Publisher’s note: This is the sixth of our regular updates on future Lynnwood housing, mixed-use, commercial and city developments. This series will also include updates on citywide transportation improvements.
Construction is underway at South Lynnwood Neighborhood Park, where crews have erected fencing, closing the park to the public until the end of the year,
Three months after breaking ground on the project, workers have have removed grass from the fields to resurface the park while making improvements to drainage and irrigation. Access to the park’s restroom and the Interurban Trail is also closed off during construction.
Recent work includes adding a new urban soccer field made of foam padding and artificial turf north of the park’s restroom. A new picnic shelter has also been installed.
Next, crews plan work to fill the natural grass field. Concrete and asphalt will also be poured to create pathways through the park. In addition, preparations are being made to install a climbing boulders and rock walls. Other planned improvements include expanding the playground and adding new equipment, relocating the basketball court and resurfacing the tennis court
On-street parking along the east side of 61st Avenue West (adjacent to the park) has been limited due to the ongoing construction.
The project will cost an estimated $2.7 million, with funding coming from the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program, Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, the Trust for Public Land/Kaiser Permanente, the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation, the City of Lynnwood and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
South Lynnwood Park is a 4.2-acre neighborhood park that opened in 1978. Redeveloping it is part of the city’s South Lynnwood Neighborhood Plan — an effort to address social inequality, including income and language barriers, in South Lynnwood. Looking to have the new park reflect the diverse surrounding community, the city conducted significant outreach efforts — before and during the COVID-19 pandemic — to gather feedback on what the park should look like.
Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Sarah Olson said the city is also hoping to involve the community in the park’s landscaping process.
“We’re hoping to have a landscaping party with the neighborhood in October-November,” she said.
Last November, the city commissioned Seattle artist Gabrielle Abbott to paint a mural on the back of the newly renovated park restroom building. The mural, titled “Grateful Steward,” was inspired by and depicts native plant and animal life that is considered sacred to local Indigenous tribes.
–Story and photos by Cody Sexton
Monday: 08/23/2021
The Park Renovation will be a Nice Addition and Improvement to South Lynnwood and the City.. We have -6- Grand Children. I expect we and out grand kids will put our share of “Wear & Tear” in to the park.
Is there a Graphic of “Grateful Steward” available?
Here’s an earlier story we wrote on “Grateful Steward”: https://lynnwoodtoday.com/south-lynnwood-park-mural-celebrates-native-plants-wildlife/
Tuesday: 08/24/2021
Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.
Cordially
Mike
Very sad that money for helping wildlife will be used to take real grass and pave it over with concrete and foam and rubber. What is wrong with keeping a grass soccer field grass? Concrete walkways are not only bad for nature and the global temperature but its bad for your joints and is deadly when someone slams you on in a fight
Great idea renovating the park. Not sure how “an effort to address social inequality, including income and language barriers, in South Lynnwood” has anything to do with it other than being the attention-grabbing topic of the moment.
The park had been beat to hell during its life. Bball court was lumpy at best, tennis courts were cracked but still useable. Many non-taxpaying groups, trashed and abused the central field, turning it into a barren mudbowl, year after year. We need to be thankful for the well thought out renovation. I hope we make good use of the walking/running path and avoid fighting on it, as someone previously suggested it would be used for. Perhaps the new tennis court will also have a ‘solo wall’ like the old court did, as this is a very unique feature. Places to BBQ and picnic combined with a large play structure for kids, with more new and improved slides, swings and the like will encourage families to stay and play all day.
Lastly, I agree with Amy’s post in regards to social inequality barriers being the driving force and/or end result of the park rebuild. I believe enough relevant reasons existed to warrant the parks renovation without tossing in the bogus suffering of marginalized people in our community and the need to level some nonexistent playing field. Just build a park without looking for accolades pertaining to your new enlightened senses.
Tuesday: 08/24/2021
Hey Amy! The Park is free to all users! That address’s part of the Income Barrier. Kids that play together
tend to absorb lots of words from any language.
Cordially
Mike