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Parks board hears public comment on East Trail connections and staff notes CIP map, retirements
Summary
A preregistered resident urged better East Trail connections and expanded weekend volunteer opportunities; staff previewed an interactive CIP project map, a levy report feature, upcoming community events and recognized recent retirements in parks staff.
During oral communications, preregistered commenter Neil Hines urged the board to prioritize connections from the East Trail to nearby city parks (highlighting steep access at Newcastle Beach Park) and to broaden volunteer opportunities on weekends to help with trail maintenance and reduce operations and maintenance costs.
"I think there's a rich potential for support of Bellevue Parks in volunteer opportunities, in weekends," Hines said, encouraging outreach to organized groups.
Assistant Director Cameron Parker told the board the department has published a final parks and open space levy report and an online map of active CIP projects and that the department will feature the levy report in an upcoming edition of the city's "It's Your City" newsletter. Parker also noted community events such as the annual sheep-shearing at Kelsey Creek Farm and recognized retirements including Parks Director Michael Shiozaki and longtime recreation employee Ted Mittelstad.
Board members used the introductions portion of the meeting to welcome new council liaison Councilmember Noreen Bridal and shared priorities and enhancement ideas for parks across Bellevue, including improved lighting, interpretive signage, pop-up off-leash experiments and outreach to apartment complexes surrounding the Bel-Red area.
The board approved the meeting agenda and the January 2026 minutes by unanimous voice vote.
