By SUSAN PARK

Early Monday, September 9, a flock of Seattle Public Utilities employees, Seattle Parks employees, Thornton Creek advocates, and Seattle Golf members ascended on the grassy meadows of Jackson Park golf course in Haller Lake to dedicate the construction of two new detention ponds. The ponds are being constructed in the southern half of the park along Thornton Creek. A third detention pond was built five years ago in the northern portion of the park.

The detention ponds serve two primary purposes: to retain storm water during heavy rains to keep houses downstream from flooding; and to create and maintain vital wetlands for native birds, salmon, and other wildlife.

In addition, the changes in the golf course will "make it exciting for golfers," says the new Seattle Public Utilities director, Chuck Clarke.

Former Washington state governor Booth Gardner agreed. Gardner is also president of Seattle Golf, a non-profit group which runs Jackson Park Golf Course. He said the challenge of "hitting the ball over three ponds is the 'worst' idea I've ever heard," implying that it will make it harder to win. He also said that the improvements should make Jackson Park Golf Course one of the best municipal courses in the state of Washington.

"Improvements to the course are fantastic," says Seattle Parks director, Herbye White who listed native plant species to be added as well as a "modern" irrigation system. White said that the old irrigation system "included sprinklers and hoses."

Chuck Dolan, president of Thornton Creek Alliance, said that the new irrigation system will also leave more water in the stream in the summer since the maintenance staff won't have to siphon off water from the creek to water the greens.

Detaining heavy rains should also slow the creek down keeping salmon eggs from washing away in fast moving storm waters. Trees and native shrubs around the ponds will help shade the creek and keep it cool in the summer, ideal for fish.

Dolan added that Mayor Greg Nickels and the City of Seattle's efforts should send an exemplary message upstream to the City of Shoreline who is amidst a legal battle defending property owner's wishes to develop wetlands. "Thornton Creek exists, it's real, and we can put it back together," he says.

Senator Ken Jacobsen reminisced about the days when he attended Jane Addams Junior High School in Meadowbrook where he would marvel at the large numbers of salmon spawning in Thornton Creek. "If we're willing to work with the fish, they'll come back," he says.

Representative Phyllis Kenney says, "It is a great day to see the community working together to help improve the largest creek system in the city...It is a win for the environment, fish, and the people who care about it." Kenney said that about 700 homes border the creek. "Many of my neighbors are delighted that with heavy rains, there won't be ponds in their yards."

Construction is expected to be completed by the summer of 2004. For more information, contact Seattle Public Utilities at 684-5851.