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Parks board seeks larger parks, pump track and PROS plan in 2025 work program
Summary
Lake Stevens Parks and Recreation Planning Board presented a 2025 work program to the City Council that emphasizes a formal Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan, pursuit of larger parkland, a pump track feasibility push, and staged improvements to Eagle Ridge and the North Cove boat launch area.
The Lake Stevens Parks and Recreation Planning Board on Jan. 28 asked the City Council to adopt a 2025 work program focused on creating a formal Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan, acquiring larger park land, and pursuing new recreational features such as a pump track.
Brian Heigert, the board chair, told the council “The city is growing as we all know, and we need more park space,” and said the board would press for larger, tournament-capable fields rather than only small neighborhood parks.
The nut of the board’s proposal is funding and producing a PROS plan, which staff and board members said will set service levels, identify gaps in park offerings and guide public outreach. Jill (parks staff) said the council has budgeted funding for that work.
Board members described several near-term items: completing 30% design comments for Eagle Ridge, continuing outreach and a design RFP for the Cedarwood site, producing GIS trail layers and marketing material for city trails, and a multi-phase approach to North Cove Boat Launch improvements. The boat-launch work includes a capital-dock project expected to take three to four years and separate, sooner measures on parking striping, signage and enforcement to protect trailer spaces.
Board members and staff pushed for a pump track—a short, circuit-style track of berms and rollers used for bikes, scooters and skateboards. Brian Heigert explained, “A pump track is basically a series of berms and rollers that you pump over with your bike, or with a scooter or a skateboard, without pedaling.” Board members noted the facility can fit in about the area of two tennis courts and suggested paved construction in Lake Stevens to resist erosion from rain.
The board repeated a long-standing request to find and acquire larger park land, particularly on the city’s south side, and stressed the department’s growing capacity: “You’ve been funding us, you have been making it a priority,” Parks Board member Tina Decker said, thanking the council and staff.
Staff said the Eagle Ridge development scope is currently limited to the upland portion; the downhill route to Lundin Park will receive wayfinding and soft-surface improvements but not built development under the current project. For North Cove, staff said signage orders are already placed and police are pursuing a code change to enable parking enforcement at the launch.
The board’s proposed program was presented for council feedback and public involvement; the board will continue outreach as the PROS plan and other designs move forward.
The presentation drew repeated praise for parks staff from council members and board members, who credited staff for building the department’s capacity and for extensive public engagement.
