Put on your gardening gloves and roll up your sleeves - it’s time for the Troll’s Knoll Spring Cleanup.

Volunteers are needed this Saturday, May 21st from 9 a.m. to noon (the weather may cooperate)

From the Friends of Troll’s Knoll, the cleanup includes:

1. Pulling and removing small blackberry canes and other invasive plants,

2. Trimming and removing large blackberry canes that cannot be pulled from the ground, and

3. Clearing and removing garbage that has accumulated onsite.

If you can come out for a couple of hours this Saturday and lend a hand that would be great. Most of the blackberry canes are small right now, and we hope the wet, soft soil will make it easier than waiting until things dry up.

We will have a selection of tools and supplies to work with as well as gloves from friends and neighbors as well as Seattle’s Spring Clean program but bring a yard tool of your own if you have one (clippers, pruners, rakes, etc.). There may be some added refreshments.

The Fremont Troll turns 20 years old this Halloween and there’s encouraging news for the neighborhood landmark.  The Troll’s Knoll, the green space and land around the statue, is in line to receive a big financial boost from the city.  A plan to enhance the area is one of 15 projects recommended for funding from the Seattle Parks 2010 Opportunity Fund. 

The plan calls for $685,000 in improvements to establish a public park and open space. The improvements would include landscaping, trees, trails, retaining walls, and public art.  The plan would also fund green infrastructure systems such as wind turbines, pedestrian lighting, and a community garden.

A previous grant allowed Friends of the Troll’s Knoll to remove blackberry bushes this summer and plant grass seed. 

Friends of The Troll’s Knoll photo

Friends of the Troll’s Knoll will be on hand for a public hearing on the 15 projects recommended to receive funding under the Opportunity Fund.  Fremont residents and troll lovers are encouraged to attend and show support for the project.  The meeting takes place Monday, October 25 at 7pm (sign up starts at 6pm) at the Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave E on the north end of Capitol Hill.  You can read more about Friends of the Troll’s Knoll on their Facebook page.

This is a reminder that there is a community meeting tonight (February 22) to brainstorm ideas for development of the Troll’s Knoll.  Friends of the Troll’s Knoll is applying to the Seattle Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund, which will award up to $7 million for community initiated park development or property acquisition projects. 

The main goal for tonight’s meeting is to finalize the site development plan in order to complete the application that is due April 1.  They welcome any ideas for shaping the space surrounding both sides of the Fremont Troll.  Back in October, Friends of the Troll’s Knoll received a $6000 matching grant from the Department of Neighborhoods Small and Simple Projects Fund.  There are plans for a tree planting event sometime in April.  I’ll keep you posted when they set an exact date.  If anyone would like to volunteer for that or a number of different opportunities, call Kimberly Scrivner at 253-732-0885.

Tonight’s meeting is being held at Fremont Baptist Church (717 N. 36th St) from 6:30-8 p.m.  The meeting room is on the east side of the building at the bottom of the ramp.  You can find more information on the progress of the Troll’s Knoll project on their Facebook page or read this article here.