Friends of Marymoor Park

January 24, 2018 Meeting Summary

-- see also the November 15, 2017  meeting summary

1) Introductions

Norah Robinson, King County Parks – Marymoor Park lead; Michael Hobbs, FOMP Secretary, webmaster; Laura Hall, Marymoor Community Gardener's Association, FOMP Board; Glenn Eades, Eastside Audubon, neighbor;

2) Sound Transit Link Light Rail

Sound Transit is moving forward with their design for the Link Light Rail connection from Overlake to Redmond, to be given to the design-build contractor.   Sound Transit will have to cut down trees along the south edge of SR-520, and therefore will have to do some tree replacement, hopefully within Marymoor Park.  Norah has developed a map of the park to go along with the previously produced Tree Plan for Marymoor. 


Portion of Norah's map, with a few annotations relevant to comments below

 
Michael was concerned that the strip just east of the velodrome is likely to be impacted by development with the next 10-15 years, and should not be planted right now with new trees.  That can be part of future projects.
 
Michael suggested the heart shaped area just south of Big Top parking would be a good place for a grove of native trees, including Oregon Ash, Red Elderberry, Bitter Cherry, Pacific Crabapple, and possibly Sitka Spruce.
 
There was also a great interest in using this opportunity to plant trees in the Historic District around the mansion, as this area needs to be restocked with large specimen trees, and faces the high cost of archeological surveys.
 
There were questions raised about about K Lot, where all the trees were removed due to drainage and pavement damage.  Norah was a bit resistant, hoping to keep the parking lots bright and visible.  But she will consider planting something there.  Michael suggested cherries or plums.    (Michael pointed out that two existing patches of cherries are dying out, having reached the end of their life cycle – one immediately east of the “compost piles”, and one along the slough trail a bit below the weir – and birds like cherries).
 
Norah also brought up the mitigation for the mitigation wetland that is just west of the Event Pad and Cricket Field.  This will require an extensive mitigation, at some multiple of the acreage that is being lost (0.6 acres).   There was STRONG support for enhancing the rough triangle wet area south of Marymoor Way just south of the velodrome shelter. This was far preferred to a site along East Lake Sammamish Trail.  There was also some support, along with some concern, for another idea – that of filling in the ditch that runs east-west immediately east of the Interpretive Trail south of the East Meadow.  Laura would like to come up with a name for the desired site, and we discussed various past owners, or even better, a Native American trade language name for this area.

Norah also mentioned that there will be paths from the Light Rail station to the Marymoor Connector Trail, and that we should think about what we'd like to see as things move forward.

3) New Parking Fee Machines

Parks is near completing negotiations with vendors Passport and IPS Group Inc. to replace the kiosks. The exact details of the system have not been finalized.

4) CIP/Project/Facilities Updates

a) Cultural Resources – EAS and the parks archeologist have developed a good working relationship.  Glenn mentioned that the parks archeologist will be offering some training to EAS volunteers; Laura mentioned that some gardeners may also be interested.

b) Community Gardens – plot cost increasing by $5 per plot.  Apiary will move to the SE corner.  Plots are all rented out for 2018.  Marymoor CGA also updated their conformance with the IRS for their non-profit status.

Laura asked about replacing the fence along the north edge of the Community Gardens, as well as blackberry removal in Snag Row along the north edge (western portion done, but eastern section not yet done).  When and who might do this work, and pay for this work, is undetermined at this time.  Glenn and Norah also asked whether the fence needs to be replaced, or merely to have the old broken fence removed.  MCGA would like to limit cut-through walking through the Snag Row.  There are two established cut-through spots, one official and one unofficial, and Laura would like one of those closed.  The blackberry situation may be addressed during a Day of Caring event.

c) Cut-through Traffic  – Norah and Gregg have been discussing this issue, and are leaning towards having FOMP take a lead in starting this discussion with the general population.  Michael suggested a SurveyMonkey survey, or somesuch.    There are certainly some arguments for upgrading Marymoor Way to a public thoroughfare, but the negative effects on the park would be huge; and the costs currently are being borne by Parks for road services.

Our February meeting will be on Wednesday, February 28th, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in the Art Barn

These notes do not constitute an official record of the meeting.  They may have inaccuracies and omissions.  If anyone has any complaints about the content of these notes, they should direct them to Michael Hobbs at fomp@marymoor.org, and he will endeavor to correct them.

 

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