Published January 11 2017
In the interest of safety to swimmers, the city of Bellevue has closed the Newcastle Beach Park swimming area effective immediately due to high bacteria levels in the water. Newcastle Beach Park is located at 4400 Lake Washington Blvd. SE.
The closure of the swimming area comes at the direction of Public Health -- Seattle & King County. The swimming area will be reopened when testing indicates that bacteria counts return to a low-risk level.
Although the beach is closed to swimming, the park is still open for picnicking and playground use. Lifeguards are not on duty at Bellevue beach parks after Labor Day.
Signs at the park will alert visitors to the closure of the swimming area. When the swimming area is reopened, the warning signs will be removed.
King County Water and Land Resources, in cooperation with local jurisdictions, routinely tests and monitors water quality at beaches on Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish to ensure that they are safe for swimmers.
Swimming in areas with high bacteria can cause health concerns for some individuals. Based on bacteria monitoring results, Public Health -- Seattle and King County determines whether a body of water poses a public health risk. King County offers more information about lake bacteria.