State Representative Mark Miloscia gripped his steaming cup of Poverty Bay coffee with both hands as he waited his turn to speak.

He had the look of a man in search warmth on one of those chilling, rainy Northwest days that somehow catches even us locals off guard.

Around him, the melody of the song sparrow and yellow-rumped warbler joined the swish-swish of nylon rain jackets and the beating of heavy spring rain upon a canvas tent, as dozens gathered together last Saturday to celebrate the city's first Hylebos Day and the reopening of the West Hylebos Wetlands Park.

After 11 months of remodeling, more than 70 visitors came to greet the Hylebos.

Ironically, the park began accepting visitors as early as February when crews finished laying the final composite planks of the new wetlands boardwalk.

The $1.4 million dollar project used synthetic and recycled materials to construct a new, safer boardwalk to carry park visitors over the numerous sinks and bogs.

Chris Carrel, Executive Director of the Friend of the Hylebos, said his organization and the City of Federal Way postponed the ribbon cutting ceremony until May to take advantage of the warmer spring weather.

What they got was a re-enactment of February weather three months later.

But while the weather may have felt damp and chilly, the popular nature park-and its de facto founders, Francis and Ilene Marckx-received nothing short of a warm reception from those dedicated enough to attend.

Ilene's daughter, Kathy, attended the event and helped unveil a new stone plaque honoring the philanthropy and land stewardship of the Marckx famly.

The afternoon featured appearances from Federal Way's elected officials, ones Carrel considers instrumental in the success of the Friends' efforts to care for the park and the surrounding watershed.

King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer and State Senator Tracey Eide recounted their fond memories of Francis and Ilene and their first visits to the Hylebos, back before the park belonged in the city's care.

Federal Way Mayor Jack Dovey, along with State Representatives Skip Priest and Mark Miloscia used their moments at the podium to emphasize the importance of preserving fragile habitat and crucial green space. The need for conserving open space and wildlife habitat like the Hylebos, they said, will only increase as the population of Puget Sound grows.

These elected officials weren't hopping the go-green bandwagon, Carrel added. Most of them were advocating for the park back when volunteers laid its first boardwalk planks in the early 1990s.

How fitting, then, that these same advocates donned work gloves and grabbed hedge clippers to cut the official ribbon.

One woven of Himalayan blackberry, of course.