Will our community "Realize" Redmond's Bike Park?

Kids are modeling clay to create bike jump ideas for the park. Bike jump
professionals gave talks. The kids also traveled to neighboring BMX parks for ideas.

Carolyn Hope facilitates bike park
design workshop at Horace Mann
President Richard Cole attended

OPINION:  In this week's City Council meeting at least six or seven parents addressed council in the "public comment period about the "Redmond Bike Park" (RBP) development project. RBP is a BMX/mountain bike jump park project on Education Hill.  It's been delayed by an appeal.

One citizen was adamantly against the park, calling it useful for only a small minority of the city population.  His back-yard faces the park.  Another was not against the park but bothered by the Notice process.  He lives a short walk on Ashford Trail in a nearby housing development.  All the other speakers were fathers of BMX biker youth vested in developing the park from years of volunteerism and seeing the good the sport brings to their children.  They spoke with passion and eloquence.  Dave Randall, was the first speaker.  Dave's comments are recorded in a Letter to RNB here. 

But, my reason for writing is to ask where is "Realize Redmond'' (RR) when the community and city needs their support the most?  "Realize Redmond" is a nonprofit, public-private partnership funded by City Council (6-1, Cole) with $50,000 in taxpayer seed money.  Realize Redmond used to be called the "Redmond Foundation". The mission and vision hasn't changed.  READ MORE >>

Redmond Bike Park Now Open

Redmond, WA –   The City of Redmond Bike Park is now open for all skill levels of bike enthusiasts to enjoy. Located at Hartman Park; corner of NE 104th St. and 171st Ave NE. The dirt-jump style trails progress from beginner to advance and is designed to help riders develop their skills in a safe environment. The park covers about 2-acres of forested property and riders can easily spend a few hours riding the various trails that include the following features: · "Easy A" Beginner Jump Line - 8 table top & 3 roller jumps with an average 4 foot height and several berm turns. · "Shredmond" Intermediate Jump Line - 9 table top & 1 roller jump with an average 6 foot height. · "A-Line South" Advanced Line - 5 table top, 1 roller jump, 1 1/4 pipe jump with an average 6 foot height. · "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" Pump Track - 350 feet long, 13 rollers with an average 2.5 foot height and 7 berm turns. · "Walk it Off" Skills Loop - 200 feet long, 6 log rides and 16 berm turns. · "Outer Space" Perimeter Loop Trail - pedestrian and bike trail around three sides of the park that bi-passes the jump trails. A special THANK YOU to all the volunteers that dedicated many of their weekends this summer to help build the bike trails – a 176 in total putting in 1,670 hours! On average, each volunteer committed 7.5 hours of their time – a day's worth of work! And boy did they work! These bike enthusiasts performed hard labor by clearing the trails of vegetation and shaping the soil into large jumps. Using hand tools, rakes, shovels, and tampers to pack the soil; this was a very physical and difficult assignment. If you're interested in volunteering as a "Trail Steward" to help with ongoing trail maintenance, please sign up at www.redmond.gov/bikepark to register as a volunteer. For additional questions please contact David Shaw, project manager, at 425-556-2378 or dashaw@redmond.gov.

Office of Communications Anne Marie Peacock 425-556-2165 ampeacock@redmond.gov

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LETTER: Redmond Bike Park a move in the right direction, improves community

Redmond Bike Park - work party -  credit/ cor

LETTER from Dave Randall

This particular location doesn't represent a "new" bike park - rather an "official" bike park. The dirt jumps have been there for years, and have attracted a variety of people and behaviors that are both positive, and not so positive. I see the Redmond Bike Park as a move in the right direction for the following reasons:

1. You have a large group of young people actively and voluntarily engaged in improving their community.

2. These same young people are working with the parks department and city government to bring about change that is important to each of them.

3. The riders will seek out locations to build bike tracks and build them. Without the proper oversight and guidance, are more likely to build inappropriately designed tracks on private property.

