von Reichbauer honors environmental visionaries at first annual “Hylebos Day” in Federal Way

King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer presented warm words and an honorary plaque dedicated to the late Ilene and Francis Marckx at the first annual “Hylebos Day” at the West Hylebos Wetlands Park in Federal Way on Saturday, May 3.

Councilmember von Reichbauer and Kathy Olson, daughter of Francis and Ilene Marckx, unveil a plaque dedicated to the Marckxs and their work to preserve the West Hylebos Wetlands.

“Ilene and Francis Marckx recognized the Hylebos watershed as a unique environment to this region,” said von Reichbauer, the former Chair of the Washington State Senate Parks and Recreation Committee. “In their lengthy efforts to save the wetlands and enhance our community, the Marckx couple increased environmental education throughout the area long before it was the popular thing to do.”

Ilene and Francis Marckx founded the Friends of the Hylebos in 1983 and their house was the Friends’ headquarters for years. They donated 37 acres of their own property to help establish the park. The Marckx’s were also successful in getting the State Legislature to enact legislation to purchase the rest of the property needed for the park, build the original boardwalk, and open the park in 1991. The park has since grown to 120-acres and the preservation of the wetlands has also been critical to protecting the health of Hylebos Creek and sustaining the creek’s native salmon.

“The West Hylebos Wetlands Park is a regional treasure,” said von Reichbauer. “Through the continued efforts of the Friends of the Hylebos and dedicated local volunteers, this beautiful natural setting will remain a community gem for the foreseeable future.

“With the recent move by the federal government to declare a state of disaster for west coast salmon fisheries, there is no better time to celebrate this organization’s critical mission and how it benefits our region economically as well as environmentally.”

Friends of the Hylebos recognized Councilmember von Reichbauer as a “Hylebos Hero” in April 2001 for his leadership and commitment to protecting the health of the Hylebos Creek Watershed and its native salmon. In 2005 von Reichbauer was given the “Lifetime Stewardship” award by the Friends of the Hylebos.

The West Hylebos Wetlands was voted Seattle’s Best Urban Nature Preserve in 1999 by the Seattle Weekly’s “Best of Seattle” poll. Seattle Metropolitan magazine named a visit to the bog one of 50 things Every Seattleite Must Do.

This year, Friends of the Hylebos celebrates its 25th anniversary. With help from more than 1,000 volunteers, Friends of the Hylebos has planted more than 80,000 trees and shrubs and preserved 410 acres in the West Hylebos Wetlands. On Thursday May 1 Friends of the Hylebos was honored for their work with the 2008 “Land Stewardship Award” by the Cascade Land Conservancy.

Earlier this year the Federal Way City Council declared the first Saturday in May to be Hylebos Day in Federal Way. Annually, the city will recognize this day as a chance to appreciate the Hylebos Wetlands and the ongoing efforts of Friends of the Hylebos to preserve and restore 745 acres of the Hylebos Creek.