The 2008 Bellevue Parks & Natural Areas Levy includes $2.5 million to acquire, develop or enhance parks and open space in the Bridle Trails neighborhood. Based on community input, the city in January 2011 purchased a property at 2402 134th Avenue NE. Bridle Trails Corner Park construction was complete in late 2014.
New Park Acquisition
The Parks & Community Services Department acquired a second parcel for future park development at 4432 140th Avenue Northeast. The Parks Department partnered with the Bridle Trails Community Club's Park Committee to locate a property within the Bridle Trails subarea that would best serve the community, using remaining funds from the Bridle Trails Park Levy project originally targeted for the Acheson property.
After an extensive property search, the "Ginzberg" parcel was identified from a lead provided by the community. With BTTC support, and after several months of negotiations, the 1.65-acre property was acquired in late 2014.
The site is conveniently located along 140th Avenue Northeast just south of the Bellevue Municipal Golf Course and abuts a six-acre city utility site to the east. Although there are no funds currently available for development, planning for the site began in May 2018. A kickoff community meeting to introduce the site and take public comment was held on May 13 at the North Bellevue Community Center.
A second meeting was held on Oct. 7. Staff shared survey results and suggestions received, presented two design concepts, and took comments. At a Feb. 10, 2019 community meeting, Parks staff presented their preferred park design and program, along with time for Q&A and discussion.
At the March 24 Bridle Trails Community Club general meeting, staff shared the preferred plan and received an informal, unanimous approval of the plan.
Background
Working with the Bridle Trails Community Club, the city solicited ideas for parks and open space from the Bridle Trails neighborhood. Neighborhood outreach included surveys, newsletters, neighborhood block and park parties, multiple BTCC and neighborhood meetings. The community provided more than 100 project location and program suggestions.
To inform park and natural project recommendations for the Bridle Trails neighborhood, evaluation of suggestions included: neighborhood input, project principles and criteria, project opportunity, feasibility and estimated costs. The BTCC Board ratified recommendations, and the neighborhood strongly supported them, 90 percent of those at a neighborhood meeting on Sept. 30, 2010, voting for them.
Neighborhood Recommendations
The BTCC recommended committing at least $2.5 million voter-approved Parks & Natural Areas Levy funds toward neighborhood park development and natural areas in the Bridle Trails neighborhood. The recommended projects were identified in the preferred order:
- Obtain an agreement with the state to develop, operate and maintain state-owned open space at 5220 132nd Ave. NE (Acheson property) as a neighborhood park.
- Develop a master plan, with the Bridle Trails neighborhood and owners of contiguous property, for a neighborhood park on the 132nd Avenue property.
- Develop the park on 132nd Avenue.
- Pursue acquisition of the property located at 2402 134th Ave. NE (Northeast 24th Street site) for the purposes of providing park and open space.
- Develop a master plan, with the Bridle Trails neighborhood and with owners of contiguous property, for a neighborhood park on the 24th Street property.
- Develop the 24th Street park.
Park Board and City Council Action
Community Meeting Presentations:
- March 29, 2012
- May 10, 2012
- June 14, 2012
- September 20, 2012
- October 9, 2012- Park Board presentation
- May 13, 2015
- October 7, 2015
- February 10, 2016
The Bridle Trails Community Club has additional information. If you would like a response to specific questions, contact Scott VanderHyden (contact information in the right column of this page).