An ambitious, impressive master plan for American Heroes Park was discussed at the recent Bellevue City Council meeting. Jennifer Cross, Site Design Leader for HDR, spoke to the council in detail about the numerous amenities the park could offer the community in the future. These include an observation tower, explorative play area, activity zone, event hall, performance stage, event lawn, sea wall, zip line, restrooms, shelters, and expanded parking.
As with any project this large, the first questions that arise usually involve money: “How much is it and How will it be paid for?”
Any upgrades to the park would be done in phases. According to the master plan, the estimated total cost is $31.6 million. The focus of Phase 1 is the ‘Celebration of Service’ Plaza which would include the performance stage, observation tower, additional parking lots, Kramer wall remediation, and other structures such as the event hall, restrooms, and shelter. The estimated cost of Phase 1 is $23.3 million – which could also be implemented in steps as funding comes in.
At the council meeting, City Administrator Jim Ristow said, “This is the vision of what American Heroes Park could look like. The next part of this project is… if we are in agreement that this is where we would like to go, we will work on securing funding for it. Based on the projected costs, it is a 5-8 year project. Some of the funding could come from grants, some could come from public/private partnerships, but taxes will not be raised to fund this project.”
The Heroes Event Hall was designed for all types of formal events. Clear glass walls will give views of the main lawn and stage while also allowing natural light to fill the room. The proposed hall could hold up to 200 seated guests for events such as weddings, anniversaries, reunions, and other large gatherings. It would also include a warming kitchen for catered events and two separate rooms that could be used for bridal party preparation.
During the question and answer session, concerns about potential flooding were brought up. Ristow stated, “That part of the park is not in the flood plain. There is a separate mitigation issue from where the water actually came from (in the 2019 flood). The NRD is working on a gate underneath the Highway 370 overpass which is where a lot of the water came through.”
According to the site master plan, “The activity zone will become a destination for youth, families, and the young at heart. The inclusive play environment includes large berms for rolling, climbing, imaginative play, and wide slides to race down the hills. The elevated berms provide inclusive access to the slides, play structures, as well as a cove. The incorporation of a zip-line, DJ mix stations, and a hammock grove provides a variety of use. Along the lake, a sea wall would bring visitors out over the water, providing opportunities to fish, interact with the water, or sit on an oversized swing and enjoy the views.”
When asked about where the city goes from here Ristow responded, “This plan gives us a good starting point for everything. All of the structures then become talking points. Do you want a 100-foot Observation Tower or a 50-foot Observation Tower? Do you want this type of building or do we change it? Right now this is like putting a marker on it so we have a reference point for each item when we get to it.”
City Council President Paul Cook added, “It looks good. It’s a big project. The city has to go to work now. Everyone sitting up here… now we have to get together and decide how to move forward.”
The entire American Heroes Park Conceptual Site Master Plan can be viewed here. It can also be downloaded using the Download button at the bottom of the master plan window.
All pictures are from the HDR American Heroes Park Conceptual Site Master Plan
