Category Overview
Local Parks grants help protect these symbols of vibrant communities, providing places for families to gather and play and promoting a healthy and active lifestyle in an era when people spend increasing amounts of their time inside. The WWRP is the largest source of local parks funding in Washington, helping communities fund the acquisition, development, and renovation of vital recreation areas and green spaces.
Project Highlights
Up until five years ago, the City of LFP had onl 200 feet of Lake Washington shoreline. As a result of annexations over the past five years, the City has quadrupled in population and tripled in land area. The City now includes more than two miles of lake frontage, but the lakefront is completely developed with single family residences and two private clubs. There is no public access to the lake in Lake Forest Park. The closest public lake access in Matthews Beach in Seattle-five miles to the south, or Log Boom Park in Kenmore-1/2 mile to the east. With the purchase of this anchor property, the City has its first opportunity to provide lake access. This site is critical to the City’s ability to provide a lakefront park. Most lakefront property in the City is approximately 5,000 sf, this site is 3/4 acre. Its location next to the Burke Gilman Trail and across the street from the LFP shopping center, the library and future City Hall provide an opportunity to create a City center. Additionally, the landowners adjacent to and east of this site have expressed interest in selling their parcels to the City. This future acquisition would enable the City to provide additional active recreational elements including playground and picnic areas. The City proposes to develop the site as a public park. Amenities will include wading beach; canoe and kayak access point and rents; lawn games, parking, bike racks, seating areas and restrooms.