Quarterly Update from Shawn Tobin, Washington State Parks Cascade Foothills Area Manager
Dear Friends of the Park,
Here are some updates for you about what is happening at Lake Sammamish State Park:
The day use remodeling project at Sunset Beach is down to its final punch list of things to get done. The project should be wrapped up within a few weeks. However, we intend to keep some of the fences up around the new shelters to help the landscaping have a little more time to get established. We aiming to open these facilities again by end of June or beginning of July and know the community will enjoy them.
We are doing some smaller maintenance projects at the boat launch that we hope may help make the launch experience more efficient while we wait for permits to do the necessary in-water work. As you may know, many of the concrete planks that make up the ramps in the water are failing badly. Any work in the water takes a lot of lead time and multiple permits. Fingers crossed, we will be able to do some of the in-water work this summer. I hear regularly how worried people are about the condition of the launch; please know we are trying.
Our Folk and Traditional Arts program has several festivals planned for the park this summer. It should be another wonderful summer of events, learning and get togethers. I enjoy roaming the grounds and seeing folks enjoying the park. You can find information about these festivals on our webpage here: Folk & Traditional Arts Events | Washington State Parks
A construction project to improve some of our trails and build an additional bridge over Issaquah Creek in the park is making its way through the design phase. It will be a while before any construction happens (think 1-2 years) but when the project is someday completed- our trail system will be significantly improved.
The park staff and volunteers have been busy doing the work that it takes to keep a public space open and operational: cleaning, landscaping, repairing and helping visitors. This time of year is particularly busy for those of us that work at Lake Sammamish because there is so much grass in this park and it seems as if it is constantly growing. Every spring we are challenged to keep up with it. We often get done with one area, move on to the next, and by the time we get space in our schedules, the first area needs attention again.
This is just one example that I would invite you to think about the next time you are on your public lands. Someone has to maintain and operate all of those places you care about. I frequently think about this when I am out hiking on a trail somewhere: someone has to cut the brush back, remove the downed trees and limbs, work on the tread surface, keep the drainages flowing, move the rocks, etc., etc. I don’t often see the people that do it- but I know they’ve been there and I am grateful.
I am also grateful that Lake Sammamish State Park is blessed with so many people that care about, and support it with their actions. People like you- thank you.
Shawn Tobin, Cascade Foothills Area Manager