Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Committee of the Whole recommends Cleveland Richardson Park master plan
Loading...
Summary
Parks staff presented a master plan for the 24‑acre Cleveland Richardson site and the Committee of the Whole recommended council adoption. The plan prioritizes nature preservation, ADA‑accessible loop trails and reuse of the farmhouse; construction is estimated at $10.5–$12.5 million, excluding Talbot roadway improvements.
Betsy Sivertson, capital projects manager with the Parks and Recreation Department, presented the Cleveland Richardson Park master plan to the Committee of the Whole and said staff recommend the full City Council adopt the plan and support next steps toward implementation.
Sivertson said the city acquired the 24‑acre Cleveland family farm in 1995 for conservation and park development and that the site fills a major park‑access gap for South Renton. The preferred plan concentrates more active uses at the east end of the site while preserving central and western areas for nature appreciation, with an emphasis on loop trails that are designed to be ADA accessible.
"We cannot recommend opening this park without the installation of walkways on Talbot. It's unsafe to do so otherwise," Sivertson said, adding that Parks and Transportation will coordinate Talbot Road South design with the park project.
Sivertson said assessments found the farmhouse in relatively good condition (leased and maintained) while the barn needs more work. She cautioned that state grant funds used to acquire the property restrict allowable park buildings: grant rules typically allow caretaker or ranger residences, administrative or maintenance facilities, but not public community centers, and making the house fully public would trigger additional building‑code upgrades.
Consultants estimate construction of the park at about $10.5–$12.5 million; that figure excludes the Talbot roadway and walkway elements needed to open the park safely. Parks staff said the project is eligible for multiple grants (including King County’s Water Works program and recent Ecology opportunities) and that grant matches and the upcoming biennium budget will be important to the plan’s funding outlook.
The Committee of the Whole asked about community gardens and pest management, caretaker costs and options for honoring the site’s farming and Indigenous histories; Sivertson said detailed design will consider interpretive elements, building uses and an operations/security presence. After discussion the committee recommended concurrence with staff’s recommendation and to adopt the corresponding resolution on the council agenda. Staff said they will bring a contract amendment to the Finance Committee early next month and return to the council for final adoption.
Next steps: staff will advance Talbot roadway design and regulatory agency engagement, pursue grant opportunities this summer and return to the council with a resolution and contract amendment for the project.
