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
Sammamish City Council rejects proposed names for Southeast Eighth Street Park
March 2, 2013
New: March 2, 11:16 a.m.
The Sammamish City Council gave it’s 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
Some neighbors unhappy with proposed park access
June 16, 2012
New: June 16, 2:18 p.m.
Sammamish’s tentative plans for its newest park got a thumbs up from the resident donating the land and jeers from several neighbors who worry about the impact to their neighborhoods.
The council got their first look at three potential designs for what is currently being referred to as Southeast Eighth Street Park at a June 12 city council meeting. Local resident Mary Pigott is donating the 51-acre property north of Pine Lake to the city, which plans to run a naming contest for the park in the coming years. Read more
Sammamish’s community garden delayed indefinitely
June 8, 2012
New: June 8 12:14 p.m.
Sammamish’s first community garden won’t be located at Beaver Lake Park due to concerns about the availability of sunlight and parking at the proposed site.
But the change of plans means the city must basically start from scratch when it comes to locating and designing the garden, meaning it will likely be 2013 or later before Sammamish residents can break out their trowels. Read more
Reard/Freed House moved
June 4, 2012
The Reard House saw its first sunrise from its new home the morning of June 3.
The move of the 115-year-old farm home to the second parcel of Southeast Eighth Street Park went off without a hitch, Sammamish Heritage Society project manager Mary Moore said.
Workers direct a truck bearing the Reard/Freed house around a corner in the early morning hours June 3. Photo by Steven Dempsey
Moving date set for Reard/Freed house
May 29, 2012
New: May 29, 2:32 p.m.
Set your alarms Sunday, June 3 for a chance to see Sammamish history on the move.
The Reard House, formerly known as the Freed House, will be moved approximately a mile to a portion of the Pigott property slated to become a park in the coming years. Read more
Reard-Freed house to move to new home soon
May 10, 2012
The big day is right around the corner for the Reard/Freed House.
Ella Moore, president of the Sammamish Heritage Society, said the 115-year-old farm house is scheduled to be moved in early June. An exact date for the move has yet to be set. 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
