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PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES

Parks and public spaces play a key part in a happy and thriving community. They provide recreational areas, improve a cities appearance, and help preserve the environment and our natural resources. We are at a key time in Kenmore’s development. We must act now to preserve the parks we already have and to secure new parks and public areas. We must decide if we want ball fields for our kids, bike trails, and safe places for family picnics.

Lakepointe

As permitted, the Lakepointe project includes trails and public shoreline areas that break off from the Burke-Gilman Trail. Proposed at the point where the Sammamish River meets up with Lake Washington, the area abounds with wildlife. When done properly this will add to our quality of life and allow more access to nature. As the city spurs proper development in the Northwest Quadrant, we should use plazas, pedestrian overpasses and trails to bridge the two areas. The more the City can capitalize on its assets, the closer we’ll be to the lake shore city that we are destined.

The Lakepointe Project plans to allow public access to this area
where wildlife abounds.

St. Edwards Park

We as citizens must do everything that we can to preserve the integrity of the last such park on Lake Washington. St. Edwards Park is currently owned and operated by Washington State. They have expressed some interest in turning part of this park over to private entities in an effort to save money in the parks budget. Some proposals that they’ve received include putting a pub and a hotel complex in the historic seminary building. It simply is the wrong place for a business of that nature. Not only should we as citizens speak out about the proposal during the State’s public hearings, we should pursue the possibility of Kenmore acting to preserve this natural environment. This is the type of approach that will make Kenmore the destination city we want it to be.

Some have proposed a pub and hotel for this historic building
in a public park – simply the wrong use.

Ballfields

We are surrounded by strong independent organizations that provide our youth with opportunities for team sports. It should be a priority for the City to secure spaces for the public to enjoy soccer, baseball, football and other teamwork promoting sports.

We need to act now to acquire land for these public areas before it all but disappears. At the rate we are expanding now, if we wait 10 years there will be little hope of finding suitable land for these projects. Land purchase and maintenance on city parks will cost money. We need to be financially responsible when looking at these projects. We need to use money already in the city budget to purchase and maintain these public spaces. By prioritizing the use of our existing monies, the citizens of Kenmore can have these welcome public spaces without having to pay more for them.

Log Boom Park	Take a seat - watch eagles dive and seaplanes soar.
	Long awaited park playground equipment.
The waterfront is our greatest asset. Let’s have more access to it like this.

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