In 2002, the city of Fife Parks staff contacted us, seeking our support of their application to the Pierce Conservation Futures to purchase the 13-acre Jordan Property, along Lower Hylebos Creek. At the same time, we were aware that this property was also being assessed by the Natural Resources Damages Assessments Trustees (NRDA) for a future restoration project. We supported the city's application, which was half-funded by Pierce Conservation Futures.

With only half the funding in hand, we suggested to the city of Fife and to NRDA that they work together to purchase the property. They agreed and the property was purchased in 2003, with the city holding the underlying property rights and the NRDA holding the development rights.

The property will be preserved in perpetuity as a passive park and nature area. In 2005, NRDA conducted a major habitat restoration, removing 30,000 yards of fill dirt, removing invasive weeds and constructing 5 acres of off-channel habitat. Because of our previous restoration success and past work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (An NRDA member), NRDA contracted with the Friends to manage the revegetation part of the project. We have subsequently planted more than 28,000 native trees, shrubs and wetland plants at this site. More Lower Hylebos project information can be found here.