2026 Spring Newsletter
Dani Backman
Marketing Coordinator
Parks & Trails, Oh My!
Our work includes designing park amenities and trail connections that improve access while protecting wetlands, streams, and other sensitive habitats, as seen in projects across the Western US. We partner closely with local agencies to deliver ADA-compliant trails, shared-use paths, and park infrastructure that balance recreation needs with ecological function. The result is parks and trail systems that are safe, inclusive, and built to last for communities and the landscapes around them.
Notable current projects include work with Parks Tacoma to restore a recently acquired site within the Swan Creek Park corridor. Our team is providing landscape architecture and engineering design to remove existing structures and return the site to a natural condition using native plantings and seeding. Additionally, we are in the early stages of supporting Parks Tacoma on a similar project at Norpoint Park, including the removal of an old house, creation of new trails, day-use areas, parking, a dog park, and connection to the Center at Norpoint.
Future parks and trail projects include the second phase of the Duwamish Trail Design for Seattle Parks Foundation in Seattle, WA; and the design of the Bear Creek Bridge for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District just south of San Jose, CA.
New Employees
Events
Mother Nature's Window Park Ribbon Cutting
We were fortunate to attend the Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening of Mother Nature’s Window Park in Marysville, WA. Herrera is proud to have partnered with the City of Marysville to design public access, trails, and new amenities across this 34-acre natural area, guided by community input and City goals. We are grateful for the collaboration and honored to be recognized by the Marysville mayor at the event. We look forward to seeing the community enjoy this place for learning, reflection, and connection with nature.
Survive the Sound Recap
Herrera participated in Long Live the Kings’ annual Survive the Sound, a free online game that uses real data to track steelhead migration through Puget Sound. We made a team, chose our fish, and watched as they migrated. The campaign raised nearly $25k to support efforts to protect and restore salmon and steelhead across the Pacific Northwest.
Capital Consultant Connection
We were grateful for the opportunity to connect with WMBEs at the 3rd Annual Capital Consultant Connection Open House, hosted by the City of Seattle.
Port of Everett, Marina and Jetty Island Cleanup Day
Herrera sponsored the Port of Everett’s Marina and Jetty Island Cleanup Day, during which 100 volunteers showed up to remove 118 bags of litter totaling 2,500 pounds!
Salish Sea Symposium
Herrera’s Christina Merten attended the Salish Sea Scholars Symposium hosted by the Northwest Straits Foundation, where current and former Caroline Gibson Scholars came together to share research, build connections, and support one another as emerging marine scientists and communicators.
Recent Blogs
Listening for Recovery: What Birds Can Tell Us About Mine Reclamation
What does success look like after a mine is reclaimed? At Wyoming’s Shirley Basin, Herrera is using bird activity as a living measure of recovery, pairing engineering and ecological restoration with long-term biological monitoring. By listening to bird vocalizations before and after reclamation, the team is gaining insight into how restored landscapes function and support wildlife over time. The work shows how science-driven, collaborative reclamation can move beyond hazard mitigation toward lasting ecological recovery.
Supporting Parks Tacoma Expansion and Improvements
Herrera is partnering with Parks Tacoma to restore a recently acquired site within the Swan Creek Park corridor, turning a former single-family property into a new point of access to the park for nearby neighborhoods. Our team is providing landscape architecture and engineering design to remove existing structures and return the site to a natural condition using native plantings and seeding. Herrera is preparing to support Parks Tacoma on a similar project at Norpoint Park. Planned improvements include removal of an old house, new trails, day-use areas, parking, a dog park, and a connection to the Center at Norpoint. Community-requested amenities will be balanced with careful consideration of habitat, wetlands, and tree canopy.
Speakers
Mine Design, Operations, and Closure Conference
Herreran Kyle Johnson, PE presented at the 34th annual Mine Design, Operations, and Closure Conference where he spoke about our recent work at the historic Grosgarth Mine, where we used ground-penetrating radar to identify collapsed, mine-related voids causing ground subsidence and structural settlement near a residence in Medicine Lake, MT.
Tracking Reclamation Progress: A Wildlife Approach
Herrera’s Paxton Hunter presented at the Wyoming Chapter of The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference in early April. Her talk discussed Herrera’s approach to reclaim an open pit mine site in the Shirley Basin of Wyoming. Working with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, our novel technique involved using avian use of restored habitat on the site as an indicator of reclamation progress.
ReDesigning Los Angeles Together Symposium
Herrera’s California team attended the ReDesigning LA Together Symposium, hosted by the Council for Watershed Health. Kate Forester, PLA served as a panelist in the Living Schoolyards: A Multi-Faceted Solution discussion, where she shared insights from supporting school greening initiatives throughout Los Angeles, highlighting how nature-based design can strengthen learning environments and community connection.
Conferences
Washington Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects 2026 Conference
At the 2026 Annual WASLA Conference, Herrera’s landscape architects participated in discussions on techniques for restoring ecological health, adaptive reuse that respects history while creating new public uses, and approaches that foster stewardship, equity, and lasting community connections.
Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange
Herrera was a sustaining sponsor for the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange, which brought together practitioners who are shaping the future of green infrastructure and stormwater management through shared learning and collaboration.
Washington Parks and Recreation Association (WRPA) Conference
Three Herrerans had the opportunity to attend the WRPA Annual Conference and Tradeshow, where they learned from peers and shared conversations about resilient, community-centered recreation systems.
American Public Works Association (APWA) Spring Conference
Herrera was grateful to attend the Spring APWA Conference, where we learned from others, shared our knowledge, and strengthened connections to continue building communities of belonging.
The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society Joint Conference
Herrera was a proud sponsor of the Washington Chapter of The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society Joint Annual Conference in Wenatchee, WA. Sponsor support helped bring together hundreds of fish and wildlife professionals, students, Tribal representatives, and community members to share science, build skills, and strengthen connections across the region.
Upcoming Events & Conferences
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Conference
Look for Alice Lancaster, PE at the annual ACEC Annual Convention and Legislative Summit, June 3-6 in Washington DC.
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