Celebrate the Kangs at Council!, Get Engaged: Transportation Connections Workshop, 132nd Square Park, State of the City and more!

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this week in kirkland

June 12, 2019

city of kirkland washington

Join us at the Transportation Connections Workshop this Saturday

The City of Kirkland encourages you to attend a Transportation Connections Workshop this Saturday, June 15 from 9 to 11 a.m. at City Hall. 

The Transportation Connections Workshop will focus on the creation of a City-wide Transportation Connections Map and the development of Safer Routes to School Action Plans for all Lake Washington School District schools in Kirkland. Please view the two short videos below for more information on these topics. 

The final result of the City-wide Transportation Connections Map will be a transportation network that improves access for firefighters and police officers, traffic flow for those driving or bicycling throughout Kirkland, and community connectivity for those on foot or with mobility assistance devices.

Citywide Transportation Connections Map Video

City staff is currently working to develop a “Safer Routes to School Action Plan” for each public elementary, middle, and high school in Kirkland as a part of the City’s 2019-2020 Work Program. Staff are working in partnership with the Lake Washington School District, law enforcement, design professionals, students, parents and neighborhoods to identify key steps to make walking, biking and riding the bus to school safer, more convenient and fun.

Safer Routes to School Video

Join us on June 18 to Congratulate the Kangs!

Join the City Council during their Tuesday, June 18 meeting to congratulate the Lake Washington High School "Kangs" varsity baseball team on their 3A state championship. Coaches and team members will be in attendance that evening to receive a proclamation and recognition from the City Council for their achievements. 

Lake Washington High School varsity baseball team

Creativity is Ageless

The 11th annual Kirkland Senior Council “Creativity is Ageless” art show premiered on Thursday, June 6 at Merrill Gardens Kirkland with a vibrant display of whimsical driftwood, beautiful woven cedar, compelling watercolor, oil and acrylic paintings, stunning photography and much more!

Art lovers who were unable to attend opening night can still catch the show! Stop by Merrill Gardens (14 Main Street S. in downtown Kirkland) from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week and on weekends to view the exhibit, which is free to browse and offers over 60 pieces of original art.

The exhibit includes a tribute to founding Kirkland Senior Council member Lt. Col. Art Mussman, who passed away in December of 2018. In honor of his memory, the show features a portrait painted by his daughter, Anne Mussman Vitolo, and original photography by his son, Michael Mussman.

Art served on the Kirkland Senior Council for roughly 17 years and was a veteran of the United States Air Force, with 25 years of service. He loved the City of Kirkland, said Anne, and after retirement from his second career at Boeing, became passionate about serving his community.

Anne traveled to Kirkland from Woodland Hills, California to participate in the opening night festivities. Her brother Michael, who lives in Renton, accompanied her to the show.

Senior Council Art Show

Join us at the 132nd Square Park Master Plan Update Open House

You're invited to an Open House for the 132nd Square Master Plan on Thursday, June 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 13220 NE 132nd Street. The evening will begin with a brief overview of three potential concepts for the park, designed to reflect feedback and data collected from the community during three previously held community events and through an online survey. Issues such as additional parking, park character, and tree maintenance have surfaced. Other priorities include small scale park improvements such as expanded paths, an improved restroom, and the addition of disc golf. Following the presentation, there will be break out stations that will explore topics such as synthetic turf, lighting, parking and stormwater.

In 2015 the Parks and Community Services Capital Improvement Program (CIP) included a playfield renovation project for 132nd Square Park. This project was consistent with priorities in the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS Plan) and recommended by the Park Board. Public Works simultaneously applied for a State Department of Ecology (DOE) grant for stormwater improvements at 132nd Square Park and was given a contingent grant award of $2.5 million. Heavy rains and snowmelt can overwhelm the Totem Lake and Juanita Basin drainage system, resulting in flooded streets, sidewalks, and homes. The 132nd Square stormwater project aims to reduce the amount of stormwater that flows into Totem Lake, and to filter out many of the pollutants that drain with it.

 In January 2018, the stormwater grant funding became available and staff began analyzing the opportunity to combine that project with playfield renovation. Combining the projects would create economies of scale and cost savings because the stormwater project requires extensive excavation and restoration of the entire field area. Since the stormwater project also involves the installation of an underground vault, the impervious surface calculations and vault construction could also meet the stormwater requirements for the synthetic turf.  Permitting, bidding, construction and administration could all be combined for a more efficient project while addressing multiple infrastructure needs.  The stormwater project is scheduled to begin construction in spring of 2020.

More information and an online comment opportunity can be found on the project website at

http://bit.ly/132ndSquarePark.

132nd Square Park Open House Invite

Upcoming Events

state of the city with Mayor Penny Sweet
 

State of the City with Mayor Penny Sweet

City Hall, 123 5th Ave, Kirkland

Thursday, June 13, 7-9 p.m. 

Community members will have the opportunity to hear about the latest updates on the City Council’s Work Program for 2019-2020. After the presentation, attendees can ask questions and engage in a dialogue with the Mayor and the City Manager. This event will be shown live on the City Facebook page. 


Neighborhood map

Neighbor to Neighbor Workshop for Market, Norkirk, and Highlands neighborhoods 

Wednesday, June 19, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

City Hall Peter Kirk Room 

The evening will include separate group discussions for the Market, Norkirk, and Highlands neighborhoods and Market Street Corridor. Participants will discuss a variety of topics that will shape the future of these neighbors. Neighborhood plans establish the long range vision for each neighborhood over the next 20 years, define how that neighborhood or corridor might best manage traffic, meet predicted household and job growth, and incorporate vital services in context with the citywide goals and policies in the Comprehensive Plan.

For more information visit the project webpage (see 2019 update), sign up for email announcements, or participate in the online survey from June 1 to June 30


Sustainability Master Plan
 

Sustainability Forum

Saturday, June 22, 9 a.m. to  12 p.m. 

City Hall

The City is creating a Sustainability Master Plan to coordinate all of the City’s efforts of environmental, economic, and social sustainability. At the Sustainability Forum, you'll have the opportunity to brainstorm actions the City might undertake to support sustainability in Kirkland. To learn more please watch this video. You can also take our online survey to help inform the Sustainability Master Plan. 

Questions about the Forum? Please feel free to contact David Wolbrecht at 425-587-3011 or dwolbrecht@kirklandwa.gov.


Summer Sundays
 

Summer Sundays on Park Lane

Every Sunday June 2-September 22, 7 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Park Lane

All are invited to shop, stroll and dine on Park Lane in a car-free environment. Come down and enjoy the charming ambiance of a Summer Sunday!


Juanita Friday Market
 

Juanita Friday Market

Every Friday June 7 to Sept. 27, 3 to 7 p.m.

Juanita Beach Park, 9703 N.E. Juanita Drive

A twelve-year Kirkland tradition, the Juanita Friday Market features fresh produce from local farmers, artisanal breads and desserts, locally-made honey, hot food, cut flowers, sustainable skin care products, hand-crafted jewelry, candles, natural soap, local art and much more. The weekly series is set against the stunning backdrop of Juanita Beach Park, which offers sandy shoreline, restrooms, swimming and a children’s play area.

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