Lake Forest Park City Council heard a progress briefing July 10 on the lakefront park project and an updated cost estimate showing a total project cost of $12.9 million and $4.87 million in funding awarded or under contract, leaving a roughly 62% funding gap.

The update, delivered by Amber (design team presenter) with Corey (city project staff) assisting, said the project is at 70% design and that the latest construction-only estimate is about $8.9 million. When owner soft costs (design, permitting, staff time and other city expenditures) and a 10% construction contingency are included, the team estimates the full project at $12.9 million.

The reported funding picture includes $4.87 million already secured or contractually pledged, plus contingent potential funding such as up to $4 million from the King County Parks levy if the county measure passes and additional state or regional grants under consideration. The design team described a list of likely grant targets — including the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) — and said the application cycle opens in May 2026. The team noted the project received approximately $500,000 from RCO in the prior cycle, which helped carry the design work to this stage.

Project schedule and technical details led the presentation. Phase 2 began in July 2024; the team expects construction to start in 2026 and continue into 2027. Geotechnical testing identified liquefiable lake soils under portions of the site, which influenced foundation options. The design team said the dock will require deep driven piles, with a conservative design allowance of about 70-foot piles to reach nonliquefiable strata or bedrock. For buildings, the team reported it found value-engineered foundation solutions (mat slab options) that reduced the need for piling and helped lower costs between the 50% and 70% design milestones.

The presentation reviewed the public engagement record: two workshops in phase 1, two workshops and a hybrid workshop in phase 2, a public survey open June 11–July 1 that produced 74 responses, and more than 200 residents signed up for project updates on the listserv. Team members said public feedback focused on parking and circulation, preserve modifications, intensity of use, accessibility, and cost and operations.

Council members asked about mitigation, operating costs and coordination with separate infrastructure projects. The design team explained that most of the project footprint overlaps shoreline, wetland or creek buffers and that any development within those critical areas triggers mitigation requirements; removing an element from the plan can reduce mitigation obligations and costs. The team also said an operations-and-maintenance forecast is being prepared but requested council guidance on the level of detail and the planning horizon (near-term five-year model vs. multi-decade estimate), and whether to include modeled revenue from rentals.

At the end of the presentation the design team asked council for direction: proceed to 100% design as currently shown, identify selective reductions to reduce scope and cost, or direct staff to present specific bid alternates or bid additives for inclusion in the 100% contract documents. The team noted that some additions not included in the schematic design would require contract amendments to the design agreement because they were outside the current scope.

No formal motions or votes on the project occurred at the work session; the council did not take final action. The design team said it will submit the 70% progress drawings to city staff, revise plans as directed, resubmit land-use permit responses if designs change, and continue fundraising and permit work ahead of a planned bid package in spring depending on funding availability.