New Sammamish park names panned
March 5, 2013
New: March 5, 1:36 p.m.
The Sammamish City Council gave its blessing to the first set of improvements to the city’s newest park, though several councilmembers continue to question the scope of long-term plans for the property.
Southeast Eighth Street Park, which is being donated by local resident Mary Pigott piece-by-piece to the city over the next decade or so, will receive 40 roadside parking stalls, improved trails and new restrooms as part of the plan. The city hopes to begin designs this summer with construction likely following in 2014. Read more
Neighbors worry about traffic impacts from new park
July 18, 2012
The traffic impact of opening Southeast Eighth Street Park to the public could be a little as 26 additional car trips or as much as 317 — nearly double current traffic levels — depending on what sort of amenities the city decides to add to the park.
Sammamish Parks Director Jessi Richardson, Public Works Director Laura Philpot and Sammamish Police Administrative Sergeant Jessica Sullivan tried to assuage the traffic and safety concerns of more than 30 neighbors of the park at a July 11 master planning meeting. Read more
Sammamish wants help naming Southeast Eighth Street Park
July 8, 2012
New: July 8, 12:17 p.m.
Sammamish needs your help naming what will eventually be 51 acres of parkland in the heart of the city.
The property, being donated by local resident Mary Pigott, has been called Southeast Eighth Street Park since the first 16 acres opened last October. But city officials hope local residents will get a bit more creative and are soliciting ideas in an online “naming contest” through the end of the month. Read more
Long term parks plan may be delayed by community center
May 10, 2012
Sammamish leaders have taken a utilitarian approach to the city’s parks in recent years – drafting grand long-term plans for their development, but only investing the minimum amount of resources necessary to get them open and usable for the public.
The City Council continued that trend while making tweaks to the city’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PRO) Plan at a May 1 meeting, prioritizing an investment in its newest park – currently going by the name of Southeast Eighth Street Park – over a lakeside restroom and improved swim beach and fishing area at Beaver Lake Park. Read more
Design options for Southeast Eighth Street Park unveiled
May 3, 2012
New: May 3, 1:07 p.m.
Southeast Eighth Street Park could serve as one of the more unusual parks in the city of Sammamish, with a restored barn for hosting receptions and art shows, a public orchard and a system of tree houses and bridges bringing users on a tour of the canopy.
That was the vision of city parks staff, who presented some rough sketches of how amenities could be situated on the 51-acre property at an April 25 meeting. Staff collected feedback from members of the public and neighbors. They will be refining their designs before presenting them to the City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission members at a joint meeting in the coming months. Read more
Visions of future Southeast Eighth Street Park to be discussed
April 17, 2012
New: April 17, 1:21 p.m.
Imagine a nature walk through the canopy of giant firs, laying on the grass while hearing an educational lecture in a natural amphitheater and finishing the day off with an evening bonfire.
Those were among the visions attendees of a January meeting had of the future of Southeast Eighth Street Park, the interim name for the property donated to the city by local resident Mary Pigott. An April 25 meeting will give residents a glimpse at how those sorts of amenities could be integrated into the 51-acre property and allow more chances for public input. Read more
Proposed community garden could get a new home
April 11, 2012
A recent permitting snafu that has delayed Sammamish’s first community garden has many city leaders reconsidering whether Beaver Lake Park is the best spot for the garden.
Members of the steering committee that has been hammering out the details of the proposed community garden pitched a new location to the Parks and Recreation Commission at their April 4 meeting – Lower Commons Park near the north parking lot. Read more
Sammamish may educate dog owners before fining them
April 11, 2012
The city will likely focus on educating dog owners about the city’s leash law before fining residents for off-leash dogs.
That was the consensus at the April 4 meeting of the city’s nine-member Parks and Recreation Commission, which advises the City Council on its policies in Sammamish’s parks. Read more
Parks commission again calls for smoking ban in parks
April 8, 2012
New: April 8, 4:43 p.m.
Despite a lukewarm reception from the City Council, Sammamish’s Parks and Recreation Commission will stand by their suggestion that the city ban smoking in its parks.
At their April 4 meeting, the commission doubled down on a proposed ordinance that would outlaw the use of tobacco products in city parks. The commission suggested that the ordinance be sent back the council with more studies on the dangers of second-hand smoke in outdoor settings and a sales pitch from Caroline Hughes, a health educator with King County Public Health. Read more
Sammamish lines up summer concerts in the park
April 4, 2012
The city has booked an eclectic mix of bands encompassing various differing genres for the 12th annual Concert in the Park series, which takes place in Pine Lake Park. The free series kicks off July 12 and runs every Thursday through the end of August. Read more
