Kenmore Parks Project Manager Bill Evans said the city formally has taken control of the 42 acres known, at least for now, as Swamp Creek Park.
The city held a public meeting on the park Nov. 18, with input from about 15 to 20 residents passed on to city officials and consultants HBB Landscape Architecture of Seattle.
Swamp Creek Park is situated just south of Northeast 175th Street, between the Burke-Gilman Trail and the Sammamish River, essentially behind the Trail Walk condominium complex.
“It’s really a nice natural area,” Evans said.
He added that many of the comments at the Nov. 18 meeting came from condo residents largely concerned about the possibility of a trail near what amounts to the back door of their complex.
Evans said the condo contingent voiced a desire to have the proposed trail moved nearer the middle of the park.
Besides at least one walking trail, other amenities in the park eventually might include a bridge over Swamp Creek, which cuts through the middle of the park. The desirability of the bridge seemed to split those on hand for the Nov. 18 meeting.
Other improvement possibilities include a small parking lot and restroom facilities. Consultant drawings show picnic areas and wetland overviews.
“We are taking a look at all the comments and trying to refine those plans,” Evans said.
City Council has the final say on any plans for the park. But Evans said the acreage will serve primarily as open space for passive recreation. Wetlands make up about 75 percent of the park acreage and preserving them seems to be the main goal of the park project.
According to Evans, King County officials apparently purchased the property in the early 1990s with largely that objective in mind.
With the land now in control of the city, City Council is looking for suggestions to rename the property. Kenmore’s four major parks already include Wallace Swamp Creek, so Evans indicated a name change for the newly acquired property seems in order.
For now, Evans said local recreation officials will meet with consultants to revamp plans, guided by the public input received Nov. 18. Eventually, another public meeting will be held, mostly likely in January. When might any improvements actually take place at the park?
According to Evans, there are currently no funds budgeted for Swamp Creek Park. Finding those dollars clearly is up to City Council, he added. However, Evans also said Kenmore was able to obtain a $100,000 grant to begin restoration of the parkland.
For the most part, Evans said the dollars will go toward removing non-native and evasive plants from the park, plants such as reed canary grass and blackberry bushes. The money came from the King County Conservation District with a $20,000 match from the city. Eventually, Evans said Kenmore likely will ask for volunteers to help tear out the non-native vegetation. In 2011, he expects the city will move to replace the invading plants with native greenery.
For now, access to the park is limited to one hard-to-find-trail off Northeast 175th, Evans said, adding that trail barely counts as such, largely choked with blackberries.
Actually, heading off the Burke-Gilman Trail alongside the park area, there appears to be a nice wide pathway next to some adjacent residences. However, that wide path soon enough deteriorates into the nearly impassable trails to which Evans referred. Impassable that is, unless you want to tramp through thick bushes filled with heavy thorns.
“It will be a very nice area once we are able to get back in there,” Evans said.
Consultant plans for the park are available for viewing on the city’s Web site, www.ci.kenmore.wa.us. If you have comments on the Swamp Creek project, send them to Evans at bevans@ci.kenmore.wa.us. New name suggestions for the park can be e-mailed to cityhall@ci.kenmore.wa.us.
