Duval unveils 30% design for expanded Big Rock park: new multiuse field, trails, parking and turf conversion

City staff and consultants gave a 30% design update on Jan. 6 for a major expansion of Big Rock park that increases the project footprint to roughly 38 acres and adds recreational diversity and infrastructure while minimizing wetland impacts. Michael Faulkner of Bruce Stevens & Associates described the plan as the community-preferred "balanced option": keep and improve the three existing fields (including converting Field 3 to turf), add a new 330-by-195-foot multiuse field, expand parking to about 255 stalls, and build trail connections, picnic shelters, restrooms and smaller amenity features such as pump and play tracks and a splash pad.

Faulkner said the revised layout came after a 2022 master-plan process with 752 survey responses and the later purchase of adjacent parcels that allowed designers to spread amenities across a larger site. "We had fairly strong preference towards the more balanced option," he said, noting the design seeks to protect wetlands and mature trees while expanding recreation options such as volleyball, basketball/pickleball conversion and an expanded playground area. Staff estimated restroom capacity should roughly double (to 8–10 fixtures) to meet peak field demand (estimated peak users 400–600 across simultaneous field use).

Public Works Director Steve Lanschevsky said the city recently received a $1,700,000 King County Conservation Futures grant that funds approximately 75% of two parcels included in the phase 2 expansion. Lanschevsky and consultants stressed that wetland areas would be buffered and boardwalks used where necessary to limit environmental impact. Parking and circulation changes include a new entry, internal loop drive and a secondary exit; consultants said the design avoided adding an excessive amount of new impervious surface while meeting trip-generation and field-support needs.

Councilors and community members raised practical questions about wetland conditions (ephemeral versus permanent), reservability and prioritization of new amenities, and how the proposed maintenance and operations center would interact with peak-event parking. Staff said the M&O area could provide overflow parking when not in active use and that detailed scheduling and rental policies would return to council for approval. Michael Faulkner noted orientation and sun angles limit some layout flexibility but recommended batter’s-eye screening, outfield fence treatments and tree buffers to reduce sun/glare impacts for players.

Next steps include further design refinement, coordination on permitting and environmental review, and advancing toward construction funding with the public engagement and grant milestones discussed. The King County grant and community support position the project to move into more detailed engineering and phased implementation planning.