Mukilteo Lighthouse Park takes shape

Published 10:51 pm Sunday, February 3, 2008

MUKILTEO — The future of Mukilteo Lighthouse Park is beginning to take shape.

Years from now, the large parking area that takes up most of the 13-acre waterfront park in Old Town is planned to be replaced with an open lawn, encircled by a loop trail.

A promenade is expected to be built along the waterfront near the lighthouse, and rows of trees are envisioned along a new path giving pedestrians easier access to the park.

“Now that the winter is over, you’re going to start seeing an accelerated pace of things that will happen,” Mukilteo city administrator Joe Hannan said.

The park is currently fenced off and covered with truckloads of dirt for landscaping. New playground equipment is on the way. Workers are planning to begin building new rest rooms and picnic shelters, to be finished by summer.

Later this year, city officials are planning to hold community meetings to review Phase II of the project, which is slated to improve the area around the lighthouse.

“(The next phase) ­really makes the big, dramatic changes down in the park, even though the stuff we’re talking about now — the picnic shelter and the restrooms — makes the park a lot more usable as summer is coming,” Hannan said.

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.

How the work will progress

Phase I includes: Landscaping, picnic shelters, a playground, interpretive displays and viewpoints, pathways, rest rooms, part of a new beach promenade and beach access for disabled people.

Phase II includes: Improvements to the lighthouse area, including a multi-use turnaround, new paths and landscaping.

Phase III includes: Improvements to Front Street, an entry staircase from Mukilteo Speedway, completion of a park driveway and new parking in the southeast corner of the park.

Phase IV includes: Completion of the pathway system, a new pedestrian pier, the central lawn and festival area and rest rooms near the lighthouse.