Lake Forest Park city staff said Thursday they will proceed with the next phase of design and permitting for the Lakefront Park project while gathering additional information about total project costs and how a proposed community center would be operated and funded.

The council’s discussion followed a July 10 work session and public outreach on the park design. City staff presented the current cost estimates and said most immediate funding needs for property acquisition and major site work are covered by grants and other sources. “We will be continuing to move forward, and we'll be back, at probably mid fall with another update,” a staff presenter said.

Why it matters: council members praised the design and the high level of community support but pressed staff for clearer, consolidated totals that include owner costs — not only construction line items — and for a realistic plan for operating the proposed community center.

Councilmember Liebow said he would like to see a “total project cost so that we can understand what the total, projected cost is. So it includes the owner cost, not just the construction cost.” Staff said they have projected owner costs but will provide a more complete consolidated estimate.

Several council members expressed concern about whether the proposed community center — a small building intended for classes and meetings with a capacity of fewer than 100 people — could be supported long term without a secure plan for staffing, programming and revenue. “Is it something that we will financially be able to support? And without sufficient parking, is it going to be a viable community center?” Liebow asked.

Other council members and staff noted the park is largely site improvements to bring an older, impacted property to public‑access standards, and that the site improvements represent the largest portion of the current budget. Councilmember Ruto said the community center’s cost is significant but smaller than the site improvements and supported moving forward with design and permitting, even if the center’s buildout or operation is phased later.

Councilmember Goldman recommended citywide attention to the pedestrian connection and safe crossing between City Hall and the lakefront park because limited parking at the park will likely mean visitors walk from nearby lots. Staff said the design includes accessible parking and a drop‑off zone and that the council will receive follow‑up work on long‑term operations and parking solutions.

Funding context: according to staff and council discussion, county and state grants covered about 80–90% of the property acquisition cost, and the city’s direct contribution reported by staff was small in relation to the overall multi‑million‑dollar project; a council member described the city’s immediate contribution as $41,000 toward a multimillion‑dollar park. Staff said remaining funding gaps are small and that some grant awards are pending official approvals.

Next steps: staff will provide a consolidated owner/total cost estimate, additional detail about likely revenue or rental models for the community center, and an update on parking and pedestrian access. Staff signaled they would return with more details in mid‑fall. No formal council vote was required; staff said they had sufficient direction to proceed with permitting and 100% design work.

The council also discussed potential revenue-generation models — including rentals and discounted rates for community partners — but did not adopt any operational policy or budget changes at the meeting.