Redmond parks commission lays out 2025–26 work plan; urges corridor view for East Redmond properties

The Parks, Trails and Recreation Commission presented its 2025–26 work plan to the Redmond City Council at a joint study session Tuesday, urging broader framing of the East Redmond Corridor and previewing near-term projects including a city-funded wayfinding study and expanded community gardens.

Lindsay Falkenberg, Redmond’s parks planning manager, introduced the commission and its volunteers and said the commission would share its 2025 priorities and recent accomplishments. “This hardworking and passionate group of individuals volunteers their time to provide a voice for our community, dream big, do community outreach, and advise park staff on park's projects,” Falkenberg said.

The commission identified the East Redmond Corridor — a string of park properties acquired over decades — as its top priority. Garrett Michaud, vice chair of the commission, said the corridor has been planned for years but funding and scale have slowed progress. “Volunteer work is mostly maxed out,” Michaud said, adding that the corridor may be better advanced if the city treats it as part of a transportation network rather than only a parks project.

Why it matters: Commission members said reframing the corridor as a multimodal connection could unlock additional funding sources and link underserved neighborhoods to downtown light-rail stations without using a car. Staff and commissioners emphasized the project will require phased planning and capital investment over multiple budget cycles.

Wayfinding and signage: The commission reported budgeted funds and an RFP for a consultant to develop a citywide parks-and-trails wayfinding vision. Council members were told the RFP drew 21 proposals. Stuart Hargraves, leading the subcommittee, said the review panel will consider those proposals over the next few weeks, and the selection timeline likely slips to July with anticipated council consideration in September. “The subcommittee is really looking forward to engaging with the consultant we hire…starting in the September time frame,” Hargraves said.

Youth outreach and volunteerism: Youth advocates Shalja Tayagi and Arya Navikar described a program to deliver environmental-education sessions to local elementary schools and couple classroom presentations with volunteer activities. They plan to start sessions in September 2025 and to continue volunteer events such as Arbor Day invasive-plant removal and tree-watering parties.

Community gardens and accessibility: A commission member reported an April expansion of the community gardens at Anderson Park, adding 26 plots — six ADA-accessible — and roughly 400–500 square feet of pollinator habitat. Combined with 50 plots at Jewell Park, commission presenters said Redmond now has 76 community garden plots and both gardens maintain waiting lists.

Southeast Redmond Park and other priorities: Commissioners thanked council for funding Southeast Redmond Park in the capital plan and described next steps. City staff said the design contract for Southeast Redmond Park is expected to begin when a public-works project manager becomes available, with design work anticipated to start in January.

Council response and next steps: Council members welcomed the commission’s focus on connecting parks with transportation assets downtown and suggested business-community coordination ahead of large visitor events. Several council members offered to meet with the wayfinding subcommittee and to share technical expertise. Commissioners said some corridor elements can advance through volunteer and operations budgets, but larger phases will require capital funding in future budget cycles and coordination with King County for easements.

Ending: The commission said its adopted work plan covers roughly two dozen items, including tree canopy, volunteerism, website improvements and ongoing events; commissioners emphasized the plan is a living document that will evolve with new priorities and opportunities.