EDMONDS — Plans for a major upgrade to Marina Beach, a popular waterfront park, call for two pedestrian bridges over Willow Creek, an outdoor shower to wash off beach sand, restrooms and three overlooks for views of Puget Sound.
These and other improvements are included a draft master plan for a park which draws an estimated 20,000 visitors a year. The improvements are estimated to cost $3 million.
“It’s going to look great,” said Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, city council president. “It will be a nice addition to Edmonds.”
The city has held three public open houses on the proposal. The plan is expected to go to the city council for final approval next month. In addition to the public meetings, the plan for the park’s development was guided by a committee that included city staff, members of the Edmonds Floretum Garden Club, and City Councilwoman Diane Buckshnis.
“I feel like at this point the plan is a good reflection of the community’s interests,” said Carrie Hite, who directs the city’s parks, recreation and cultural services.
Among the suggestions made by the public that are included in the plan are a bricks-and-mortar restroom, retaining the park’s current grassy hill often used by kite fliers, routing Willow Creek through the park without affecting the existing off-leash dog park, and adding two pedestrian bridges over the creek, she said.
Fraley-Monillas said the city council heard many comments from both dog owners who loved the off-leash areas and park lovers who said, “give us more space.”
She said the proposed route for the creek will take a little space from both the off-leash area and the park for a stream buffer area.
The number of parking spaces at the park won’t be increased or decreased, but a turnaround will be added, Hite said. “There’s always have been issues with parking and pedestrians,” she said. The addition of a turnaround area will reduce car-pedestrian conflicts, she said.
Plans also call for the addition of a designated area for kite boarders to launch from and for adding a porta potty at the off-leash dog park.
Most of the work on the plan won’t begin for three to five years, she said. But the current playground area will be replaced next year. Although plans for the play area are still under way, it could include rocks and logs to create a climbing area for kids.
The rest of the additions to the park need to wait so they can be completed in conjunction with a plan to daylight or free Willow Creek from a pipe to allow it to be a free flowing stream, Hite said. The creek runs through Edmonds Marsh and flows into Puget Sound. That project is estimated to cost between $5 million and $8 million. It will allow saltwater to flow more freely, establishing a safe harbor for young salmon to eat and grow in the marsh before they enter Puget Sound. The creek will make a turn at a culvert installed by Sound Transit and head through the park with an average of 50-foot buffers, enough room for a pathway, picnic tables and benches, Hite said.
Work on the park improvement plan began in January. The city will look for as much grant funding as possible to help pay for the improvements, Fraley-Monillas said. Although construction isn’t expected to begin for several years, “we’re all looking forward to it,” she said.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.
Master plan info
More information on the draft master plan for Marina Beach is available at http://tinyurl.com/nhdjmqp on the Aug. 18 council agenda.
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