Neighbors Gather to Talk About Leschi’s Shoreline

On Wednesday, March 4, Leschi residents gathered to hear updates and discuss current and future projects along the neighborhood’s shoreline. Leschi’s access to Lake Washington is one of the features that makes the neighborhood so special, and the evening offered neighbors a chance to learn about restoration efforts, upcoming improvements, and ongoing stewardship of these shared spaces.

Nikola Davidson opened the discussion with an update on a series of habitat plantings along the shoreline just south of the Madrona Beach parking lot. The work responds to requests from Leschi neighbors for increased habitat restoration along the lake. Over the past few seasons, Seattle Parks has planted native species including gumweed, checker mallow, spirea, and shore pine, with additional plants added this winter. Progress has been slowed by extensive bindweed and encounters with yellow jackets, but Parks crews continue to add mulch and improve the soil to help the new plantings thrive. Davidson also pointed out large patches of blackberry south of the planting area and along the North Leschi Moorage, noting hopes for a future community work party to help remove them.

Rachel Banner, Parks Planner, then provided an update on the South Leschi Moorage project. Restoration work along the Leschi Park shoreline is now complete, and underwater debris removal has been finished with one exception: a large piece of the old pier that cannot be removed until December 2026 due to excavation challenges and environmental timing restrictions.

The project will also include improvements to pedestrian access and safety. Plans call for a new traffic island with curb cutouts to meet ADA requirements. While attendees asked whether the changes would reduce parking, the expectation is that parking will remain the same, though final decisions will be made when SDOT issues the permit.

The existing pier, which is constructed with creosote-treated wood, is both deteriorating and harmful to aquatic life. It will be replaced with a new ADA-accessible pier, including ramps down to the water with a landing in between, safety ladders, and temporary cleats so boats can tie up during the day. The marina parking lot will also receive clearer signage to help enforce restricted parking spaces.

Due to environmental protections for fish habitat, major construction can only occur during specific windows. Installation of the new gangway, pier, and breakwater pedestrian walkway is expected to begin in January 2027, with completion anticipated in spring or early summer of that year. The replacement pier will be approximately 16½ feet wide, with a 12-foot-wide walkway above the breakwater. One concern raised by attendees was the reduction of the gangway width from 10 feet to 6 feet due to budget constraints.

Banner also shared a brief update on the North Leschi Moorage, a privately operated marina on leased Parks property. The marina operator is currently working through the permitting process and will be responsible for funding and completing the planned upgrades.

Omar Akkari, Shoreline Street Ends Program Coordinator, then provided an overview of Seattle’s Street Ends program, which manages 142 shoreline street ends across the city—35 of them on Lake Washington. The Street Ends program itself receives no City Council funding and is supported through fees paid by individuals and businesses that encroach on street end properties.

Akkari walked through each of Leschi’s street ends and shared updates on their current status and potential future improvements. Of particular note is the Dearborn Street End, which is expected to receive a major overhaul (see the Dearborn article in this issue). Nearby condominium residents have expressed concerns about potential parking changes, but Akkari noted that pedestrian access to the water is currently limited and the existing parking lot does not meet current standards. The lot will likely be re-striped in the future, with the program prioritizing shoreline access and public views of the water over parking.

He also shared that the habitat restoration project completed in 2001 at the King Street End will need to be replanted after damage to trees and mature plantings. At the Jackson Street End, a failing wood bulkhead installed by a neighboring condominium will need to be replaced by the property owner.

Finally, Julian Scott, Parks District Crew Lead, spoke about ongoing maintenance challenges in grassy lawns such as Leschi Park. Birds and raccoons digging for beetle grubs have caused damage to these areas. Seattle Parks is experimenting with different seed mixes and maintenance strategies to discourage the beetles and help the grass recover.

The Leschi Community Council remains in close contact with both Seattle Parks and SDOT as these shoreline projects move forward. Have additional questions about any of the shoreline projects? Reach out to leschivp@gmail.com.

~Nikola Davidson