Arlington park nears $1 million

Published 9:00 pm Monday, April 5, 2004

ARLINGTON — The days of just slapping up a jungle gym in a vacant lot and calling it a park might be history.

When workers finally break ground this summer on Arlington’s newest park, the city will have invested more than four years and almost $1 million into a 1-acre patch of ground.

The Arlington City Council authorized city staff Monday to put the project out to bid.

It will be called the J. Rudy York Park in the Smokey Point neighborhood. York’s widow, Doris, sold the city her family’s property in 2001 with the expressed intent creating a park, City Councilwoman Marilyn Oertle said.

More than four years after she started working on the idea, Oertle said she originally thought the city’s new skate park would be the more expensive of this summer’s new projects.

But the skate park’s estimated cost is about $230,000. York Park’s estimated cost is $914,173.

"It’s a million-dollar park," Oertle said. "That surprised the living daylights out of me."

Oertle is not questioning the estimates. The property cost the city $350,000. Another $358,000 will pay for walkways, landscaping, irrigation, benches, tables, garbage cans, a bike rack, play structures for tots and school-age kids, a large grassy area and a basketball court.

Once fees for design work, permits and inspections, as well as equipment purchases and other related expenses are factored in, the costs add up.

"It was a lot of money, but it’s going to be worth it when it’s done," Oertle said. "It’s going to be a lovely addition to the community."

Arlington Mayor Margaret Larson agreed.

"Any time we add parks is a happy day for me," Larson said.

York Park will be Smokey Point’s first park, which is why it took priority over other neighborhoods such as High Clover and Jensen Farm. The City Council and the Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission have plans for eventually adding parks in those neighborhoods, said Sarah Hegge, the city’s recreation coordinator.

Also in the works is a second phase at York Park that would add a picnic shelter, small community space, additional parking and horseshoe pits.

But the city will have to replenish its capital improvement fund for parks before any of those projects can move forward, Hegge said.

York Park will become the city’s 12th park, not including the skate park, which is part of Quake Park near the airport.

Part of the delay in York Park had to do with avoiding building during the rainy season, city engineer Paul Richart said. And liability concerns are driving costs up compared with parks built years ago, Richart said.

"Everything has to be built to a certain standard," Oertle said. "It’s good for the public to have that standard, but it all costs money."

Reporter Scott Morris: 425-339-3292 or smorris@heraldnet.com.