6. Open Space and Parks

Enhance parks within the Juanita Neighborhood.

There are approximately 10 publicly owned parks in the Juanita Neighborhood that provide park, recreation and open space amenities, offer public access to the lake or protect sensitive and natural areas (see Figure J-1). The two regional parks include the Juanita Bay Park and the Juanita Beach Park. Juanita Bay Park, developed under a master plan, offers wildlife watching, a boardwalk, trails and passive recreation opportunities in and around a large wetland system. Juanita Beach Park, also developed under a master plan, contains 25 acres and is developed with a swimming beach, play structures, restroom and launches for non-motorized boats. Juanita Creek and associated wetlands located within the Park underwent restoration as part of the master plan. Continued implementation of the park master plan should occur, including new restrooms and concessions shelter near the shoreline, and a skatepark and playfield on the north side of Juanita Drive.

North Kirkland Community Center and Park is a recreation activity focal point for the neighborhood. The five acre site with a recreation center and playground has been identified in the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS Plan) as in need of redevelopment to provide additional capacity and amenities. In light of this, effort should be taken to acquire public pedestrian easements over lands surrounding the park for safe access to it. In addition, the master plan should incorporate the following ideas:

(1)    Surrounding single-family residences should be buffered from major activity areas.

(2)    Vehicular traffic should be routed so as not to negatively impact the single-family residences to the east.

Edith Moulton Park

Other parks in the Juanita Neighborhood include:

•    McAuliffe Park is 26.7 acres and developed for special outdoor events and enjoyment of the gardens.

•    Juanita Heights Park is 6 acres. The PROS Plan identifies a need for pedestrian easements or access ways across private property to improve the entrance to the park.

•    Brookhaven Park and Wiviott Property, and some unnamed small neighborhood parks of less than an acre in size provide additional recreational opportunities, and in some cases storm detention facilities and open space.

•    Edith Moulton Park is 26.7 acres and partially developed. A park master plan will be developed for the park, including restoration of native vegetation along Juanita Creek as planned in the PROS Plan.

•    Windsor Vista Park is 4.8 acres, is currently undeveloped and contains a creek through the property. A park master plan should be developed for the park for active and passive recreation as described in the PROS Plan.

The southeast slope of Finn Hill, the slope northeast of NE 121st Place, and Forbes Valley are important open spaces for the neighborhood. Significant stands of trees should be preserved as described in the Natural Environment section. During development, tree cutting should be minimized.

The open space character of the Forbes Valley should be maintained.

The Forbes Valley area, extending from Lake Washington east to 116th Avenue NE, remains today as a large natural open space that is an extension of Juanita Bay Park. The Forbes Valley, with many wetland areas, is wooded with few existing homes. In the eastern section is Planned Area 9 which is developed as an attached and stacked residential project. The primary policy thrust for the Forbes Valley is to maintain it as a large open space along with low density residential development.

Wooded open spaces dominate the character of the Forbes Valley and should be maintained.

The dominant visual quality of the lower Forbes Valley is one of wooded areas and open space. This area is recognized as a significant regional open space and is preserved as an extension of Juanita Bay Park. The area’s ecological and drainage connections to Lake Washington place it under the jurisdiction of the state Shoreline Management Act.

If development does occur, open space, particularly along the stream, must be maintained.

If private development of the lower Forbes Valley area does occur, the maintenance and preservation of the open space character will be required. In addition to maintaining the character of the area, specific requirements will include the preservation of open space within vegetative buffers adjacent to the creek with a possible pedestrian trail paralleling the stream. A continuous trail through the Forbes Valley should be planned and completed. Similar requirements of vegetative buffers and trails along the creek are discussed in the section dealing with the development of Planned Area 9.

Acquisition of parkland should be actively pursued.

Even with the acquisition of the McAuliffe Park, Juanita Beach Park and annexation of Edith Moulton Park, Juanita lacks park facilities and parkland given the size of the neighborhood. General areas where parks are needed are southwest and northeast portions of North Juanita as shown in Figure J-1 and as noted in the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan.

Juanita has open space tracts that were originally part of the subdivisions and subsequently purchased by King County. These are part of the City’s Open Space System but are storm water facilities managed by the Public Works Department. Other open space parcels are private storm water facilities. The City maintains those facilities located in easements or tracts that are part of single-family developments, but they are not part of the City’s open space system.

The City should actively pursue acquisition of parkland when opportunities to preserve open space present themselves and when funding is available. Adequate funding for continued maintenance of parks and open spaces should be encouraged concurrent with new development of the parks and open spaces.

The City also partners with the Lake Washington School District to provide joint use of Juanita Elementary School recreational facilities that help meet the community’s needs for recreation after school hours and during the summer. The City should continue a partnership with schools to provide recreational facilities to residents, including Juanita High School.

View corridors provided by the street system should be protected and enhanced.

One important open space of great community value is often overlooked. The street system provides Juanita with a number of excellent local and regional views. Such view corridors lie within the public domain and are valuable for the beauty, sense of orientation, and identity they impart. These view corridors are to be preserved and enhanced. One way to achieve this is through the undergrounding of utilities. See Community Character and Park, Recreation and Open Space Elements.

Other important goals and objectives for open space and parks are described in the Open Space/Parks Element chapter.

Major pedestrian/bicycle path system discussed.

Pedestrian and bicycle pathways are recognized as part of the open space system.

Pedestrian and bicycle pathways are also part of the park and open space system in addition to providing a transportation function. Bicycle facilities separated from vehicles should be provided where feasible on main arterials. Major pathways in Juanita should be established according to the designations in the Transportation Element. See also Figures J-6 and J-7 in the Transportation Section below.