4. The riders are in shape! They have traded time with their Nintendos and XBOX's for time exercising, building cameraderie and staying in shape.

5. The location of the Redmond Bike Park will receive more "housecleaning" attention by the riders that are proud of their accomplishments by keeping it cleaner and discouraging illegal behaviors (dumping, drugs, etc)

6. Through interactive discussions with Hillride and other organizations, the riders are learning about smart ways to build, ride and have fun.

I know that many folks, especially Carolyn Hope, have put a tremendous amount of effort into ensuring that the Redmond Bike Park becomes an location that supports off road biking and jumping for all skill levels and maintains the right balance between maintaining the integrity of the location and providing a high quality recreational facility.

As with most change, there are concerns and considerations. And, I have seen and heard concerns come from the riders, the parents, the neighbors, and the community. As a result of the input, there has been an incredibly thorough amount of planning that has gone into the Redmond Bike Park to ensure its success. I anxiously await the announcement for the next scheduled work party!

Sincerely,
Dave Randall
Redmond, WA
June 2, 2011

Updated, 6/2017, Redmond Bike Park Update - Unauthorized trail building must cease

Dear Redmond Bike Park Followers:  (from Carolyn Hope, City Parks Planner)

This week at the bike park, some of our staff and volunteer trail stewards will be making safety improvements to the existing features.  There has been a considerable amount of unauthorized trail building at the site, this needs to stop, please help spread the word on this.  The City has worked hard to try to maintain a safe park experience at this site for bikers and walkers. The development of this park is a pilot of a community/city partnership and we need your cooperation and assistance to make this project successful. If you like to build jump and bike features, please contact me so we can put your skills to work in a way that benefits the project.  However, until we have permits in hand, we are only maintaining what we have, not building out the proposed bike park plans.  For example,  this past weekend someone built a starting ramp/berm along the sidewalk from Hartman park to enter the main jump line – this is a completely unsafe condition, as it crosses the Ashford Trail, a major pedestrian route.  As a result, our staff and volunteers will replace the berm with a small start hill south of the Ashford Trail near the first jump in attempt to avoid having people riding from the Hartman Park entrance.

As you may know, the City is proceeding with a redesign on the Redmond Bike Park per the conditions of a settlement agreement with the appellants of the proposed project.  We expect to have the revised plans and permits ready in early August and if all goes well, we hope to build the park with your help in the fall, likely beginning in October.

Please contact me if you would like to volunteer as a trail steward or if you would like any additional information. 

Thank you!

Carolyn Hope

Park Planning & Cultural Services Manager

Editor's note:  Development of the park was not without controversy.  The Katz's house bordered the park site. They and other of their neighbors outcryed about tree loss and noise that would come with the proposed park. A website was even made to generate neighborhood support. On several occasions I noticed Councilmember Stilin having coffee at Soulfood with Mr. Katz.  Final project approval ended up at the Hearing Examiner level in City Hall with Mr. Katz and a neighbor talking for days and hours with the Examiner.  Litigation cost the city thousands and thousands. The result was positive for Mr. Katz and his neighbors.  The bicycle ramps and routes were smaller resulting a larger neighborhood buffer.  With a smaller, more youth oriented park with smaller launches the "bad elements" of the city were less likely to be drawn in.  Development of the park went far over budget....I think around $70M.

Help Finish the Redmond Bike Park

Help us finish the

REDMOND BIKE PARK

 

Redmond Parks & Recreation is seeking volunteers for our final push to finish the Redmond Bike Park. 

Our volunteers have made great progress in building Redmond’s first official dirt jump park but there is still more to do.  With the project at just over 60% complete and a Grand Opening goal of September 6^th, we are reaching out to let people know about this volunteer opportunity. 

Weekend Work Parties:

·        August 9 & 10

·        August 16 & 17

Work Parties are from 9am to 4pm.

Parking is available at Hartman Park off NE 104^th St, in Redmond.

All the tools, training, lunch and beverages you’ll need will be provided during the Work Parties.  Come build with us for a whole day, half-day or a whole weekend if you can.  All help is welcome. 

