Forest Steward Profile: Jay Mirro

By Sheila Brown

For Jay Mirro, it just made sense to become a Forest Steward with the Green Seattle Partnership (GSP) and continue his work in the Brandon Street Natural Area in the Longfellow Creek area in West Seattle.

Jay served on the Longfellow Creek Watershed Council for seven years and as a volunteer for the development of the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail. He moved to Brandon Street when the new section of the Legacy Trail was built with the Pro Parks Levy.

"It made sense to get involved with the GSP as I was doing the forest restoration and they could provide support and materials to my on going project," said Jay. Jay moved to Seattle in 1998, after graduating from the University of Idaho, and he purchased his home in Delridge in 2001. He is a farm planner/resource specialist with the King Conservation District.

Jay is proud of his work that has resulted in the restoration of over three acres of forested parkland. "I hope to continue to eradicate invasives, plant more trees and build new trails throughout the forested area," he said. Jay said the Green Seattle Partnership has helped the City make forest restoration a priority.

"It just amazes me that each volunteer that works on our project puts their own piece to the larger puzzle," he said. "It is not just me doing lots of the work, but by being there and hosting the event, I help get people involved in their neighborhood. I look forward to the day that I can walk through a forest that I helped create."