Council approves design amendment to move Park at Bothell Landing into construction documentation

Council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute Amendment No. 4 to the professional services agreement with Site Workshop Landscape Architecture, allowing the Park at Bothell Landing improvements project to move from design development into construction documentation.

Aaron Milner, the parks planning and development manager, summarized years of community engagement and the conceptual design, noting key features: accessible pathways and nature trails, an inclusive playground (with synthetic surfacing for accessibility), an interactive fountain, improved water access with a boat launch, restrooms, a skate park and pump-track features, public art and lighting, and additional parking. He said the construction-documentation phase will produce technical specifications and permit-ready plans needed to start construction.

Staff discussed shoreline permitting and coordination with state and federal resource agencies; Milner said the team has already engaged Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on the boat-launch area and is proceeding cautiously with river-adjacent features. Council asked about tribal outreach; staff said they contacted affected tribes and had not yet received responses.

Funding for skate features drew specific attention. Parks staff and project partners reported that community fundraising has secured $1 million (attributed to a private donor, Rosemary McAuliffe, with an anticipated matching $1 million from King County levy funds), and that the city would likely front costs and receive reimbursements under the county levy schedule. "We've secured $1,000,000 for the skate park," staff said, with the King County levy match identified in the county funding plan.

Councilors asked about the scope of the pump-track element and confirmed that the project team is continuing to refine that feature with focused stakeholder input from groups such as Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. Staff said the skate features are likely to be included in the first construction phase because outside funding is already committed.

Why it matters: Advancing the Park at Bothell Landing to construction documentation is a key step toward building a long-awaited downtown park with multiple community amenities. Secured outside funding reduces the immediate city capital burden for selected features but requires planning for reimbursement timing and phasing.

What's next: Staff will complete construction documents, continue permitting work (including shoreline and agency coordination), pursue partnership agreements for private contributions where appropriate, and return with project schedules and reimbursement timelines.