Visit the project website www.redmond.gov/bikepark and take a look at the plans.  To sign up, click on the Shiftboard button and register to be a Trail Builder or other volunteer.  Check out the Photo Gallery to see some great pics of the work that’s been done so far. 

There are a lot of jumps yet to build so come help us finish the Redmond Bike Park. 

Please contact me for more information. 

 

HELP BUILD the REDMOND BIKE PARK | www.Redmond.gov/BikePark 

Construction of Redmond Bike Park to begin early 2011

Carolyn Hope, Project Planner for the Redmond Bike Park says in a letter to stewards....

According to the original schedule, the City hoped to have the Redmond Bike Park under construction by now. However, we took some extra time to discuss alternatives with community members and are now completing some special studies that will help us develop a 60% design, including drainage. We plan to hold another public meeting this fall when those 60% plans are complete, then we will finalize the plans, go through City permitting, and begin construction in early 2011.

Due to this delay, the City is working with the Redmond Bike Park stewards, the Steering Committee, to provide some dirt to maintain the jumps that exist on site. Last week, the group filled in holes and improved some jumps and this week they will continue that work.

Thank you for your interest in this project.
Carolyn Hope
Project Manager, Redmond Bike Park, City of Redmond
cjhope@redmond.gov

Photo by Yoder

Support the Redmond Bike Park

The Appellants lost and filed with King County Superior Court and it's not likely the case will be resolved until 2013.   Thanks to Doug Schmidt for this information, Steering Committee co-Chair, works at Performance Bikes in Bellevue.

Families, BMX kids and neighbors clear weeds from the Neighborhood Bike Park project area, 2010

Support for Redmond Bike Park - attend council meeting

Dear Neighbors on Education Hill,

We are writing because of some overstated comments to the proposal for the Redmond Bike Park.  The site is not six times larger than present, as stated in the Redmond Reporter editorial last week.  This 2.51 acre site has an area approximately 0.7 acres on the west edge that has been used by cyclists since 1990.  According to the proposed 2.51 acre project by the Redmond Parks and Recreation Department, the affected area would be 0.7 acres.  

Another incorrect editorial comment said that the City would remove “hundreds of trees”, yet according to the project plans, more than 80% of the site’s significant trees will be retained.  The entire project has been designed in keeping with the landscape and concern for the Redmond community and the neighborhood of Education Hill.  Read More >>

City update on Redmond Bike Park

Hello Redmond Bike Park followers, 

It has been two years since the Parks and Recreation Department submitted permits and final design documentation to the Planning Department for approval to begin construction of the Redmond Bike Park.  In May 2011, the project was appealed by a group of concerned neighbors.  The appeal was heard by the Hearing Examiner in the fall of 2011 and a decision was made in favor of the City. The appellants appealed that decision to City Council, who in the winter of 2012 favored with the City. Then the project was appealed again by the appellants to King County Superior Court.  Before the case was heard, the two parties began settlement discussions and in the spring of 2013, a settlement agreement was finalized and will be presented to City Council on April 16, 2013 with a request for Council to authorize the Mayor to sign the settlement agreement, which the appellants have already signed. 

The parties agreed to some changes in the design of the proposed Redmond Bike Park, as described below and shown in draft form in the attached Site Plan.

•             Moved bike features and site furnishings away from southeast corner and eastern side of site,

•             Removed elevated wooden features and double black diamond trail,

•             Expanded the staging area at the starting mound, and

•             Enhances vegetation along south and western sides of the site.   Read More >>

"Up, Up and Away" with the Randalls

Over Memorial weekend, I enjoyed a fun day watching the Randall family of Redmond, WA. and his club launch hobby rockets up to 7,500 feet into the air.  Dave Randall, a Microsoft Program Manager, was one of two staff running Washington Aerospace Club's "Fire in the Sky 2010" event. Every year Dave & Linda and their sons Thomas and Josh drive their RV to the wheat lands of Mansfield, WA. for club launch events. (The next Mansfield launch is 6/26-27). At 60-acres South, the rockets are limited to 2,000 feet; in Mansfield the ceiling is 7,500 feet.   Watch John Norris's humongous "hobby" launches here.

