City Consults With Berger Partnership On Downtown Parks

Heron Rookery adjacent Leary Way

I was one of the few public attending the "Downtown Parks Open House" meeting on April 24 at the Old Redmond School House. (It was posted on the city website).

The mayor, councilmembers Vache, McCormick, and Jim Robinson (Parks Chair) were in attendance along with Sue Stewart, Park Board Chair and Gary D. Smith of the Trails Commission.

Parks Director, Craig Larson introduced a well-paid consultant, Guy Michaelson, from Berger Partnership in Seattle. (206-325-6877) to address the audience. Mr. Larsen showed a map depicting 6 downtown projects underway. Most of them were residential.

Guy spent most of the night evaluating our downtown parks, topography, and making suggestions for improvement and park development.

I posted the above photo of a Great Blue Heron rookery because the consultant informed us the 3-acre heron rookery (behind the Workshop Tavern) is 'sterile' and without nesting activity. If fact, Guy recommended planting new trees to improve the defunct rookery woodlands.

To be frank, I was quite shocked to learn of our rookery loss since the Great Blue Heron is by law our state protected "species of local importance". How could the city let this go? I think (and hope) we have one other rookery behind Safeway along Bear Creek. If we don't have another productive rookery then we have a problem of not protecting the most important species in our city. The Critical Area Ordinance applies here.

Besides the above rookery announcement, I found Guy's observation of the unique character of our "wooded hillsides" surrounding the city interesting. He thought they were an under appreciated city asset.

Guy emphasized the importance of "promenades" for connecting a hierarchy of streets. Promenades are not boulevards but important avenues with canopy and wider (20')sidewalks. Craig and Rosemarie both talked with excitement about street-side cafes, book stores, spilling over onto wider sidewalk promenades.

Guy suggested improving the "green ring" along the Sammamish River by softening the eastern slope of the river with a more gradual grade to "get out of the ditch". He suggested building a bike/running trail on the west side to allow for more passive activities on the eastern slope. He thought Luke McRedmond Park has greater potential.

He spent a lot of time talking about where he envisioned the heart of our downtown. He identifies our "heart" at the confluence of the sterile heron rookery, Bear Creek Parkway, and the Burlington Northern corridor; and the Haida House as the "spirit" of our downtown. Gary Smith (trails commissioner) disagreed, suggesting artist Dudley Carter's Haida House -- adjacent to the Leary bridge and Sammamish River -- is the "heart" of our downtown. The park will be used for storage of  materials  the King Council Sewer project. 

Guy felt our skateboard park has much potential to provide more to the community. I concur. Known as "Edge Park" , he suggesting a railing (to lean on) circling around the skateboard ramp-park. Pam and I drove by the Woodland H.S. today and we saw their "skateboard park". It's awesome and packed with a variety of activity stations and places to rest. Totally different from our modest park.

Guy's only complaint about Redmond is we don't have a "major destination". What do you think??

Well, I guess the Downtown Park is the answer.

Nov. 9 2007