As Westside Weekly first reported on Dec. 10, Schmitz Park Preserve has now been expanded due to the generous gift of homeowner Bruce Stotler. The land donated is approximately 5000 square feet in size. 

District 1 Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold shared the news of the actual consumption of the process in her newsletter to constituents.

Herbold writes:

"On Monday, years of work finally came to fruition. It was December 2015, just a week after my election was certified, and before I took office when I toured Bruce Stotler’s property on the southeast edge of Schmitz Park. I was joined by the Southwest Historical Society and Forterra (a land conservation non-profit).  Forterra was interested in helping to preserve the property and potentially purchase it because, at the time, the Parks Department was not.

However, due to the persistence and hard work of many people, the Parks Department became convinced that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The Parks Department will purchase the 5,000-square foot plot for $225,000, which is less than half of its assessed value of $473,000. The funds will come from the 2008 levy which are mainly used to support property acquisition, capital expansion, development, and renovation of Seattle Parks and Parks facilities. The purchase will also use an innovative policy called the “life-estate agreement” which will allow Bruce to remain in his home.

I want to thank Bruce first for his generosity which will positively impact Schmitz Park and the surrounding community for decades. I also want to thank everyone else who helped make Bruce’s dream come true; including former Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, Vicki Schmitz-Block, Nancy Sorensen, Forterra, the Southwest Historical Society, former Parks Superintendent Jesús Aguirre, Chip Nevins with the Parks Department, and my staff Alex Clardy."