Category Overview
Washington is famous for its gorgeous and abundant waterways, from the Salish Sea to the Nisqually River, but many communities lack open public beaches and waterfronts where everyone can enjoy picnicking, swimming, paddling, boating, and angling. Water Access projects fund public shoreline access, boat launches, and fishing docks to create more opportunities for water recreation.
Project Highlights
The Department of Natural Resources, King County, and the City of North Bend developed and improved two key put-in locations and constructed one key take-out location for a popular half-day kayaking and rafting run on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River: putting in at Granite Flats, Mine Creek and Russian Butte View halfway up the Middle Fork Valley and taking out at Tanner Landing in North Bend. River access trails were renovated and picnic tables and benches were added at Mine Creek and Russina Butte View and planned at Granite Creek Flats to provide additional river access points and to expand opportunities for walking, swimming, fishing, and picnicking along the river. Kayak & rafting access was improved at Tanner Landing Park with parking for cars and trailers and access to the river. Additional kayak access points and an interpretive trail are in process. A new park, Dahlgren Family Park, was constructed adjacent to Tanner Landing park, which expanded the open space along the river and provided a new direct access to the eastern end of Tanner Landing Park and improved kayak access to an eddy in the river. The new Dahlgren Family Park included parking, a picnic shelter, restrooms, water fountains, natural play areas, tables, benches, and landscaping. The primary recreation opportunity provided by this project was safe and sustainable use of non-motorized water access and day use facilities.