At a special meeting held on October 4, the Mountlake Terrace City Council walked the trails at Veterans Memorial Park in anticipation of an upcoming meeting scheduled for October 14 to review a resolution confirming the conceptual illustration in the preferred plan. This concept is a component of the Veterans Memorial Park Master Plan and the more comprehensive Recreation Parks and Open Space Plan scheduled for adoption in early 2022. The concept is under consideration now so the city can begin design.
The Council commenced at the trailhead near the Police Station and continued west toward 60th Avenue West. Recreation and Parks Director Jeff Betz and City Engineer Jesse Birchman spoke about the guiding policies for the park plan and noted that each of these primary connector trails in the proposed concept will be built to accessibility standards. The primary trails will be paved and lit to provide key connections between the Civic Campus, 60th and 58th Avenues West and the Transit Center.
The Council proceeded down a steeply sloped trail to the footbridge, located on a plateau near the convergence of primary and secondary trails. Under the preferred plan, this trail would be a three-foot wide, native surface trail similar to a standard hiking trail.
Mr. Betz briefed the Council that recommendations in the plan include developing a Vegetation Management Plan with a detailed tree survey as a component to more fully ascertain the location and scope of selective thinning based on trail alignment, park design, and forest health. He added that the interface between buildings and the park edges should be designed in detail using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles. These areas should have an open, welcoming feel toward the park and should not locate parking, utility or maintenance facilities facing the park.
Mr. Betz noted that direct pedestrian access between the park and adjacent private properties that is supported by private property owners shall be integrated into the park trail system to the greatest extent possible.
From the footbridge, the Council headed east toward 58th Avenue near the main park entrance. Mr. Betz explained that the nature-themed play area and natural building materials should reflect the character and quality of the site, as well as city branding.
Finally, Mr. Betz said the final guiding policy is that maintenance levels of the park should reflect design goals, CPTED, and the vegetation management plan.
The concept was recently reviewed and recommended by the city’s Recreation and Park Advisory Commission and the Planning Commission with the next step being City Council review at the October 14 work/study session that begins at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. The Council is expected to consider a resolution to confirm the conceptual illustration at their October 18 regular meeting. Visit www.cityofmlt.com/129 for meeting agendas and information on how to participate via Zoom.
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