White Center Ponds Redesign Project

Project Overview

King County is redesigning the White Center Ponds between SW 100th and SW Roxbury Street to improve water quality, increase public safety and improve the usability of the site. The County has reached 30% 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.

The project team will connect with community-based organizations in White Center to seek input on the proposed design and a public art component that will be included.

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.

Engagement opportunities

We would like to hear your thoughts on our early design plans and how a redesign of the White Center Ponds will benefit your community.

The project team will be hosting various meetings with small groups, community organizations and programs, and one-on-one interviews. Those that participate in our interviews and small group conversations will be compensated.

Take our survey to share your feedback and let the project team know if you are interested in participating in one of our paid engagement opportunities, and to receive additional information about the project as design progresses over the next several months!

QR code to survey:

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 throughout the summer 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

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

Hay servicios de interpretación y traducción a su disposición sin costo alguno. Si los necesita, póngase en contacto con nosotros mandando un correo electrónico a molson@kingcounty.gov o llamando a 206-263-3653.

Vietnamese: Tiếng Việt

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Somali: Af Soomaali

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Khmer: ភាសាខ្មែរ

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Amharic: አማርኛ

የአስተርጓሚ እና የትርጓሜ አገልግሎቶችን ያለ ምንም ክፍያ በነጻ መግኘት ይችላሉ። ከፈለጓቸው ፣ እባክዎን በ molson@kingcounty.gov ወይም በ 206-263-3653።

Tigrinya: ትግርኛ

የአስተርጓሚ እና የትርጓሜ አገልግሎቶችን ያለ ምንም ክፍያ በነጻ መግኘት ይችላሉ። ከፈለጓቸው ፣ እባክዎን በ molson@kingcounty.gov ወይም በ 206-263-3653።

Traditional Chinese: 繁體中文

我們可以免費為您提供口譯和書面翻譯服務。如有需要，請於2023 年 5 月 31 日前電郵至 molson@kingcounty.gov  或致電 206-263-3653.

Project documents

• Project slideshow