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Kent advances parks work: Townsquare Plaza design consultant, coordinated Uplands spray-park planning and prefabricated restroom for East Hill North
Summary
Council authorized a consultant agreement to redesign Townsquare Plaza in coordination with a new spray park at Uplands, and approved purchase of a prefabricated self-contained restroom for East Hill North Park due to infeasible sewer extensions. Staff said the Townsquare fountain is deteriorating and coordination will preserve downtown water-play
The Committee of the Whole approved staff recommendations to move forward on several parks projects, including hiring a consultant to redesign Townsquare Plaza, coordinating that design with a new spray park at Uplands, and purchasing a prefabricated self-contained restroom for East Hill North Park.
Townsquare and Uplands: Kyle Woods, parks planning and development director, said the existing Townsquare fountain is roughly 20 years old and has become costly and unreliable to maintain. The Uplands Spray Park project, supported by grant awards including a National Park Service grant, will provide a purpose-built water-play feature; staff recommended aligning Townsquare Plaza planning with Uplands to preserve a high-quality downtown gathering space while moving water-play amenities to Uplands.
Woods recommended contracting with J.A. Brennan PLLC to lead concept through construction for the Townsquare redesign; council authorized the mayor to sign the consultant services agreement subject to final terms acceptable to the parks director and city attorney. Woods said public engagement will be part of the design process and the plaza should support farmers-market events and flexible public use.
East Hill North restroom: Woods also described a site at East Hill North Park (130 Second and 216th NE) where sewer connection is not feasible because of elevation and distance to existing infrastructure and wetlands on both sides of a ridge. Parks proposed a prefabricated self-contained restroom (GreenFlush Technologies) that stores sewage in a holding tank and can be served by a Vactor truck under King County Board of Health Code. The council authorized goods-and-services procurement with GreenFlush Technologies, subject to final terms approved by staff.
Why it matters: The projects aim to preserve downtown vibrancy, provide upgraded family-friendly water play facilities and deliver permanent restroom service at a remote park site without the cost of extending sewer mains or installing pump stations.
Council questions focused on public engagement, potential overlap with nearby play areas, maintenance and service logistics for the holding-tank restroom, and the cost tradeoffs of sewer extension versus prefabricated solutions.
