds are located just east of downtown White Center and immediately west of Greenbridge. The site stretches from Southwest Roxbury Street to Southwest 100th Street and between 11th and 12th Avenue Southwest.

Project goal

The goal of this project is to redesign White Center Ponds so that it is a place that community members want to go to and everyone feels safe in. In 2022, we reached out to the community to learn how White Center residents feel about the area, and changes they would like to see.

What we heard from our 2022 survey:

• 49% of the residents who noted they do NOT visit the Ponds area say they avoid it because they do not feel safe there
• 66% of residents are interested in an expanded, accessible multi-use trail for walking, riding, and biking
• 63% of residents requested more open sightlines and 58% requested additional lighting

The project team has taken these thoughts into consideration and has incorporated these changes into the proposed design.

Marta Olson from King County presenting about the White Center Ponds Redesign Project at Dubsea Coffee during an Open House on August 3, 2025.

What's happening now

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our recent Open House that was held at Dubsea Coffee on August 3, 2025! We were thrilled to see so many residents in person, and appreciate the input we received during the event, including those who contributed online. Your feedback is invaluable as we continue shaping the future of White Center Ponds. For those of you who missed it, you can listen to a recording of the Open House in the video below.   

Proposed Design

Here is the proposed design we shared with the public:

Proposed design of the White Center Ponds. 

Please note that the path on the west side of the southern pond will be maintained in its current position. Discussion about a possible boardwalk over the ponds may occur in the future.

Project progress

We are currently at 90% design completion and are on track to reach 100% design by summer 2026. Throughout this project, we will remain active in the community, sharing updates and attending local events to keep you informed. We also plan to hold another event in spring 2026!

Design plan highlights based on input received

We are moving forward with a natural slope design featuring native plants (see slope option 1 below). 

• Art & Overlook Spots: Various locations within the redesign will include opportunities for public art and scenic overlook spots.
• Tree Retention: Retaining as many trees as possible, especially mature trees.
• Lighting: Ensuring that lighting will be positioned so it doesn’t shine into people’s homes.
• Plant Palette: Utilizing native plants that are low maintenance and utilizing thorny plants along property lines and trails to create a natural barrier.

For more details on the project and our design plans, please reference our presentation from the Open House on August 3, 2025.

Background

The White Center Ponds are a wetland and a stormwater pond facility designed to collect and clean rainwater. By collecting the water after it has run off roads and pavements, pollutants have time to settle out to the bottom of the pond where it can be removed by maintenance crews. Plants growing around the ponds draw pollutants and excess nutrients up into their roots. Plants that grow in the water also trap sticky things like oil and grease and prevent them from washing downstream. This cleaner water then drains into Mallard Lake and Hicklin Lake in Dick Thurnau Park before heading into Salmon Creek and out into Puget Sound.

What's the problem?

White Center is becoming more developed. When more streets, sidewalks and buildings are added that means there is less soil and plants available to absorb rain. Rainwater instead flows over roads and sidewalks and through storm drains into stormwater ponds. Too much stormwater can flood neighborhood streets and lead to polluted streams and lakes.

Water quality downstream at Hicklin Lake (Lake Hicks) has been poor for years. Toxic algae blooms have led to frequent lake closures and the lake has suffered from high concentrations of phosphorus and bacteria (fecal coliform). Although prior water treatments with alum have had some success, high pollution concentrations have continued to be an issue. This means it is often not safe to swim in, is dangerous for pets, and it isn’t providing good quality habitat for birds or other animals.

The White Center Ponds are a public natural area but many people avoid the area because of safety concerns. The area is very dark at night. The dense vegetation is hard to see through and provides cover for undesirable uses, especially when the ponds dry out in the summer. The King County Sheriff’s Office is often called to the area in and around the ponds due to illegal activities.

Trail along west side of White Center Ponds. 

What changes will happen with the redesign?

The redesigned ponds will contain water year-round and the plants will be easier to see through. The project team will add lighting so the area feels safer at night and other features to encourage more community use like an expanded ADA-accessible walking and biking path, public art, and opportunities to view wildlife. 

This redesign project will make the ponds bigger which will allow them to store more water. Bigger ponds also allow stormwater more time to settle in the ponds. This will help remove pollutants and allow water to be absorbed by plants. This means cleaner water flowing into Hicklin Lake, Salmon Creek and Puget Sound.

Digging out the ponds to make them bigger will mean that some of the existing shrubs and trees will need to be removed. The new design will prioritize leaving existing large trees wherever possible. Some of these large trees will be preserved on islands in the middle of the ponds. It will look much like the redesigned pond that is located just south of this project between Southwest 100th and Southwest 102nd streets. Native plants will be installed after construction to provide habitat to insects, birds and other animals.

Stay tuned

You will see us tabling at various White Center community events where we will be sharing our progress and seeking your input!

Open space on the north end of the site, looking northeast from 12th Avenue Southwest. 

Project timeline

Project documents

• Project slideshow

Language Assistance 

English

Interpretation and translation services are available to you at no cost. If you need them, please contact us at molson@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-3653.

Spanish: Español

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Vietnamese: Tiếng Việt

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Somali: Af Soomaali

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Amharic: አማርኛ

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Traditional Chinese: 繁體中文

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