The North County Parks Coalition was organized to address the condition, gather suggestions for improvement, and discuss the future of the neighborhood park at 132nd Square Park in Kirkland.
The North County Parks Coalition (NCPC) is an association of community members, non-profit organizations and agencies who formed this spring, in response to the deterioration and removal of the park's play structure.
After some discussion with park users, it was concluded that a total refocus of the park was needed with King County.
"Our goal is to work with King County to improve and fully utilize the park space while implementing new standards of maintenance to ensure the vitality of 132nd Square Park," said Victoria Brown, founding member of North County Parks Coalition.
A list of recommendations for park improvement was presented at the Town Hall meeting at John Muir Elementary on April 17. Brown, and a core group of contributors, along with many community members, were present and voiced their opinions for the park's replacement of the play structure that was torn down over six weeks ago.
The planning of Phase I, II and III, along with potential projects, will be funded through a community partnership grant; i.e., a half-court basketball court was discussed with the King County Parks Division, the Totem Lake Neighborhood Association and the new North County Parks Coalition. King County expressed that the initial play structure should be installed before summer. The parks division will move quickly to replace the equipment with the unanimous choices that were made at the meeting on April 17.
As the neighborhood groups move ahead to initiate the process for a Community Partnership Grant (CPG), Jane Hague (Councilmember for King County, District Six) will work closely with the community on ideas for leveraging grant funds that will increase the usability and value of this park to the community. Phase II will be completed when the CPG for 100,000 grant process has been completed. Some of the proposed projects listed in Phase II would be to implement a half-court basketball court, add more benches on the path and install new picnic tables. Phase III would bring in art sculptures in the park and a new landscape design.
Cindy King is a core member of the North County Parks Coalition and is a Kingsgate resident.[[In-content Ad]]