Linda Randall, introduced me to Mansfield's Mayor Snell and his dog. Snell has been mayor for 20 years and he runs the show in Mansfield, as "strong mayor". (pop. 300) He is pleased eight seniors graduated this year from their K-12 school and is grateful 3-4 launch events are held in his city every year.  Linda works for the LWSD. 

The Randalls' are active outdoor volunteers in the Redmond community. Josh, Thomas and their BMX friends have played a key role in the early development of the Redmond Bike Park. They attended the clay-modeling design workshops, went on BMX field trips with the city, attended Steering Committee meetings. The whole family pitched in to help restore the forest surrounding the Park during a Cascade Conservancy event.  Both boys are active scouts.  When they are not "Up, Up and Away" you can usually find the Randalls' on Thursday at Oddfellows Grill's  "Trivia Night".

Reported By Bob Yoder
Slides by Yoder

Some related announcements: 

The Cascade Conservancy invites Redmond citizens to a Land Steward sign-up meeting on June 12.

"Brighter" -an exciting movie premier and fundraiser for the Redmond Bike Park
June 10, 2010 at 7:00 pm

Final Draft Design Input Meeting  for Redmond Bike Park on June 30 - open to all.

Hartman Park - Redmond Bike Park area forest restoration work-party:  September 25 - 17300 NE 104th Street

Supporters of Redmond Bike Park asked to speak up

Credit/ Bob Yoder

I was just informed by Carolyn Hope from Parks that the City won a $10,000 grant from Bikes Belong for the "Redmond Bike Park".   Aparently, a Steering Committee of citizens and youth helped to move the project forward with this grant.   

Carolyn wants us to know the City Council will be asked to approve the site for the Redmond Bike Park on Tuesday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m.   If you are committed to helping build or donate to the park in some way, your input at this March 2 meeting would encourage the Council.

The Council meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers in City Hall.  Your comments (30 seconds - 3 minutes) are made at the start of the meeting.  Bring your friends and parents. 

The meeting agenda will be posted http://www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/citycouncil/meetings.asp

If you didn’t already have a chance to review the Site Selection, it is provided here: http://www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/parksrec/parksplanning/DirtJumps/pdfs/RedmondBikeParkSiteSelectionMemo.pdf

Thank you for your invovlement with this project!

Excerpted from Carolyn Hope's letter to bike park volunteers.
Carolyn Hope, Senior Parks Planner.   
425.556.2313

By Bob Yoder
BMX Bike Park volunteer
Photos By Yoder

UPDATED OPINION: Bike Shares could pollute our city

These Lime bikes and other "bike shares" will be invading Redmond.

Well, it looks like the unpleasant "Lime Greens" will shortly be seen on most corners of our downtown and some even polluting our neighborhoods and trails unless the city doesn't put firm regulations on them. The "Limes" and other bike shares coming out of Seattle could pressure our three bike shops out of Redmond; we'd lose the tax income from these shops and our city's character.  But, they do provide short transportation links to and from the transit centers.

Lake Union (Kiro.)  Lake Sammamish next?

I saw a large tangle of about 20 unused Limes at the Bothell bridge over the Sammamish River.  And, I saw one Lime abandoned on the green-belt next to the river.  I guess someone wanted to ride from Bothell, to a nice spot on the river, dump the bike (like trash) and hike back.  And then, there's the safety issue.  People who have never ridden a bike, especially in downtown streets, are more susceptible to a collision. 

The Limes are now electric so have the capability to run through our downtown transportation corridors-- and be left on roads like East and West Lake Sammamish Blvd. 116th and 124th.  Residents could drive them to the Downtown Park and surround it (art?) before heading back up the hill to neighborhood feeders. Same with the soccer fields and community center.

