With redevelopment for the former Fort Lawton site delayed in part due to dramatic stormwater infrastructure costs, the Friends of Discovery Park saw an opportunity to establish an ambitious vision that embraces landscape systems to reforest and strengthen habitat connections within this underutilized site.

Developed by MxM together with Charles Anderson, the plan brings back 35 acres of the Pacific Northwest Forest—a forest shaped over thousands of years, supporting trees hundreds of feet tall. This is an environment for all kinds of life to flourish, including people. The site formerly housed Army facilities which are no longer needed. The shared vision aims to return this land to the public and re-imagine it as an urban wilds in the greater Discovery Park. This would be a forest, a diverse plant community, wildlife habitat, a respite, and a place to turn our eyes and hearts toward a place less built.