PARK PROJECTS
All-Access Playground: A Community Triumph
In 2016, Lake Sammamish State Park unveiled its $1 million all-access playground, a testament to community collaboration and inclusivity. This "destination" playground replaced two outdated structures, offering:
Accessibility for all mobility levels
Age-appropriate and imaginative challenges for children 2-12
Nature-inspired design reflecting the park's captivating environment
Funding came from diverse sources:
$750K from state capital budget
$250K raised by Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park
$150K from Washington State Parks Commission
Numerous in-kind donations
The project's success hinged on community involvement, with volunteers contributing 300 hours during construction. The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust added finishing touches with landscaping.
The playground's grand opening on October 15, 2016, celebrated donors and welcomed children to cut the ribbon, marking a new era of inclusive play at the park.
All-Access Playground
Accessibility for all mobility levels
Age-appropriate and imaginative challenges for children 2-12
Nature-inspired design reflecting the park's captivating environment
Tibbetts Creek Habitat Restoration: Revitalizing a Vital Waterway
Tibbetts Creek, flowing from Squak Mountain through Lake Sammamish State Park, is undergoing a transformative restoration project. A coalition of organizations, including the Snoqualmie Tribe, Trout Unlimited, and Mountains to Sound Greenway, are working to enhance this critical ecosystem. Key restoration efforts include:
Removing invasive plants, particularly blackberry
Planting native trees and shrubs
Improving water quality and habitat diversity
In late 2023, Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park (FLSSP) initiated the restoration of a previously untouched buffer area. With the help of over 30 volunteers, they cleared invasive species and prepared the site for planting. In November 2024, 40 volunteers planted over 160 native plants, including:
90 long-lived evergreen trees (Douglas fir, Sitka Spruce, Grand fir)
Native shrubs (red flowering currant, tall Oregon grape, black twinberry, Pacific ninebark)
These plantings serve multiple purposes:
Provide shade for salmon habitat
Sequester carbon (a 100-year-old Douglas fir can absorb 14 tons of carbon)
Support pollinators and wildlife
Enhance the area's aesthetic appeal
This ongoing restoration project demonstrates the power of community involvement in preserving and enhancing vital ecosystems for future generations
Tibbetts Creek Habitat Restoration
Removing invasive plants, particularly blackberry
Planting native trees and shrubs
Improving water quality and habitat diversity
Shade Tree Replacement
As summer heat waves sweep through, the picnic areas at LSSP offer a much-needed respite for families. However, many of the older shade trees are reaching the end of their life span. Thanks to funding from FLSSP, eight new shade trees were planted at and near Sunset Beach in November 2023, with the help of dedicated volunteers. These additions include sequoia, western red cedar, black tupelo, and red oak, ensuring continued comfort and beauty for years.
Shade Tree Replacement
Meadow Shelter Acoustic Panels
The Meadow Shelter at Lake Sammamish State Park has been beautifully renovated in 2023 and is now open for visitor use. This spacious, enclosed facility accommodates up to 150 people and is ideal for group functions and educational events. Featuring tall wood-planked ceilings and full sliding doors, the shelter offers a seamless indoor/outdoor experience. To enhance its acoustics and add character, Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park partnered with local artists Bethany Fackrell and Austin Picinich to create custom artwork for the acoustic panels. Their pieces celebrate the park's wildlife and heritage while fostering community connections. The Meadow Shelter is now a vibrant and inspiring space for all who visit.
Meadow Shelter Acoustic Panels
Local artists Bethany Fackrell and Austin Picinich created custom artwork for the acoustic panels.
Front Entrance Landscaping
In partnership with Washington State Parks, King County Master Gardeners – Issaquah Clinic, funding from the Washington State Parks Foundation, and the hard work of many volunteers, including a great group from Leica Microsystems, FLSSP revamped the landscaping at the front entrance of Lake Sammamish State Park along NW Sammamish Road in Fall 2024.
The goals for the garden redesign included low-maintenance and drought tolerant plants, year-round visual interest, and improved sightlines from the road down the park driveway to improve visibility for drivers entering and exiting the park. King County Master Gardeners – Issaquah Clinic volunteers put together an incredible planting plan that addresses all of these goals and give the park an entrance fitting of its beautiful location on the shores of Lake Sammamish.
For more information about this project, please read our blog post here: Front Entrance Garden Redesign Complete! — Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park Website | Support, Enhance and Promote Lake Sammamish State Park
Front Entrance Landscaping
FLSSP revamped the landscaping at the front entrance of Lake Sammamish State Park along NW Sammamish Road in Fall 2024.