Park Planning

Highway 2 Bypass Temporary Trail StudyWestern Washington Presentation

Western Washington University (WWU) students participating in Sustainable Communities Program concluded the program’s coursework with a presentation to City of Monroe’s Park Board February 20, 2020.  The student’s studied the City’s proposed temporary trail within the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) US 2 Bypass right-of-way, between Chain Lake Road to the east and eastern edge of Snohomish County Fairgrounds.  The Program provided an opportunity for students to use the Trail project to gain experience working on an actual project with real-world conditions and clients.   

The three reports will assist City staff in developing a conceptual site plan to be used in future discussions with WSDOT. For more information, email Mike Farrell.

Their reports may be found here:

Lake Tye Park and Cadman Master Plans 

In early 2018, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department completed long range master planning work for an existing park, Lake Tye Park, and future city park, Cadman Site.  HBB Landscape Architects of Seattle served as the City’s consultant in this effort.  The plans were developed from an extensive public involvement process where the community provided a vision for the future of these parks.

The planning process began in 2017 and included a robust public outreach effort where the community, Park Board, and City Council participated in developing plans and designs to incorporating surrounding community values, celebrating the unique context of each site.  The Lake Tye Park and Cadman Final Master Plans were approved by the Monroe City Council, winter 2019.

One of the signature planning elements strongly recommended by the community was the Lake Tye All Weather Fields Project (Lake Tye Project). Project completion occurred in late July 2021, with a grand opening ceremony on August 5th, 2021. More information about the completed project can be found on the Capital Projects page. 

North Hill Park Acquisition

North Hill Park Location

The City of Monroe has taken steps to acquire 5 acres of land to develop into a public neighborhood park in the City’s rapidly-developing North Hill Area of Monroe, and have recently completed purchase of the property.  In addition, the City received notification that the State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board (RCFB) awarded grants for 2020 applicants during their June 30 meeting, with the City of Monroe receiving a $1 million grant award for the property acquisition. Learn more about Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. 

Because of planned development, rapid growth and the resulting underserved population, acquiring parkland in this area has been listed as a high priority in our Parks, Recreation & Open Space (PROS) plans for over a decade.  Our current PROS Plan states that it is critical to reach the City’s Level of Service Objective in the North Hill area of town. In August 2020, the Monroe City Council authorized Mayor Thomas to sign a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the 5 acre acquisition, located at the southwest corner of 191st Ave & 134th St. Staff applied for $1 million State RCO Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program Grant to help fund the acquisition, appraised at $1.3 million, with the remaining $300,000 budgeted within the Parks Capital Improvement Project fund. For more information, read about the North Hill Park Story. Next steps include seeking additional grant funding to support design (with public input) and development of a park.  

Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan UpdatePark Planning

Washington State’s Growth Management Act (GMA) requires local governments develop and adopt comprehensive plans and include a parks and recreation element.  In order to be eligible for state grant funding, it must be updated every six years.  The City of Monroe’s Parks Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan serves as the city’s parks and recreation element.  It provides long-term guidance to City of Monroe in planning the City’s future, identifying ways that parks, facilities, trails, and programs can enhance community livability, meet the needs of new growth, increase economic impacts, protect trees and other natural resources, and maximize the City’s investments for its residents.  

The City of Monroe has kicked-off the project with contracted consultant firm MIG of Seattle; and have begun the inventory and assessment phases.  

To date, MIG have been collecting inventory information, background, planning documents and are creating a GIS parks, trails, open spaces & facilities base map.  Parks staff have led the consultants on a physical tour of our parks and trails.  MIG conducted an introductory project goals and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) Analysis in a joint Park Board/Planning Commission Zoom meeting on Monday, September 14, 2020.  View the presentation from the meeting. This will be followed by individual Stakeholder and Key Leader Videoconference Interviews to be scheduled during October.

The entire planning process has four phases:  Inventory, Assessment, Strategies, and Action Plan and is expected to be completed December 2021. There will be several public outreach and survey opportunities to get our community’s important input to shape the priorities of the plan.

For more information, email Mike Farrell.