Wednesday, April 28, 2010
City of Kirkland News Release
Renovation Begins
May 3 at Kirkland’s Juanita Beach Park
Construction prompts
summer beach closure
Kirkland,
WA
– Enhancements called for in the 2005 adopted Juanita Beach Park Master Plan
will soon be realized with the renovation of the Park set to begin on May 3,
2010. Construction activity will be
limited to areas of the park south of Juanita Drive (beach side) and will prompt
the closure of the entire south section of the park for the remainder of 2010,
including access to the beach, walking pier, playground and picnic
shelters. Environmental enhancements
include the renovation of Juanita Creek, creation of new wetlands and quality
marshes, and formation of re-graded lawn areas with improved drainage and
irrigation systems. New walking paths,
including an accessible beachfront promenade extending the length of the
waterfront will be installed. A new
parking lot with associated lighting, landscaping and improved low-impact
development pollution and stormwater controls will be constructed. Other improvements include a new open-air
amphitheater for small community events, new site furnishings including benches
and picnic tables, and extensive new native landscaping. Construction is anticipated to be complete in
10 to 12 months. Project information is
available online at www.ci.kirkland.wa.us
(Search: Juanita Beach Master Plan) or by contacting Michael Cogle, Park
Planning & Development Manager at 425-587-3310 or mcogle@ci.kirkland.wa.us.
The
renovation project is the City’s initial implementation of the Juanita Beach
Master Plan. The Plan was formally
adopted in 2005 following an extensive public participation process. The $2.8 million project is funded in part by
the 2002 park bond approved by Kirkland residents. Additional funding is provided from the State
of Washington Recreation and Conservation Office ($1 million) and a grant from
the King County Flood Control District ($100,000).
Construction
will not affect use of the north side of the park. The playfields and tennis courts will remain
open for public use. The City’s Friday
Night Market at Juanita Beach will open this season at a temporary location on
the north side of Juanita Drive. For
market information, go to www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/FridayNightMarket.
Within
the project area, 115 trees will be retained and protected. Nearly 900 new evergreen and deciduous trees
will be planted, many of them in the newly-created habitat marsh area west of
Juanita Creek. A total of 55 trees will
be removed as part of the project, of which 36 were evaluated by an independent
certified arborist and determined to be in poor condition and hazardous for the
park setting.
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City of Kirkland - Neighborhood Services
123 5th Ave
Kirkland, WA, 98033
(425) 587-3011
e-mail the Neighborhood Services Coordinator at: kpage@ci.kirkland.wa.us
