Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Dave Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Dave Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

North Everett park could get $345,000 upgrade

The council will vote on whether to improve 18-year-old Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park.

EVERETT — If approved by the City Council, Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park could get a $345,000 facelift from the city of Everett.

The project would renovate the playground area of the park, located at Colby Avenue and 13th Street, which has exceeded the city’s life-cycle standard of 15 years, a council summary read. The playground at the park was built in 2007.

The city would spend capital improvement dollars to demolish the existing playground, install new equipment and expand the play area. If approved, the renovation will begin in fall 2025. The project will take about two months to complete, depending on weather, said Cory Rettenmier, golf and park program manager for the city.

The proposed playground could expand by about 500 square feet, according to city designs shared during a January meeting. The park’s existing gazebo and arbor will remain as is.

Two design options have been proposed for the park’s playground, which include swings, new turf surfacing, a chain link fence and new benches.

The park is named after Drew Nielsen, a former city council member who died in a rafting accident in 2012. Nielsen lobbied for the park to be built in the mid-2000s and the City Council named the park after him following his death.

The council is expected to vote on the ordinance on Feb. 12. If approved, planning will continue into the summer.

Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.

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