Kenmore’s Squire’s Landing, Log Boom Park renovations almost done

Residents can see updated design work at a Feb. 26 open house at Kenmore City Hall.

By Blake Peterson • February 20, 2020 2:00 pm
File photo Log Boom Park (pictured) is one of two Walkways & Waterways projects discussed at the Feb. 10 Kenmore City Council meeting. It will be discussed again at a Feb. 26 open house event. If all goes according to schedule, site renovations could be seen through by June 2021.
File photo Log Boom Park (pictured) is one of two Walkways & Waterways projects discussed at the Feb. 10 Kenmore City Council meeting. It will be discussed again at a Feb. 26 open house event. If all goes according to schedule, site renovations could be seen through by June 2021.

Waterfront improvements at the Log Boom and Squire’s Landing Parks are getting closer to completion.

At its Feb. 10 meeting, the Kenmore City Council was updated by parks project manager Maureen Colaizzi, community development director Debbie Bent and consultant Mott MacDonald’s Shane Phillips on the current status of the projects and what to look for as they near finalization.

Both projects are a result of the voter-approved Walkways & Waterways Improvements bond measure. The planned Log Boom and Squire’s Landing renovations are part of the waterway portion of the bond, specifically looking to better access to the Sammamish River and Lake Washington.

“I like the changes that you are continuing to make and I think our citizens are going to be really excited that this is going to be one of those parks that is going to get them of the water,” Councilmember Milton Curtis said during the Log Boom-centric part of the meeting.

The undertakings at Log Boom and Squire’s Landing will be the subject of a Feb. 26 open house at Kenmore City Hall, which will give Kenmore residents a chance to look at designs before the city submits for final permits and begins the construction bidding process on the two projects. The meeting is set to go from 6:30-8:30 p.m., with the presentation itself beginning at 7 p.m.

Changes to Log Boom Park include an expansion of the existing beach area and a restoration of native habitat areas. A new main trail, picnic shelter, boat rental building and more water access for hand-powered watercraft will be added.

At Squire’s Landing, native habitats will also be restored. Float and hand-carry launches, a restroom, river-viewing platforms, new walkways and trails, a community plaza and other additions will be created.

Both projects, according to the presentation, are “wrapping up” their 60 percent completion phase, with 90 percent level design beginning soon. After the open house on the 26th, 60 percent design should be finalized. Then for Log Boom, staff will begin to apply for building permits in April, with the council updated on 90 percent design in June.

For the Log Boom project, permits are anticipated to be granted in the summer, as are the final designs and bids. However, these items, as well as construction commencement (anticipated for fall 2020) and completion (anticipated for June 2021), are contingent on when permits are received, as noted by city manager Rob Karlinsey.

Karlinsey said that although as of the update the undertakings are ahead of schedule, he still wants the public to expect completion for 2023 (as initially proposed) due to the unpredictability of permit granting and participation of outside agencies involved in the process.

“I still want to continue to underpromise and overdeliver,” he said.

Building permits for Squire’s Landing, according to the presentation, will be applied for in June, with the council receiving an update in August. Final design is expected to be completed between June and December, and permits are anticipated to be granted between December 2020 and April 2021.

As is the case for Log Boom, bids, construction and the completion of the project are dependent on the dates of permit receipts. If progress is in line with what the city is currently expecting, bids and the beginning of construction could occur between late spring and summer of 2021, with the completion of the project happening in late spring 2023.

The total design, along with permitting and construction cost (with contingencies), for the Squire’s Landing project is going to cost a total of $8.2 million, which is about $300,000 over budget, according to meeting documents. Costs will continue to be monitored between 60 and 90 percent design, with the council updated again before the 90 percent design phase is completed. $5.5 million is funded by the bond; a breakdown of other sources, which includes a $500,000 Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant and a $50,000 King County Waterworks grant, is available on the city of Kenmore’s website.

The cost of the total project cost for Log Boom, in contrast, decreased. The 2019 estimate — $3.9 million — has gone down by $229,128. $3.2 million is supported by the bond, with a $470,575 RCO Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) also contributing. King County Trail Levy, Park Impact Fee and Real Estate Excise Tax funds will also be supplementing.

At the end of each parks-focused update, the council was given the opportunity to direct questions to Colaizzi and Phillips, many of which revolved about characteristics like boat storage, accessibility considerations and general clarifications about layout. There was no vote at the end of the meeting.

“This is just really exciting to see this project come along,” Councilmember Corina Pfeil said during the Log Boom section. “It’s really enjoyable to see how it may appear in the future and with all of our hopes and dreams in alignment. I hope this comes to be a great venue for our community to enjoy.”

For the full presentation and council Q&A, watch the Feb. 10 Kenmore City Council meeting online (https://bit.ly/39sCio5). For more background on the Squire’s Landing Park project, go to its meeting agenda item (https://bit.ly/31Nhx45). For more background on the Log Boom Park project, go to its meeting agenda item (https://bit.ly/2vqPawn).