Parks department officials are working with local residents to start a Friends of North Beach Park group to help maintain the greenbelt.

A meeting held on June 23 was a follow up one held in May, when over 30 homeowners complained about illegal trails, encroachment on city property by residents and dumping of trash in the park.

Seattle Parks and Recreation crew chief Patrick Merriam said he inspected the park and found beer bottles, graffiti on trees and debris left in the park.

"When I walked through it, it is a unique property and should be left alone and not vandalized or partied on," said Merriam.

During the May meeting, some residents claimed their neighbors had built trails on their own.

Royal Alley-Barnes, the northwest parks resource manager for the city said property management staff, has contacted some residents about their trail building but did not have details on the discussions.

Last week's meeting had six residents of North Beach who were interested in a participating in a "Friends of North Beach Park," group.

Alley-Barnes invited Heron Habitat Helpers in Kiwanis Ravine to talk about their group, how they got started and to offer advice.

Donna Kosta and Heidi Carpine began Heron Habitat Helpers when they were two 70-year-old volunteers in "sneakers." Seven years ago.

They now have a Board of Directors with 12 people, 30 core volunteers and a mailing list of 800.

Since Heron Habitat Helpers was formed, the group has raised $600,000 to protect Kiwanis Ravine and its heron population.

"This is where you want to be. (referring to Heron Habitat Helpers) You've got to learn it one step at a time. We've developed this good organization by trial and error. That's our vision where we need to go," said Alley-Barnes.

Theresa McEwen, the city's volunteer parks coordinator said there are typically three to five people on a "friends of" committee, along with other volunteers who work with crew chiefs assigned to the park.

Volunteers are covered by city insurance as long as they sign in when they work. They are asked to commit to one year of volunteer service.

Merriam said there are 22 "friends of" groups in the Northwest district of the city.

"It's important for a "friends of" group to start small. Twenty people working one hour equals 20 hours," said Alley-Barnes.

Two days later, Doris Katagiri and her friend Julie Fretzin were seen walking through North Beach Park. Both had attended the meeting and were interested in doing what they could to help preserve the park.

During their morning stroll on a trail built by the city, they passed piles of litter, a water heater, an old tent and other junk.

The park was silent. Different bird sounds and the wind blowing through the trees could be heard. Water in a stream added trickling noise.

Katagiri enjoyed the park. "It is beautiful, it really is. The "friends of group" is the first step. I'd like to preserve this as a natural area.

"It has a lot of potential. It's a lovely area and it is still unspoiled, despite the abuse it has seen recently," said Fretzin.

Dean Wong may be contacted at 783.1244 or deanw@robinsonnews.com