Creating and Maintaining Bellevue’s Parks & Trails
Have you ever wondered how the parks and trails we use came to be there?
When this thought occurred to me, I decided to contact Bellevue Parks and Community Services and ask them.
Information that I was provided both illuminated and shocked me. I had never taken the time to think of the entire park system all at once and the planning and work it took to make it useful to the public. Following are some of the interesting details provided by Bellevue that detail the operation of a city-wide park system.
Bellevue parks system was formed with two defining principles.
“First, to create an open space system of impressive natural habits that complement the urban landscape; and second to provide access to a variety of parks and recreational experiences for all residents. The Lake to Lake Trail system was created in the 1970’s as a way to link major parks within the system with connecting greenways across the city. Blueberry farms are maintained to memorialize and preserve Bellevue’s agricultural heritage. “
Bellevue oversees and maintains 78 developed parks, 6 beach parks and 98 miles of trails. In total 12 percent of the city land mass, nearly 2800 acres is devoted to the park system including nearly 2000 acres of natural open space. The network of facilities includes 44 playgrounds, 100 garden plots, 13 picnic shelters, 64 sport courts, 38 sport fields, 2 golf courses a boat launch, a marina, plus 4 major community centers. Special use functions include Robinswood Tennis Center, an aquatic center, youth theaters, 2 golf courses, Kelsey Creek farm, watercraft rentals, the Bellevue Botanical Garden, Art Center, Lewis Creek visitor center, and 2 U-pick blueberry fields with their associated fruit stands.
Operation and maintenance budget for 2019 was 19.8 million dollars. This budget is supplemented by voter approved funds for specific capital purposes. Bellevue parks are funded by the general fund (sales tax, property taxes and utilities tax) and plus special levies as needed. Over 100,000 volunteer hours were donated last year including over 18,000 hours at the Bellevue Botanical Garden plus over 16,000 volunteer hours for trails and planting. These volunteer hours help to keep trails and facilities maintained plus offer special events which help provide great park experiences at a minimal cost.
Some of the special events offered by the city include 4th of July fireworks, Lake to Lake Bike Ride, Movies in the park, ice skating, and nature hikes.
Bellevue also distributes brochures to advertise programs and upcoming events and activities, plus a variety of maps and brochures to detail park features. The park rental program for features like athletic fields and picnic shelters is popular. Maintaining their own web site, https//bellevuewa.gov/city-government/department/parks helps get the word out on upcoming park events.
Operating the park system is not a static and repetitive occupation either. Light rail entering the city impacted both private and park property and the city needed to help in the planning and negotiation needed to minimize negative impact to park use. New access and parking for use of the parks needed review and new park space created to replace park land used for the project
Bellevue seems to do a better job than most cities as they have been recognized as a one of only 169 nationally accredited parks department and have been a gold metal recipient from the National Recreation and Park Association. Some of the most popular parks in Bellevue include Downtown Park, Crossroads Park, Robinswood Park, Lake to Lake Trail, and Bellevue Botanical Garden.
If you have not used one of Bellevue’s parks recently, make a point to give it a try.
