Friends of Marymoor Park
 

March 24, 2021 Meeting Summary

-- see also the February 24, 2021  meeting summary

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  1. Welcome and Introductions

    Norah Robinson    , King County Parks; Greg Helland, SODA representative, FOMP President; Michael Hobbs, FOMP Secretary, webmaster; Sofia Taylor, Redmond resident, dark park user; Michael Welch - Redmond Association of the Spoken Word; Glenn Eades, Eastside Audubon

  2. CIP/Projects/Facilities Updates:
     
    • Prairie Creation Project – A small area in the NW corner of East Meadow is tarped to prepare for prairie restoration.  Winter 2022, plant installation.  Will be tended 3-5 years.  Mostly planting native prairie grasses and flowers.  There will be a poster to explain the project to park visitors.  This is an experimental project to figure out the feasibility of bringing native prairie plants into an existing prairie dominated by non-native plants.

    • Community Gardens – There has been some serious vandalism in the last 2 months.  In both Feb. and March, someone tore apart trellises and fences, etc.  MCGA is looking at some security measures, including possibly cameras and motion-sensor lights.  Short-term, they’re discussion hiring security for over nights.

    • SODA – river road fencing is complete.  Heron fence back up.
       
    • Sound Transit –
      • cell tower project cancelled.  This tower will presumably be erected somewhere else, but not in Marymoor.
      • Tree replacement in the Historic Area:  improvements to the conifer grove on east side of mansion.  Planting in 2023 or later.  Plan has been approved by landmarks, but a new strategy will have to be resubmitted to them.  They are currently proposing to make some berms on which the trees would be planted.  This planting and the berms are also intended to prevent any possible car attack on pedestrians waiting along a new path that will go through the trees to act as the pedestrian entrance to the concert venue.  Trees will be conifers and some deciduous trees.  Trees lost in the area have mostly been Douglas firs and maples.  Timing – strong requests to expedite this to 2022, since the trees are already being removed.

    • Sewer project – delayed until at least 2022.  New path along the north side of Marymoor Way to connect West Lake Samm Parkway to the Connector Trail.  There would be a ramp up to the bridge deck edge, to avoid the large step.  As planned so far, there would be no real changes to the narrow pathway across the bridge itself.  Glenn again pointed out the rather absurd current plan for bicycles and pedestrians to detour three miles through Marymoor, crossing SR-520, and back through Redmond, to get from Marymoor Way to Leary Way.  Something will need to be done along West Lake Sammamish Parkway.  Glenn also called for a plan for pedestrian access to, and throughout, the park.

    • New fencing on Ball Field 1 – Design has been developed for review.  The problem is that foul balls from Field 1 easily reach the playground to the ESE. They are looking to raise the fencing along the first base line from 9 feet to 20 feet, and to erect a net over the batting area at about a 28 foot height.

  3.     Upcoming Events
    • Movies start April 20th, Tu, We, Th evenings.  They are presenting these as drive-in format.  At some point during the summer, if COVID requirements allow, they will probably revert to grass lawn movies as in previous years.  Sofia asked if the movies are money makers for the Park. Norah says it has never been a big revenue generator for the county.  Parks does get some money, but traffic management is a large expense.  These are considered a family-friendly community amenity hosted at the park.
    • Concerts hoping to have some season, but still unclear.  Waiting on new guidelines that may come from the state/county on April 15.
    • Brewer’s Festival and CHOMP! are still TBD
    • Carnival proposed for October, with rides, fair food, bands, etc.  This would go on the Event Pad.  Nobody had any substantive concerns.

  4.     Other
    • There was a large illegal party near the stage that was broken up by police.
    • Michael asked about the informally constructed short-cut road that has been put in connecting the maintenance barn to the Pea Patch road.  He expressed concern over the number of new gravel roadways developed in the park without review, and asked if this one were really necessary as it parallels Marymoor Way with only about 50 yards between them.  Norah suggested that during large events at the park, this would allow Parks vehicles to travel through the park while the main roadways are full.

Next meeting TBA

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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