|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2023
City of Kenmore Communications
communications@kenmorewa.gov
425-398-8900
KENMORE, Wash. – On May 6, 2023, the City of Kenmore hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of the ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis (Tl’ awh-ah-dees) Park Waterfront & Natural Open Space Access Project and recognize the park's official name change. The event garnered a strong turnout, including civic leaders, city staff, contributing artists, and a large crowd of community members who gathered in the new waterfront plaza overlooking the Sammamish Slough. The event celebrated the many new park improvements that provide habitat improvements for fish and wildlife and also increase public access to the water.
Guest speakers during the event included City of Kenmore Mayor Nigel Herbig; King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski; Washington State Senator Derek Stanford; Washington State Representative Davina Duerr; Washington State Representative Shelley Kloba; and City of Kenmore Parks Project Manager Maureen Colaizzi, who successfully managed the project from start to finish.
"In my role I have had the opportunity to see a lot of aquisitions of open spaces and parks, and in my time I don't think I have ever seen a park this beautiful," said King County Councilmember Rob Dembowski. "I hope you will pause to look and listen to the wildlife and nature because it really connects you. That's what this park is about and that's what the vision of Kenmore and its residents is about. It's about reconnecting this city and its community to the water."
"The efforts here at ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis Park are years long in the making and I have often looked at Kenmore and thought there is something really special happening here," said Washington State Representative Davina Duerr. "It's a little city, but the synergy between your elected officials, city staff, and residents is really bar none and you get amazing things done here in Kenmore. Thank you for providing this park and destination."
Local artists who contributed to the project were also highlighted during the ceremony. Ty Juvinel, a Coast Salish Carver and Artist from the Tulalip Tribe, was recognized for his painted mural,"Salmon Scarcity", with cedar posts, and stunning blue aluminum spindle whorl attached to the lagoon bridge. Public Artist Jennifer Dixon was recognized for her work creating the signature “BirdBlinds” artwork, which cast delightful, decorative shadows across the park.
The Waterfront & Natural Open Space Access Project at ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis (Tl’ awh-ah-dees) Park, approved by voters through the 2016 Walkways and Waterways bond measure, improves access to the water while restoring native vegetation for wildlife habitat. The project site includes improvements that renovate riparian and salmon habitat along the Swamp Creek Shoreline, create new wetland, and increase native vegetation. Over four acres of invasive species were removed and over 15,000 new native plants and 5,000 new native trees were planted throughout the the park project area.
In addition to environmental enhancements and protections, the project includes new amenities for public access and recreation. Amenities include pedestrian bridges and viewing decks, accessible pathways, a watercraft wash-down station, elevated boardwalks, nature paths, a community gathering plaza and picnic shelter, kayak storage, launching facilities for hand carry watercraft, a public restroom and parking lot.
In April 2021, the Kenmore City Council approved a name change from Squire’s Landing Park to ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis (Tl’ awh-ah-dees) Park, the name of the Lushootseed village previously located in or near present-day downtown Kenmore. ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis translates to “a place where something is grown or sprouts” and honors the Coast Salish People who originally inhabited the area and the many Indigenous Peoples who still reside here. The name was recommended by the Kenmore Heritage Society, Ray Fryberg (Tulalip Tribes), and Iissaaksiichaa Ross Braine (Kenmore Resident /Apsaalooke Nation).
After the ceremony, the Kenmore Waterfront Activities Center (KWAC) hosted a Waterfront Activities Fair in the park that was open to the public and provided opportunities to try hand-powered water sports, including canoeing, kayaking, and dragon boating. KWAC has partnered with the City to provide a variety of ongoing programming and activities that support access to the water. KWAC will provide scholarships for those wishing to participate.
Thank you to the project team and partners, lead by City of Kenmore Parks Project Manager, Maureen Colaizzi: Strider Construction Co., Inc. with Boulder Creek Landscape Construction, Osborn Consultant Inc. with KBA Inc., Mott MacDonald LLC with J.A. Brennan Associates PLLC, Confluence Environmental Inc., Tree Solutions Inc., Landau Associates Inc., Davido Consulting Group, Jennifer Dixon, Kenmore Heritage Society with the Burke Museum and Ty Juvinel.
ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis (Tl’ awh-ah-dees) Park is located at 7515 NE 175th Street in Kenmore, Washington.
 Photos by Marv Heston
See more City of Kenmore news: www.kenmorewa.gov/news
Si gusta communicarse con la ciudad de Kenmore o revisar un documento en otro idioma, envíe su solicitud con su información de contacto a cityhall@kenmorewa.gov o llame al 425-398-8900.
|
