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Sammamish Valley Park Master Plan 15 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Park Program Development The Sammamish Valley Park property was originally purchased by the city in 1998 for development as a community park. The 2004 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan identifies recreation needs for the park within a 1 to 3 mile radius as follows: • Baseball – 2 Fields • Youth Baseball/Softball – 2 Fields • Adult Softball – 2 Fields • Multi-purpose (Lacrosse/Rugby/Soccer) – 4 Fields • Tennis – 4 Courts • Indoor Tennis – 7 Courts • Gyms - 2 Due to the city’s need for athletic facilities, it was determined that at least one design option would explore incorporation of athletic facilities on the site. Based upon results of the wetland delineation report showing a larger than expected wetland, the city realized that that the park may more appro- priately be developed with uses compatible with a natural resources park. Early discussions by the design team with city staff as well as the site inventory and analysis resulted in a list of potential program elements for three distinct design directions. Each of the three design directions would de- velop a significant portion of the site as a natural resource park. City Staff Recommendations Programming and related design preferences were discussed at the April 1, June 18 and July 18 meetings with staff. Staff recommended inclusion of community gathering space, an indoor recrea- tion facility, a large group picnic shelter, a small boat rental facility associated with open water, bicy- cle rental associated with the trailhead, an interpretive center and flexible lawn space. The city would like the site to be accessible to a broad spectrum of people. Uses that limit access to a select group of people, such as a golf course, were discouraged. The city’s goal is to make the park 100 percent sustainable design meeting the highest LEED standards. See Appendix F for meeting notes. Public Response The public was given the opportunity to weigh in on the facilities and activities they would like to see in the park at the public meeting held on July 16, 2009. Figure 5 – Potential Program Elements illus- trates the list of program elements presented to the public. The following is a summary of the com- ments heard: • Would like to see soccer fields on the site. Frustrated that the site is encumbered with the large wetland • The park should have uses that welcome the entire community • Provide a place for community gathering • Enhance wildlife habitat and provide places to watch birds and other wildlife • Interest in keeping bees on site • Desire to have the entire site accessible to walk in • Coordinate agricultural concept with nearby agricultural uses. • Several citizens liked idea of combining the agricultural and natural resources concepts • Like sustainable features such as green building / roof • Incorporate places to teach wilderness awareness ---PAGE BREAK--- Sammamish Valley Park Master Plan 16 • Willows Road could be an agriculturally themed gateway to the city • Provide viewpoints for Mt Rainier and the river valley • Create strong relationship to future multipurpose trail • Include artworks • Buffer views of business park to west part of site especially for natural resource concept See Appendix F for meeting minutes. ---PAGE BREAK--- Sammamish Valley Park Master Plan 17 Figure 5 – Potential Program Elements ---PAGE BREAK--- Sammamish Valley Park Master Plan 18