Calkins Landing Park & Beach: Clearing Up Misconceptions
from City of Mercer Island
We understand there’s some confusion, and perhaps misinformation, about the planning process and attributes of the remodeled Calkins Landing Park. Here are the actual facts. [Note: This is not about Calkins Point which is at Luther Burbank Park.]
Many staff, volunteers, consultants, and regional experts worked hard on this project.
Feel free to contact me with follow-up questions or suggestions for the 'break-in' period.
The SHORT Version
Primary motivations for the remodel: a) Slowing stormwater so that it can filter before reaching the lake; b) Reducing shoreline hardening & improving habitat by removing the concrete bulkhead; c) Providing access further into the park for disabled users and wheelchairs; d) Improving the quality of the landscape with dense native plantings, and improved habitat for pollinators and birds.
The LONG Version
Usage: We have already witnessed or heard from many satisfied paddleboarders and kayakers, and various other new users who are pleased with the finished product. They're just not posting on Next Door...
Space: By working with neighbors on encroachments, the City was able to ‘reclaim’ a ten foot swath of park space along each boundary.
Vegetation: Part of the hedge was indeed removed on the south boundary, but it has been replaced with dense plantings of trees and shrubs that will block the view into the adjoining property in the next few years. Note that the homeowner declined the City’s offer to extend the fence along the entire property line.
Stormwater Drainage: The stormwater swale (and the installation of the large pre-settling vault in the parking area) serves to filter pollutants, silt, and garbage out of street runoff before it reaches Lake WA. Cleaner runoff leads to a cleaner, clearer lake and healthier fish populations. The size of the swale was dictated by the amount of stormwater that runs off during the winter storms. The impact to the park was minimized as much as possible; plantings along the swale provide filtration.
More Seating: The City is interested in adding a bench closer to water – waiting for a donation.
Beach Quality: This was not sand before construction, but slightly smaller gravel. As a condition of our permit with WDFW, we had to add added gravels that are fish-approved (for spawning and feeding) and the specifications on this are very tight. We did not alter any part of the beach from the Ordinary High Water Mark down into the water.
Cost: It was not 1 million dollars, but rather $380K, *entirely* funded by King County Flood Control District’s Opportunity Fund, from design through construction.
Public Input: A public meeting was held Sept 2013 to solicit feedback on the preliminary design of the project and much feedback was incorporated. Neighbors within a 300 foot radius of the site were sent a mailer about the meeting, and the MI Reporter and MI Weekly advertised the meeting widely.
Trees: At the public meeting, the City received many requests to cut down the large horsechesnut trees due to the spiky (painful) fruits that dropped on the lawn. The City also decided to remove the large cottonwood tree since those often shed large limbs during the summer months, presenting a safety hazard to park users.
Enjoy your parks!