7. Open Space and Parks

There are currently three publicly owned parks and two public school-based recreation sites within the Central Houghton Neighborhood. The neighborhood has been fortunate to have a high degree of community involvement in the development and maintenance of its park facilities.

The City has a level of service (LOS) goal of locating a neighborhood park within a quarter-mile radius of each household in Kirkland. This desired LOS standard is being met for the Central Houghton Neighborhood. LOS within the neighborhood is also enhanced by the proximity of parks just outside the defined neighborhood boundaries, including Terrace Park, Houghton Beach Park, Marsh Park, and Everest Park.

Watershed Park is an undeveloped 73-acre park which takes up a large amount of the southeastern portion of the neighborhood. It is heavily wooded with varying terrain including steep slopes, and features soft-surface walking trails. This property has been identified as a high priority for removal of invasive plants and for revegetation activities for its urban reforestation program.

Any future development of the park should be undertaken following a community-based master planning process. Considerations for a park master plan should include protection and enhancement of natural resources and minimizing potential impacts to surrounding residential areas.

Phyllis A. Needy Houghton Neighborhood Park is a small 0.50-acre neighborhood park adjacent to 108th Avenue NE. It includes a small playground, a basketball hoop, and picnic tables. No further development of this park is anticipated.

Carillon Woods is an 8.7-acre neighborhood park that features soft-surface and asphalt trails, interpretive signage, native plantings, and a children’s playground. Carillon Woods was historically the water supply for Yarrow Bay and was designated Water District #1. It was later purchased from the Water District by the City through a park bond and its creation and use were determined through several public workshops. Approximately two acres of the property are fenced off to protect several deactivated artesian wells, steep slopes, wetlands, and emerging springs which serve as the headwaters for Carillon Creek. As with Watershed Park, reforestation efforts are a high priority for this property. Although no further development is anticipated for this park, the removal of existing wells, pumping systems, and other facilities related to former use of the site by a local water district should occur in the future.

B.E.S.T. High School is on a 10-acre site and is part of the Lake Washington School District (LWSD). The City has constructed and maintains a multipurpose playfield at B.E.S.T. High School through an interlocal agreement with LWSD. The playfield is available for both organized and informal sports activities such as baseball/softball, soccer, and football. A small gymnasium at the school is also available on a limited basis for community recreation programming, with scheduling and use dictated by LWSD.

International Community School (ICS) is located at the north end of the neighborhood. This approximately 11-acre site provides both indoor and outdoor recreation space for the neighborhood. All facilities on the property are maintained by LWSD.

Goal CH-13: Ensure adequate park and recreation facilities in the Central Houghton Neighborhood.

Policy CH-13.1: Pursue acquisition of property and partnerships with schools and other institutions in Central Houghton.

The City should seek opportunities to acquire land to expand parks as properties adjacent to existing parks become available. It is also important to provide and maintain a diversity of park recreation types for the neighborhood. The City should pursue cooperative agreements for joint use of the facilities at schools and other institutions. In addition, street ends should be developed and expanded into park and open space areas for public enjoyment.