Meydenbauer Bay Park Expansion Project
The Meydenbauer Bay Park expansion project is reaching the last round of 2024 engagement. We’re excited to share the latest designs that evolved out of the 2010 Meydenbauer Bay Park and Land Use Plan, community feedback, city, park and open space needs.
We encourage you to watch the Community Webinar and Q&A (question and answer) session to learn more. The survey will be available from November 7 to December 15, 2024.
This presentation by City of Bellevue and Berger Partnership, shared at the November 2024 Community Webinar, explores designs for the Meydenbauer Bay Park expansion project.
See the Meydenbauer Bay Park Phase 2 expansion project engagement timeline below:
Background
Meydenbauer Bay Park - established by King County in the 1930’s and incorporated into the City of Bellevue in 1953 - is one of the community’s oldest parks and has protected public access to Lake Washington for almost 100 years.
The video below shows how Meydenbauer Bay Park, an iconic Bellevue waterfront destination, has evolved over time.
On December 13, 2010, the Bellevue City Council adopted the Meydenbauer Bay Park and Land Use Plan as a guiding document for the expansion of the park. In 2019, the first phase of the expansion of Meydenbauer Bay Park was completed and included a range of new amenities including an expanded beach, a children's playground, a pedestrian pier, a public bath house, expanded parking, and much more.
The Park and Land Use Plan lays the groundwork for the future of the park
The Meydenbauer Bay Park and Land Use plan, adopted by City Council in 2010, was instrumental in completing Phase 1 of Meydenbauer Bay Park’s expansion and will continue to serve as a guiding document for the Phase 2 design process.
The plan includes 12 planning principles which address the visitor experience and considers park priorities. These principles are:
Remarkable and Memorable Shoreline Experience: Provide a remarkable and memorable shoreline experience.
Spectrum of Activities: Provide visitors with a wide range of activities and experiences.
Complementary Land Uses: Ensure areas adjacent to the park create an inviting and pedestrian-oriented transition into the park itself.
Increased Physical and Visual Access: Increase visual access and cues from downtown to encourage the public to access the park.
Pedestrian Priority: Improve the pedestrian connection between downtown and the water, with safety in mind.
Economic Vitality: Support local businesses by creating a welcoming downtown environment for employees, residents and visitors.
Superior Design: Ensure a high-quality design for landscape, streetscape, and architecture both in and around the park.
Environmental Stewardship: Respect the park’s sensitive waterfront setting, and explore opportunities to improve water quality and shoreline characteristics.
History: Reflect the bay and park’s unique heritage through art, interpretive materials/programs, and by preserving historic structures.
Neighborhood Enhancement and Protection: Revitalize older neighborhoods while minimizing impacts on nearby residents.
Coordinated Planning Process: Plan with park master plan and land use plan in close coordination.
Commitment to Implement: Fulfill the vision
These planning principles establish a framework of priorities and constraints which reflect the sentiment of the community prior to 2010. We realize, however, that it is important to examine these priorities, and their impact on the Phase 2 expansion, in the context of the Bellevue of today. The map below shows the expansion area:
The map below shows the areas of the park yet to be expanded:
The Grand Connection, forging new paths
This project will serve as the western-most terminus of the Grand Connection. The Grand Connection is Bellevue’s signature downtown place-making initiative, and functions as a series of cohesive, connected, and memorable spaces and pedestrian-focused experiences through the heart of downtown Bellevue. Meydenbauer Bay Park is the last stop of the Grand Connection and is considered a major pedestrian draw for the area. The next phase of the expansion will include pedestrian-focused considerations in alignment with the Grand Connection’s goals.
Learn about the design process
As we explored community priorities and needs, our initial outreach and survey found that people generally wanted the expansion to make the park more accessible. Suggestions included making the physical space easier to navigate by reducing the steepness where possible and adding parking accommodations. Many people also expressed a desire for more recreation, vendor options, and community-oriented spaces that offer weather protection and new opportunities.
From Fall 2023 to Summer 2024, park planners aimed to balance the Meydenbauer Bay Park and Land Use Plan framework with a wide array of new community needs and conditions. The next outreach opportunity explored community feedback on specific amenities and features unique to different areas of the park. The areas of focus are the corner of 99th Ave SE, Whaler Plaza, Marina, Shoreline, Lake Washington Blvd NE, Kite Site and 100th Ave SE, more clearly shown below:
Explore each park area
Kite Site and 100th Ave SE
The Kite Site and 100th Ave SE, named after its similar shape to a flying kite, offers many different opportunities. Proposed Kite Site improvements include:
- New parking
- An iconic pavilion at Main Street and 100th Ave SE
- Views of Meydenbauer Bay and the Cascades
- A plaza and covered gathering space
- Integrated water elements such as art, simple fountains, or small streams
- An accessible walkway that connects to the street, parking levels, and the shore
- Planting and trees integrated into the pedestrian experience
- Parking spaces that will be mostly screened from pedestrian view
- Places to sit, rest, and gather
- Traffic calming and pedestrian improvements to 100th Ave SE and Lake Washington Blvd NE
Shoreline Promenade
The shoreline experience keeps the priorities of the 2010 plan alive, emphasizes pedestrian connection, the beautiful surroundings, and amazing park experiences. Proposed Shoreline improvements include:
- A pedestrian experience connecting the Kite Site, the shore, and the existing park
- Universally accessible ramp bringing people over the water and down to the shore, called the Bay Connector
- Seating areas
- Improved nearshore habitat including improved salmon habitat
- Continued emergency and maintenance access
- Unloading and accessible parking near the existing Whaling Building
- Improved non-motorized watercraft access to the beach
Whaler Plaza
There is a historic Whaling Building near the shoreline. This building, and the associated new plaza, creates another space for gathering. The Whaling Building already houses a kayak rental vendor (REI Boathouse) that is expected to remain. Park redevelopment is also considering for this space:
- A "welcome station" to the park with maps of the area and a ranger station providing information about programs and amenities
- Beach amenity rentals (for example umbrellas or sand toys)
- A small museum of the history of the site
Marina
The Marina and Bay Connector balances maritime heritage with the need for more accessible and sustainable waterfront experiences. The design proposal recommends:
- A sloped walkway called the ‘Bay Connector’ providing access from the Kite Site to the Shoreline Promenade.
- Removing one of three piers of monthly moorage slips, moorage, to create more public access to the water and improve environmental nearshore habitat.
- More public access to the Whaling Building pier, including relocated public slips, and new amenities for personal non-motorized watercrafts (such as a floating dock, air pumps, and locker access).
99th Ave SE Corner
99th Ave SE continues to be the primary access for loading at the marina and beach. The park corner at 99th Ave SE is re-envisioned with stairs and paths for easier pedestrian access down the hill. Improvements include more play elements and additional seating and shade. No enclosed building or additional parking is proposed at this time.
Lake Washington Blvd NE
Bicycle and pedestrian connection improvements along the south side of Lake Washington Blvd NE are proposed to improve citywide connections. Phase 2 park improvements will include park property street frontage improvements. Utilities and Transportation have ongoing and interim and planned future improvements for Lake Washington Blvd NE.
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Take Survey
The goal of the Meydenbauer Bay Park expansion is to create enhanced connections between Bellevue’s downtown, the waterfront, and the existing park. This project is guided by the 2010 Park and Land Use Plan and planning and implementation principles, the current budget and permitting realities, and community feedback collected over the past two years.
This survey explores the full expansion area. Construction will take place in phases based on city priorities and feasibility. Considering previous community feedback, the Kite Site and 100th Ave SE area is the initial focus for the next phase of construction.
Explore the Phase 2 park expansion areas.
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