For the Reporter

A fish’s view of the Green River is what Mark Powell of Washington Environmental Council (WEC) and Alex Thompson of REI will report on when they complete their one–mile swim from Russell Woods Park to Van Doren’s Park in Kent at a Swim Up at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The Green River, which becomes the Duwamish River as it flows into the Puget Sound, is just one segment of Powell’s 85-mile swim of the Duwamish.

Coined Swim Duwamish, Powell’s swim is focused on telling the full story of the Duwamish River – and helping draw the connection between the health of the river and the health of Puget Sound.

According to Parks Director Jeff Watling, Van Doren’s Park is the perfect location to highlight that connection.

“The Green River as it winds through Kent plays a critical role in flood protection, habitat and recreation. Balancing between these three priorities has been and continues to be a high priority for the city,” Watling said. “From Native Americans, through early settlement of the valley, to modern day, Van Doren’s Park has long been a place where people have interacted with the river.”

“It’s also located along a chain of levees being upgraded by the city, King County Flood Control and the state to reduce flooding, but the work is being done in a way to allow for continued recreational use as well as the enhancement of the river ecosystem.

More information is available at swimduwamish.org.