| NEWS 16-060 | Contacts:
Toni Droscher, State Parks,
(360) 902-8604
Janet Farness, Friends of Lake Sammamish, (425) 577-3657
|
Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park spearheaded initiative, funding to develop all-access playground
OLYMPIA – Oct. 3, 2016 – The Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park (FLSSP) and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invite the public to celebrate the grand opening of the park’s new all-access playground.
The celebration begins at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 15, at the new playground area, located near the Sunset Beach Bathhouse in Lake Sammamish State Park, 2000 N.W. Sammamish Rd., Issaquah. (Directions:
https://goo.gl/maps/BrLtHDV93A32).
The first 50 children—ages 4 through 10—who arrive will be given souvenir scissors to help cut the ribbon. Radio personalities from Warm 106.9 FM, will be the masters of ceremony for the event. Refreshments will be served, courtesy of FLSSP in appreciation for the donor and community support.
Playground features
The new playground is designed for children ages 2 to 12 years old and incorporates rubber surfacing throughout to accommodate accessibility for all, from strollers to wheelchairs.
The 10,000 square-foot playground features nine structures, including:
- An 8-foot-tall great blue heron that greets visitors to the playground plaza
- Toadstools and a mushroom house with a slide for younger children
- A 12-foot-tall mountain climb with “Issaquah Mining Company” mine shaft (and nuggets to discover), made out of glass fiber reinforced custom concrete
- A 17-foot tall clubhouse with tree stumps for climbing and spiral slides
- A rotating (or spinning) net climbing apparatus
- A 75-feet-long zip line
- Swings and slides
- A music station with talking tubes and 10-foot-tall chimes
- Perimeter concrete paving with benches, tables and chess table
- A donation boulder and plaque to acknowledge those who donated $1,000 or more
Construction on the playground began in June, and the majority of the work was completed in August.
Funding for the $1.1 million project came from several sources, including a Department of Commerce Local and Community Projects grant. Part of the Commerce grant-matching requirement was made possible by donations from and gathered by the Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park. The non-profit volunteer group raised $250,000 from individuals, corporations, foundations and local service clubs.
In-kind donations of gravel, topsoil, irrigation parts, surveying and engineering also helped move the project forward. Volunteers put in hundreds of hours assembling the playground equipment. In addition, volunteers will be adding the finishing touches with plantings in a rain garden and surrounding landscaping.
The grand opening event is free, but those arriving by car must have an annual $30 Discover Pass or a $10 day-use pass. (More information at www.discoverpass.wa.gov.) For more information about the event, contact Janet Farness, FLSSP, (425) 577-3657 or janet.farness@gmail.com.
For more information about Lake Sammamish State Park, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/533/Lake-Sammamish
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About Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park
Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park (FLSSP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting, enhancing and promoting Lake Sammamish State Park. FLSSP was formed in 2013 as a way for park users and the community to improve communication among people interested in improving this jewel of a park in a growing urban area.To learn more about Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park, visit
http://lakesammamishfriends.org or on Facebook.
About Washington State ParksThe Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
Follow Washington State Parks:
Share your favorite state park adventure on the State Parks’ blog site at www.AdventureAwaits.com.
Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Wash. Telecommunications Relay Service: (800) 833-6388
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