Eastside Audubon Impacts Newly Acquired Park Uses

Juanita Beach Park was transferred from King County to the city of Kirkland in 2004. The city embarked on a master planning process to decide on what uses and activities would be in the new park.

In the spring of 2006, the draft master plan was released and we had some concerns. We addressed a long letter to the city council setting forth our issues, but since we had not been invited to be part of the planning process, we were unsure of our impact at that late date. At the council meeting where a vote was due to be taken, we had several members testify as to their concerns over certain park uses, and what the impacts would be on Juanita Bay Park, adjacent to the new Juanita Beach Park.

One issue of particular concern to many of these citizens was the proposed kayak/canoe concession. We wanted to protect birds nesting, resting and feeding in the protected area of Juanita Bay.

To our surprise and delight, the Parks Department presentation at the council meeting consisted of a short summary of the master plan, and then a reading of our letter, detailing how they would address each concern we had. And each one took our concerns seriously, and dealt with it in a manner acceptable to us.

The boating concession was an area of concern to many of the council members as well. The meeting ended with the council voting to accept the plan, with each of our concerns addressed as outlined, and with the Parks Department directed to meet with us and come up with a plan to keep boaters of all types out of Juanita Bay Park. We are currently working on that plan with the city, and are very encouraged about the eventual outcome.