2. VISION STATEMENT

The Bridle Trails Neighborhood is a unique, forested, equestrian-oriented community with small-scale housing, trails, and open space amenities that support keeping horses and protect the quiet, wooded nature of the community. Bridle Trails State Park is a focal point for the neighborhood and an important factor in the neighborhood’s historic development. Equestrian and pedestrian trails connect to the surrounding neighborhood. The private and commercial equestrian uses in the neighborhood have been preserved. Where consistent with the equestrian character of the neighborhood, backyard cottages and other compact housing types have been integrated into parts of the residential neighborhood to provide housing opportunities for multiple generations, and allow for aging in place, additional homeowner income, and provide an affordable place to live.

The Bridle Trails commercial area has been transformed into an active, attractive, mixed-use residential and commercial village with neighborhood-oriented businesses and gathering places. A residential village surrounding the shopping center provides a built-in customer base to support high-quality retail establishments, allowing people to walk to shops and services without getting in their cars. Nearby Snyder’s Corner provides a visual open space amenity for the nearby mixed-use neighborhood center.

A neighborhood greenway provides options for walking and biking from one part of Kirkland to another and to the Cross Kirkland Corridor and regional bike trails. The Houghton Park and Ride and its close proximity to the I-405 NE 70th Street interchange provides residents with easy transit access to numerous destinations throughout the region.

The future use of the King County Transfer Station property is unknown at this time; however, the neighborhood vision is for the transfer station to close and see the property redeveloped for a variety of park, recreational, and possibly other uses.

Bridle Trails Vision: Continuing Bridle Trails equestrian history while accommodating future regional growth.