EDMONDS – An old parking lot along the Edmonds waterfront is now a landscaped plaza where people can sit and relax.
The 156-foot long plaza along the boardwalk at the Edmonds Marina features benches, walking paths and a large hourglass-shaped sandbox for children. The Port of Edmonds spent $263,000 of its reserve fund to build it, Port Executive Director Chris Kuess said.
Port officials recently held a dedication ceremony to celebrate the opening of the plaza.
“A lot of people seem to really enjoy it,” Kuess said. “People are walking through it, looking at the plants and the flowers, and seem to be really enjoying the amenity.”
The Port of Edmonds’ master plan calls for building open space whenever possible, Kuess said. The 12-space parking lot once used by the Edmonds Yacht Club was a perfect place, he said.
“This was one of the ways we could do it, to convert this area into more of a public space,” he said.
North of the new plaza, Mayor Gary Haakenson and several landowners are still planning a large redevelopment of the waterfront area. This month, more than 30 Edmonds residents are expected to discuss how to best keep the public informed about the redevelopment plans, Haakenson said.
The city owns a few waterfront parks near downtown – Brackett’s Landing and the Edmonds Underwater Park north of the ferry terminal and Edmonds Marina Beach Park south of the marina.
Haakenson credited port officials for adding open space in between.
“I can’t say enough about the plaza down there,” he said. “They just did a wonderful job of creating a public place where people can sit and enjoy.”
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
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