Past Projects
The Hillwood Neighborhood Association has completed various projects, both big and small, over the past two decades. Take a look at some of our finished projects. Hopefully these will inspire you to suggest new ideas for what the HNA can do in the future. All these projects were initiated and completed by neighbors. Your ideas can change our neighborhood next!
Pathmates Youth Art Installation
Using reclaimed street signs bearing the old Hillwood Neighborhood logo, the Hillwood Neighborhood Association put out an invitation to student artists from local schools to design art to be water cut into the metal signs. Nine artworks were created by student artists following the prompt "What I Like About My Neighborhood". The artists were compensated for their work by the HNA using funding acquired through the City of Shoreline Neighborhood Mini-Grant program. These permanent works of art reside in Hillwood along some of our trail walking paths.
Above: Backside of Pathmates Art showing the old Hillwood street sign
Hillwood residents voted for a new neighborhood logo in 2020, which turned out to be one of the only major projects the HNA undertook during the pandemic. Left: The previous Hillwood logo had been in use since 2009. Right: The Hillwood logo update from 2020 can be seen on street signs as you enter the neighborhood.
From creative inspiration to installation: The three images above show the process of transforming the original drawing by one of the nine selected artists, Braelyn Sams. Braelyn said, “I based my artwork off of the nature around us. Hillwood is known for chickadees, dahlias and black berries.” Also saying that, “Our neighborhood is very beautiful. So I really wanted to capture the essence of Hillwood ‘cause there are so many trees and flowers growing all around us.” At left, Braelyn Sams’ original artwork and at right, Braelyn with her finished work.
After receiving submissions, HNA board members contracted a waterjet cutting fabricator on Vashon Island and prepared the artwork to the specifications for cutting. HNA board members delivered the retired aluminum street signs to the fabricator, who cut the artwork into the metal. At center, HNA board member Paul Lewing drives rivets to attach the metal artwork to the sign posts.
You can view all nine artworks year round by walking along the footpaths in Hillwood shown in the map.
Four works are displayed along 5th Avenue NW; two works are displayed on the footpath connecting Greenwood Avenue N to Greenwood Place N (at 200th Street); three works are displayed on the 198th Street path connecting to Fremont Avenue N.
Restoration of Wetland Area in Hillwood Park
The Hillwood Neighborhood Association undertook a multi-year effort to restore the natural creek bed running through Hillwood Park beginning in 2011. The project culminated in 2018, with hundreds of volunteer hours, and hundreds of native plants contributing to the restored wetland. Many subject matter experts, and volunteers were part of this huge effort. If you haven’t walked through the area before, be sure to walk past the signs to learn more about native wildlife.
The photos below show the creek prior to the project start, running through grass (left); and the wetland in summer 2023, mature plants obscuring the creek (right).
Many people helped on this project over the years, and we cannot thank them enough! In 2014 alone, volunteers contributed 579 hours to the wetland meadow project, including six ‘planting parties’.
This photo shows volunteers spreading cardboard sheets over the existing grass, followed by thick layers of wood chips to "sheet mulch" the area. You can try sheet mulching in your yard if you want to remove grass from an area (it takes anywhere from 6 months to 1 year).
Former HNA Board Member Boni Biery was one of the biggest champions of the project. Her knowledge of native plants, and local organizations working to restore native habitats formed the basis for the project. The project was funded by multiple City of Shoreline Environmental Mini Grants. (Left) Volunteers, including Boni, place flags to designate the location and type of native plant. Donations of supplies and funds were given by: Shoreline Home Depot, Fred Meyer, QFC and Starbucks on Richmond Beach Road.
HNA Board Member Jocelyn Curry Asher donated her time and professional art skills to graphically depict the wetland at work in three permanent informational signs that you can read when you visit the park.
Included is information on the local waterways that pass through Hillwood before letting out into the Puget Sound. You will also find illustrations of the many native plants that are planted in the wetland. Check it out if you have a boggy area of your yard that you hope to find a plant for!
Ann’s Trail Adopt-a-Trail Path Improvements
In 2009, under the leadership of Ann Erickson, chairperson of Hillwood Neighborhood Association from 2009 to 2019, many volunteers worked to clear the pedestrian trail along N. 198th Street (connecting to Fremont Ave N) and install new native plantings. The trail is one of the lesser known pedestrian foot paths in Hillwood, so Hillwood Neighborhood Association adopted it for continual maintenance and upkeep. The path boasts a Free Little Library, beautiful mature trees, and three permanent Pathmates art installations . Volunteers are always welcome to help in the ongoing invasive plant removal and litter pick up along this trail.
