Realpolitiks Bellevue

The Bellevue political radar

Bellevue acting bipolar about parks

February 3rd, 2010 at Wed, 3rd, 2010 at 2:38 pm by jhicks

Bellevue has long shown a penchant for parks, but now that relationship looks more like a love-hate ordeal.

The city council last week pressed Sound Transit to study a potential light-rail line crossing Mercer Slough Nature Park (see below), a proposal that’s sure to draw the ire of environmentalists.

bellevue way LLR_MOD Layout1 (1)

Following that, the city made a series of moves this week aimed at establishing three new parks and open spaces.

The city’s parks department on Monday unveiled a draft master plan for a new 10-acre waterfront park featuring nearly a quarter mile of shoreline along Meydenbauer Bay.

The parks department also recommended plans for developing a new 27-acre park in the Eastgate business district, throwing “Bellevue Airfield Park” out there as a potential name.

Finally, the city council voted Monday to pay $3.3 million for nearly 12 acres of land in the Kelsey Creek and Newport Hills areas for preservation as open space. Funding for the acquisition will come from King County and the 2008 Bellevue parks levy.

More on this whole topic later as I talk to city officials and residents of the respective areas. If you want to share your thoughts, hit me by e-mail or on the Twitters @Reporter_Hicks.

For now, I’m off for what is billed as a three-hour tour of the BNSF rail corridor, followed by a discussion on passenger rail. Sounds dauntingly reminiscent of “Gilligan’s Island,” I know. It may be a few years before I return, and even then, it’s possible I’ll be a changed man.

Here’s a few polls to hold you over for awhile:

jhicks I'm a general-assignment staff writer for the Bellevue Reporter. On this blog you'll find the nascent political and government news items I'm working on, as well as tidbits that might never make it into the paper – in case you're that into the Bellevue scene. Boards, commissions, gavel-wielding elected officials, and anyone controlling loads of taxpayer money are fair game. Feel free to comment away and use this as a community forum. You can also follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Reporter_Hicks, or contact me via e-mail at jhicks@bellevuereporter.com or by phone at 425-453-4290.

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