The Bellevue City Council votes yes on a master parks plan — the first time in over 15 years.The plan recommends de-commissioning eight parks, an issue packing council chambers and leading to more than an hour of public comment Tuesday night.”Whatever time you spent in our park was clearly not enough. Our park is used quite a bit more than was recommended by the study that was done,” Nick Gregor, Goldenrod Park neighborhood resident, said.The master plan notes that Bellevue’s budget lacks in comparison to similar-sized U.S. cities but outpaces the green spaces they have.”What are the parks that today, maybe aren’t being used as well or maybe an opportunity to do something else with those parks,” Jeff Spiehs, parks planner contracted by Bellevue, said.One family playing Tuesday at Gilder Park says they drive there for all the space it has and wouldn’t want to see it go.”I’ll be kind of sad cause like, I have a lot of memories right here,” Carlos Placencia said.Some of the eight parks could be sold to developers or gifted to a next-door neighbor — like ones near Bellevue public schools.Timothy Millard, Southern Oaks Park neighborhood resident, says that would effectively shut off community access.”I can go to any of the parks in Bellevue until about 10 p.m. If it’s handed over to the public school system, they’re not really available unless you’re a student,” Millard said.Millard and others said they wanted their local park to be walking distance.”I want to be able to take my family to a park that’s eight minutes away versus a 25-minute walk,” he said. The council stressed that although the plan passed Tuesday, any further action would need to come back before them at a public hearing.”We appreciate you coming out. We listen to what you say and then we take it into accordance and try and make it a win-win situation for everyone,” Kathy Welch, Bellevue City Council member, said.
The Bellevue City Council votes yes on a master parks plan — the first time in over 15 years.
The plan recommends de-commissioning eight parks, an issue packing council chambers and leading to more than an hour of public comment Tuesday night.
“Whatever time you spent in our park was clearly not enough. Our park is used quite a bit more than was recommended by the study that was done,” Nick Gregor, Goldenrod Park neighborhood resident, said.
The master plan notes that Bellevue’s budget lacks in comparison to similar-sized U.S. cities but outpaces the green spaces they have.
“What are the parks that today, maybe aren’t being used as well or maybe an opportunity to do something else with those parks,” Jeff Spiehs, parks planner contracted by Bellevue, said.
One family playing Tuesday at Gilder Park says they drive there for all the space it has and wouldn’t want to see it go.
“I’ll be kind of sad cause like, I have a lot of memories right here,” Carlos Placencia said.
Some of the eight parks could be sold to developers or gifted to a next-door neighbor — like ones near Bellevue public schools.
Timothy Millard, Southern Oaks Park neighborhood resident, says that would effectively shut off community access.
“I can go to any of the parks in Bellevue until about 10 p.m. If it’s handed over to the public school system, they’re not really available unless you’re a student,” Millard said.
Millard and others said they wanted their local park to be walking distance.
“I want to be able to take my family to a park that’s eight minutes away versus a 25-minute walk,” he said.
The council stressed that although the plan passed Tuesday, any further action would need to come back before them at a public hearing.
“We appreciate you coming out. We listen to what you say and then we take it into accordance and try and make it a win-win situation for everyone,” Kathy Welch, Bellevue City Council member, said.
