If you live in the Seattle area, it’s likely you’ve hiked, biked, ran, skied, or kayaked through parts of The Mountains to Sound Greenway, the 1.5 million acres of land around the I-90 corridor between Seattle and Ellensburg. Even those from other parts of the state have likely enjoyed the green oasis while driving I-90 on the way to Seattle (traffic may have even extended your time for enjoying the scenery!).
This section of land is preserved by The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and was the brain child of James Reed “Jim” Ellis. Jim was a tremendous community leader who dedicated much of his life to making Seattle and the surrounding area a better place to live.
Jim passed away on Monday, October 21st at the age of 98, at his home, surrounded by his family, leaving a lasting legacy in Seattle and beyond.
Jim spearheaded the cleanup of Lake Washington in the 1950s, started the formation of King County Metro in the 1960s, worked to preserve farmland which resulted in the King County Farmlands Preservation Program in the 1970s, and helped create and lead the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust in 1990.
Jim was beloved in his community and left his mark on Seattle and Washington through his leadership and passion for the community and outdoor spaces. Our thoughts are with Jim’s family and friends during this time of grieving.