A small but loyal crowd gathered at the Alki Bathhouse Saturday, May 23, to witness the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Senior Regional Education Coordinator Courtney Sullivan certify Alki as a Community Wildlife Habitat area, the reward of a six-year effort by the Alki Wildlife Habitat Project.

The project was initiated by the Alki Community Council.

More than 100 Alki residences, businesses and public places established "backyard gardens" to fulfill the NWF's criteria for certification. These gardens required such elements as berries for birds, butterflies, toads, lizards and other critters, cover to shelter wildlife, nesting places, and a water source like a birdbath or creek.

Accepting the certification plaque were former president of the Alki Community Council Tony Fragada, Seattle City Council member and former Alki Community Council member Tom Rassmussen, Seattle Parks Senior Gardener Phil Renfro, Dolly Vinal and Mary Quackenbush of the Habitat Project.

Vinal and Quackenbush said they would like see the project expand into other West Seattle neighborhoods.

"It's hard to get started," said Fragada, who attended with his father, Remigio, 90. "Just to get the first few houses going is really tough. But once it gets going people really like it. They enjoy the natural wildlife in their yards and all the birds it attracts. attracts."

Alki is the first community in the Seattle metropolitan area to become a certified wildlife habitat area, the fifth community in Washington State and the 31st in the nation.

Also featured at the event were educational displays and community resources including the Washington Native Plant Society, the Seattle Audubon Society, and bluegrass musicians The Tallboys.

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