Seattle Press on Line - Preserving the Pilling's Pond Legacy

Licton Springs

Preserving the Pilling's Pond Legacy

By Julie Reinhardt

Chuck Pilling tending to his flock. Photo courtesy of Wanda Fullner.

May 09, 2002 -- The next time you say you can't make a difference, that one person just can't impact the system, the world, the Man--I ask you to stop by Pilling's Pond. What started out as a 12-year-old boy making a little pond for some hurt mallards has become a legacy and one of the key defining points of a neighborhood that could otherwise have been swallowed by suburban sprawl. On what was once a dairy farm, the pond sits on land adjacent to Mr. Pilling's childhood home. The farm has since been surrounded by the city. Licton Springs neighbors and visitors from around the world walk right up to the fence on 90th Street between Aurora and Wallingford Avenues to see the vast variety of waterfowl in this small oasis. When Mr. Pilling died in October, no one knew who would care for this complex ecosystem. His family, the Licton Springs Community Council, the Audobon Society, and an extended group called the Pond Brigade have all stepped up to create a plan for the future.

Charles Pilling continued to expand his ponds throughout his life to care for his flock. He created a manually operated flood control system in the 1950s to combat increasing run-off that resulted from city development. He went on to be an internationally acclaimed breeder, being the first to breed a pair of hooded Mergansers in captivity.

Mr. Pilling drove a Texaco truck for 28 years for a living, but he trained staff at Woodland Park Zoo, was inducted into the International Wild Waterfowl Association Hall of Fame, a rare honor, and offered the use of his pond to many university professors as a vital teaching tool.

In June of 2000, Pilling, his wife June, and son Jim, an ornithologist, talked with Wanda Fullner of the Licton Springs Community Council, about preserving his pond permanently. "We have been working to figure out how we can get Pilling's Pond into the realm of public benefit. Because that's what Mr. Pilling wanted. He and his wife did not want to see that property bought by developers one day and made into condominiums," said Fullner, who is now head of the Pilling's Pond committee of the LSCC.

Pretty colors show on the birds and in the manicured flowers at Pilling's Pond. Julie Reinhardt photo.

Though he died before any definitive plan was made for the pond itself, the community and his family have"since come up with a viable solution: an environmental easement on the property. Wanda Fullner, head of the Pilling's Pond committee, first went after Department of Neighborhoods grant money to hire a consultant to "examine the options" for protecting the pond. That route was first denied. "Though they were sympathetic," she said, "they just didn't see how they could fund a consultant for private property. There was just no assurance that a public benefit was at the other end of that money. Fortunately the water on that property going into the pond is from Licton Springs creek and the county has an interest in creek water. It's one of the few open waters," she explained. With seed money in hand, the consultant came up not only with a short and a long-term plan, but her report also made possible a Department of Neighborhoods matching grant of $10,000.

The conservation easement protects the land from future development, but the plan focuses on the care for the birds, and creating further public benefit from the site such as viewing area, fencing and habitat enhancements. "Right now the viewing is from the sidewalk and that's non-invasive. That's the key--we want to preserve the educational value of the pond without being invasive," said Fullner. They also hired an engineer to study and draw up a conceptual plan for the flooding problem. The project has included getting a legal commitment from the Seattle School District to put in some special piping to protect Pilling's Pond from run off from a new bordering ballpark.

The Pilling family's involvement is key, of course. Fortunately Mr. Pilling passed on his love for birds to his kids and grandkids. His son Jim is an ornithologist, and one of his granddaughters plans to move into the house eventually, taking over the care of the waterfowl. "It's a very close family," said Fullner. "All the kids and grandkids can tell you the names of all those ducks out there. They've all been involved."

The easement contract should be finalized by July, and thanks to money saved by using a pro bono attorney, there still is money in the pot for this process. The next phase will be more fundraising for the easement purchase. "That property was Chuck's legacy to his children. So instead of giving them the property for them to do what they want, we would buy that easement from them," said Fullner.

Some of the Pilling's Pond residents.

The family may call upon The Pond Brigade, the larger group of interested people, to pick up greens or bread to feed the birds, or other tasks. Many members of the Pond Brigade are also Audubon Society members, just one of the reasons they have decided to partner with the Pilling's Pond Committee, Jennifer Kauffman of the Audubon Society said. Though the details are not yet hammered out, the society may act in a financial management role for the Pond Brigade. Their 501(c) 3 status will enable the group to take tax-deductible donations, as well as lend national recognition. They will also work to "connect volunteers with the pond for habitat enhancements." Mr. Pilling has been honored numerous times by the National Audubon Society, but Kauffman said their reason to be involved is personal at the local level: "Pilling's Pond is such a unique community treasure that provides educational and enjoyment opportunities. It is an opportunity to see unusual waterfowl that you would not see in an urban area."

Pilling not only loved birds, he loved teaching people about them and being involved in his community. The legacy he left touches all of us. We do have the ability to change--if not the world, at least our little corner of it. And if you don't believe me, go look into the eyes of that Russian Black Swan at Pilling's Pond, she'll back me up.

The next Licton Springs community council meeting is May 18, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., at North Seattle Community College, Rose Room. If you would like to become involved or ask questions, please contact Wanda Fullner: 206 524-6669 or wf1@prodigy.net.

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