The City Council Monday adopted a plan for a new park on Meydenbauer Bay, which lays out how the city can realize a long-time vision to connect Bellevue’s downtown with its waterfront.
The agreement comes after years of negotiation between the city and Meydenbauer residents who would be affected by the park.
The Meydenbauer Bay Neighbors Association, a group made up of surrounding property owners and boat users, previously voiced concern and opposition to the plan because of the potential closure of 100th Avenue Southeast, the elimination of slips on the bay and a nearby 8,000-square foot event center nearby.
But after extensive talks between MBNA and City Manager Steve Sarkozy the two sides came together. The final result was a design that allowed 100th Avenue Southeast to remain open. A principle was also inserted that the surrounding neighbors and community as a whole would be re-engaged during each phase of the construction.
“After thousands of hours of hard work over the past three and a half years, and on behalf of the neighborhood and community, the MBNA Board of Directors voted unanimously to support the Implementation Principles which were mutually negotiated and agreed upon with the much appreciated help of Steve Sarkozy,” said MBNA President Marv Peterson at the meeting.
No funding has been identified for the project, and it is expected to be several years before any development takes place. The plan assumes that park development will occur in multiple phases over many years, as has been the case with Downtown Park and Crossroads Community Park.
The plan was developed with goals of building up the city’s shoreline and giving people more access to the area, along with highlighting Bellevue’s boating history.
Key elements of the plan include
• Pedestrian promenade and pier
• Marina redesign
• New activity building and historic whaling building restoration
• Beach and shoreline restoration
• A variety of outdoor gathering, play and activity spaces
• Uncovering a stream
• Multiple opportunities for access to and enjoyment of the water; and
• Improvements to street frontage to strengthen connections to the lake.
The plan embodies a city vision that has been reaffirmed in several adopted plans for over 20 years. Land acquisition for the park dates back to 1953, with the most recent purchase in December 2007.
In March 2007, the council appointed a citizen steering committee to help develop the master plan. After many meetings, public workshops/open houses, public hearings and lively debate, the committee presented a plan to the council in November 2009.
The plan was then reviewed by the Park Board, which recommended approval. In June the council considered the plan and a possible phasing approach.
The plan will guide the council, staff and city boards and commissions in developing future policy, regulations and budget proposals for the park and downtown connections to it.