Shelly, a salesperson for Seattle Electric Bike in Bothell said she had some concerns about the bike shares but indicated permitting should solve most problems.  She sells a wide variety of sturdy, aesthetically pleasing electric bikes as does PIM and PEDEGO-Redmond. (PIM is out of Freemont and PEDEGO-Redmond is at 8296 160th Ave, NE.).

"Read More" for the City of Redmond's plans and point of view

Redmond Bike Park - Volunteer Winter Planting Work Party

 Hi Bike Park Volunteers,
The plants for greening up the Bike Park will be delivered this week and we would love your help putting them in the ground.
Come join us for the Bike Park Planting Work Party!

Tuesday, February 10
9am to 2pm At the Bike Park

Parks Staff will lay out the plants and give instructions on tool safety and planting techniques.  Tools and gloves will be provided.  RSVP if you plan to come so we can plan for the right number of tools.
Here's a checklist for the Work Party to get you all set up:  Read More >>

It's almost time to build the Redmond Bike Park

It's almost time to build the

REDMOND BIKE PARK

 

All the necessary permits have been approved and the City is ready to move forward with construction this June. 

 

The City and our consultant, Hilride, will be leading a volunteer training and several work parties starting this June to complete the project.  We’ll have training, tools, food and snacks at all of the volunteer events. 

 

Put the following dates on your calendar get ready to come help build the bike park!

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June 6      |       Volunteer Training     |       5:30pm – 7pm

LOCATION:    Horace Mann Elementary School

17001 NE 104^th Street, Redmond

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June 7      |       Work Party               |       9am – 4pm

June 8      |       Work Party               |       9am – 4pm

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June 14    |       Work Party               |       9am – 4pm

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June 28    |       Work Party               |       9am – 4pm

June 29    |       Work Party               |       9am – 4pm

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Read More >>

RealizeRedmond collaborates in the "One Redmond Project" - launches new site

This LOGO was created in partnership with "Bullseye Creative Communications," Atlanta, GA. 

from the desk of Jeni Craswell, part-time Executive Director of "Realize Redmond"

PROJECTS:  "Our main focus right now is our collaboration in the One Redmond Project. We are working together with The Greater Redmond Chamber of Commerce, Redmond Economic Development Association and the City of Redmond to explore how we can all work together to create a true City of Excellence. Stay tuned for exciting updates on this important community initiative!

In addition to One Redmond, we are excited to partner with the City to build a downtown park. We will be actively engaging the community to discuss use and design. In the meantime, information can be found at the City's website.

We are also partnering with the City and the Redmond Bike Park Steering Committee to build a bike park for riders of all ages and skill levels. Learn more at the Redmond Bike Park Site.

Finally, we are exploring how our community events such as Derby Days and Redmond Lights can do an even better job of representing the community and celebrating our city. We have talked to many people who are excited about making Derby Days bigger and longer and engaging even more of the community. If you have ideas, please send us your thoughts!"
 
-- By Jeni Craswell
Source:  Realize Redmond website - click to enter the site...

Bullseye Creative Communications out of Atlanta, partners with the City of Redmond in the branding and creation of http://www.redmond.gov/ and other city websites. 

Redmond Bike Park moves forward

Hello Redmond Bike Park followers,

 

The revised Redmond Bike Park project plans were not appealed.  Staff and the consultants will be meeting soon to plan a schedule and approach to construction.  I will follow up with details soon. 

 

Thank you,

 

Carolyn Hope

Park Planning & Cultural Services Manager

City of Redmond, Parks and Recreation Department

15670 NE 85^th Street, Redmond, WA 98052

425.556.2313, cjhope@redmond.gov

www.redmond.gov

Redmond Bike Park work party cancelled. Potential for appeal of Site Plan application

Redmond Bike Park - Credit Bob Yoder

Redmond Bike Park work party, scheduled for June 18 and 19, is cancelled until further notice. The City will announce a revised construction schedule as it comes available.

