SNOHOMISH — Work on new play fields and better access to an off-leash dog area should be under way soon at Snohomish County’s Willis Tucker Park.
County leaders last week approved a $1.1 million bid for the improvements, which should make it easier for people with disabilities to reach an off-leash dog area. The project also includes about 40 new parking stalls plus electrical infrastructure. It’s the second-to-last major phase of work planned at the 84-acre park on Puget Park Drive east of Mill Creek.
“It’s a good infrastructure-based project that brings us into full (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance,” county parks director Tom Teigen said. “It allows us to make sure that all citizens who want to have access to the off-leash area.”
The county awarded the construction bid to A-1 Landscaping and Construction of Snohomish. The bid came in about $200,000 lower than an engineer’s estimate. The money is from mitigation fees paid for new construction and from the real estate excise tax.
Much of the work involves making a meadow area of about 15 acres into multipurpose fields. It’s intended for T-ball, soccer and other sports, or even for overflow parking during special events.
Most of the parking stalls will occupy the site of the former, temporary off-leash dog park. A paved access road to the permanent dog park should make it easier for people with disabilities to get there.
Construction is expected to last about three months.
A final phase of work to install large picnic shelters and more parking spaces at Willis Tucker Park is expected within about six years.
The county broke ground on the park in 2004.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
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