The new Echo Lake Park

Mayor Shari Winstead cuts the ribbon,
with some assistance from councilmembers and kids.
From left, Parks Board member John Hoey and his boys,
Rod Dembowski, Chris Roberts and son Clark,
Shari Winstead, Keith McGlashan, and Will Hall.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

By Diane Hettrick

On a cold, very blustery Saturday morning, politicos and neighborhood leaders gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the completely refurbished Echo Lake Park.

The Interurban Trail runs through the park
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The park, located at N 200th and Ashworth Ave N, presented some design challenges. Over a third to half of the park actually belongs to Seattle City Light, owner of the land under the Interurban Trail and about 50-100 feet on each side. No permanent structure can be built on City Light land.

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The previous plantings in the park provided secluded spots which made it easy for drug use and homeless / drug camps and blocked the view of the lake. The open field was lumpy. A large portion of the shoreline is designated wetlands, with restrictions on types of plantings and use.

But all that was transcended. The Parks department, under former Director Dick Deal and Designer Maureen Colaizzi, did deep research on the park, collecting input from police, neighboring property owners, and the Echo Lake Neighborhood Association (ELNA). They used the principles of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) to make the park unattractive for crime.

The Hoey boys show their approval of the playground,
which is designed for preschoolers.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Throughout the design process they checked in with ELNA, which had presented a fairly lengthy Wish List.

The results, unveiled officially on Saturday, pleased everyone.

The park now boasts open views to the park from Ashworth and 200th, and views of the lake from inside the park.

Attractive fencing along the interurban trail and the wetland areas creates a separation between trail users and park users, and and protects native habitat at the lake's edge.

The playground has been in use since the protective fence came down.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The playground is specifically designed for preschoolers. There are benches for moms and dads right next to the playground, and the unisex bathroom is just behind the benches. There is a trail by the playground to make it easy for wheels, whether on wheelchairs or strollers.

There is access to the water’s edge for fishing and entry into the water for waders and swimmers.

The beach is made of pea gravel - friendly to the feet, but long-lasting. ELNA volunteers will no longer need to shovel sand each year to keep the beach usable.

Former ELNA boardmember Barbara Lacy
walks by the lake on the new path.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

There are picnic tables and benches throughout the open lawn area along the trail which provides accessible pathways.

A loop trail circles the open field.

The old and often vandalized restrooms have been replaced with a unisex bathroom.

County Councilmember Rod Dembowski
and ELNA founder and former Park Board Chair
Dwight Stevens.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

New Parks Director Eric Friedli emceed the ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, giving a brief history of the lake, with Mayor Shari Winstead cutting the ribbon, assisted by other councilmembers and a handful of cute kids (and a cute dog).

King County Council representative Rod Dembowski spoke of the approximately $655,000 the City received from the 2007 voter approved King County Trail Levy for improvements to the park. The money was available because the Interurban Trail runs right through the park.

Remarks by the Mayor (see her column) and ELNA Board representative Jeanne Monger finished out the program.