There is potential for an appeal of the site plan entitlement application to be filed. All design materials and the SEPA checklist for are posted on the project website at http://www.redmondbikepark.com/HOME.html  under the document library.

Over the past two years, the City worked with community members to determine how to legitimize dirt jumps built on City property. After a series of public meetings, field trips to other bike parks and trails and design workshops, the community approved plans developed by Hilride Progression Development Group. The design consists of five dirt-jump style trails for BMX and mountain bike riders. There will be a progression of trails from beginner to advanced, including a pump track that can be ridden by people of all skill levels.

The City has two partners on this project, Realize Redmond and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. It is supported or sponsored by Bikes Belong, Specialized Bicycle Components through Pacific Bicycles Company, Whole Foods Market, Sun Belt Rentals, Transition Bicycles and Redline Bicycles.

For more information, visit the project website at www.redmond.gov/bikepark  or contact the project manager, Carolyn Hope at 425-556-2313 or cjhope@redmond.gov

C.O.R. Press Release
Photo by Yoder
Special thanks to Howard Frazier for reporting a broken link.

Sign up for the Redmond Bike Park

 

It’s time to sign up for the

REDMOND BIKE PARK

 

Our volunteer sign up system is now up and running!  Come sign up to be a volunteer and help build the Bike Park. 

 

 

Our volunteer system is powered by Shiftboard.  The button above will take you to the volunteer application page where you can select the volunteer position you would like to apply for. 

 

You can review the details of each of the volunteer positions at our Volunteer Information page.  You can also find general project info at the project website.  Work Parties are scheduled to start this June!

 

If you know of others that may be interested in being part of this project, please feel free to forward this notice on to them. 

 

For more information:

Visit www.redmond.gov/bikepark

or send an Email to David Shaw

Green Redmond "Last Saturday" volunteers needed to restore local parkland forests.

Redmond, WA – The City of Redmond and the Cascade Land Conservancy joined together to form the Green Redmond Partnership. It is the Partnership’s goal to bring 1035 acres of Redmond’s forested parkland into active management over the next 20 years. Active management allows Redmond’s forests to remain an important element of the native ecosystem.

To ensure our forests stay healthy, volunteers are needed to work in the parks removing non-native invasive plants. The first work party of 2010 is Saturday, April 24 from 9am to noon at Viewpoint Park, 1840 NE 24th Street. No prior experience is necessary and tools and gloves are provided.

This event is part of a series of work parties – “Last Saturday” of each month through October. To plan ahead, following are the dates and locations for 2010:

May 29 – Westside Park, 5810 156th Avenue NE

June 26 – Grass Lawn Park, 7031 148th Avenue NE

July 31 – Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park, 19545 Redmond Road

August 28 – Idylwood Park, 3650 West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE

September 25 – Hartman Park, 17300 NE 104th Street   (near Redmond Bike Park)

October 30 – Idylwood Park, 3650 West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE

Redmond Bike Park Grand Opening is September 6

After months of work by city staff and hundreds of volunteer hours the Redmond Bike Park is complete and ready to ride!   A Grand Opening is planned for Saturday, September 6 and will include the following events:


10-11:30  Dirt Jump Skills Workshop
11:30-12  Site Tour
12-1:00    Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the Mayor/Volunteer Awards/BBQ
1-2:00      Jump Jam


The BMX bike park includes the following jump tracks:  beginning, intermediate, advanced, skills track, and pump track.  Parking is available at Hartman Park at the corner of NE 104th Street and 171 Ave NE. 

Redmond's Grass Lawn Park wins regional award.

Redmond's Grass Lawn Park wins regional award for "the best playground in Puget Sound."

Grass Lawn Park won the Golden Teddy Award as "the best playground in the Puget Sound region", according to results from a reader poll in Seattle-based ParentMap Magazine.  Mayor Marchione made the announcement at the beginning of last night's council meeting.  The ParentMap website also recognized the SecondStory Repertory on their "Best of Seattle" list.  Read More >>