Meydenbauer Bay Park Expansion Project

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Thank you to everyone who provided comments on the survey! Your feedback is invaluable. Please sign-up for email updates to get notified when we share early design concepts and have our next survey feedback opportunity in summer 2024.

Planning for Phase 2 of the expansion of Meydenbauer Bay Park began in Fall 2023. During this phase, we will build off the 2010 Meydenbauer Bay Park and Land Use Plan to understand how we can implement the goals laid out in that document almost 15 years ago, while also ensuring that we are addressing the needs and priorities of our current Bellevue community.


The aerial map demonstrates the existing Meydenbauer Bay Park bounds west of Bellevue Downtown Park, the Meydenbauer Bay Park Phase 2 expansion from the marina up to Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast and 99th Ave Northeast and going Northwest to 100th Ave Northeast and Main Street.The dark blue shading in the map above outlines the Phase 2 expansion project area, and the yellow line shows the City of Bellevue's Grand Connection.


In order to accomplish this task, we will be seeking public input at strategic points during the planning and design process, starting in Fall 2023 and continuing into Winter 2024. See the timeline below for more information.

The timeline of Meydenbauer Bay Park Phase 2 Expansion began Summer 2023 with pre-design research and community outreach. In Fall and Winter of 2023/2024, the team launched the community feedback process with a survey and events. Moving into Summer 2024, the initial park design will be developed and shared for community input. Between Summer 2024 and Winter 2024, the project team will refine the design. The timing of the finalized park design construction of Phase 2 expansion is still being determined.


Background

Meydenbauer Bay Park - established by King County in the 1930’s and incorporated into the City of Bellevue in 1953 - is one of the community’s oldest parks and has protected public access to Lake Washington for almost 100 years.

The video below shows how Meydenbauer Bay Park, an iconic Bellevue waterfront destination, has evolved over time.


Meydenbauer Bay Park’s History began in the 1930s as a City of Bellevue park, and continues to grow today.On December 13, 2010, the Bellevue City Council adopted the Meydenbauer Bay Park and Land Use Plan as a guiding document for the expansion of the park. In 2019, the first phase of the expansion of Meydenbauer Bay Park was completed, and included a range of new amenities including an expanded beach, a children's playground, a pedestrian pier, a public bath house, expanded parking, and much more.

The Park and Land Use Plan lays the groundwork for the future of the park

The Meydenbauer Bay Park and Land Use plan, adopted by City Council in 2010, was instrumental in completing Phase 1 of Meydenbauer Bay Park’s expansion and will continue to serve as a guiding document for the Phase 2 design process. 

The plan includes 12 planning principles which address the visitor experience and considers park priorities. These principles are: 

  1. Remarkable and Memorable Shoreline Experience: Provide a remarkable and memorable shoreline experience.

  1. Spectrum of Activities: Provide visitors with a wide range of activities and experiences.

  1. Complementary Land Uses: Ensure areas adjacent to the park create an inviting and pedestrian-oriented transition into the park itself.

  1. Increased Physical and Visual Access: Increase visual access and cues from downtown to encourage the public to access the park.

  1. Pedestrian Priority: Improve the pedestrian connection between downtown and the water, with safety in mind.

  1. Economic Vitality: Support local businesses by creating a welcoming downtown environment for employees, residents and visitors.

  1. Superior Design: Ensure a high-quality design for landscape, streetscape, and architecture both in and around the park.

  1. Environmental Stewardship: Respect the park’s sensitive waterfront setting, and explore opportunities to improve water quality and shoreline characteristics.

  1. History: Reflect the bay and park’s unique heritage through art, interpretive materials/programs, and by preserving historic structures.

  1. Neighborhood Enhancement and Protection: Revitalize older neighborhoods while minimizing impacts on nearby residents.

  1. Coordinated Planning Process: Plan with park master plan and land use plan in close coordination.

  1. Commitment to Implement: Fulfill the vision


These planning principles establish a framework of priorities and constraints which reflect the sentiment of the community prior to 2010. We realize, however, that it is important to examine these priorities, and their impact on the Phase 2 expansion, in the context of the Bellevue of today.  

Other Factors to Consider

This project will serve as the western-most terminus of the Grand Connection. The Grand Connection is Bellevue’s signature downtown place-making initiative, and functions as a series of cohesive, connected, and memorable spaces and pedestrian-focused experiences through the heart of downtown Bellevue. Meydenbauer Bay Park is the last stop of the Grand Connection and is considered a major pedestrian draw for the area. The next phase of the expansion will include pedestrian-focused considerations in alignment with the Grand Connection’s goals.  

Thank you to everyone who provided comments on the survey! Your feedback is invaluable. Please sign-up for email updates to get notified when we share early design concepts and have our next survey feedback opportunity in summer 2024.

Planning for Phase 2 of the expansion of Meydenbauer Bay Park began in Fall 2023. During this phase, we will build off the 2010 Meydenbauer Bay Park and Land Use Plan to understand how we can implement the goals laid out in that document almost 15 years ago, while also ensuring that we are addressing the needs and priorities of our current Bellevue community.


The aerial map demonstrates the existing Meydenbauer Bay Park bounds west of Bellevue Downtown Park, the Meydenbauer Bay Park Phase 2 expansion from the marina up to Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast and 99th Ave Northeast and going Northwest to 100th Ave Northeast and Main Street.The dark blue shading in the map above outlines the Phase 2 expansion project area, and the yellow line shows the City of Bellevue's Grand Connection.


In order to accomplish this task, we will be seeking public input at strategic points during the planning and design process, starting in Fall 2023 and continuing into Winter 2024. See the timeline below for more information.

The timeline of Meydenbauer Bay Park Phase 2 Expansion began Summer 2023 with pre-design research and community outreach. In Fall and Winter of 2023/2024, the team launched the community feedback process with a survey and events. Moving into Summer 2024, the initial park design will be developed and shared for community input. Between Summer 2024 and Winter 2024, the project team will refine the design. The timing of the finalized park design construction of Phase 2 expansion is still being determined.


Background

Meydenbauer Bay Park - established by King County in the 1930’s and incorporated into the City of Bellevue in 1953 - is one of the community’s oldest parks and has protected public access to Lake Washington for almost 100 years.

The video below shows how Meydenbauer Bay Park, an iconic Bellevue waterfront destination, has evolved over time.


Meydenbauer Bay Park’s History began in the 1930s as a City of Bellevue park, and continues to grow today.On December 13, 2010, the Bellevue City Council adopted the Meydenbauer Bay Park and Land Use Plan as a guiding document for the expansion of the park. In 2019, the first phase of the expansion of Meydenbauer Bay Park was completed, and included a range of new amenities including an expanded beach, a children's playground, a pedestrian pier, a public bath house, expanded parking, and much more.

The Park and Land Use Plan lays the groundwork for the future of the park

The Meydenbauer Bay Park and Land Use plan, adopted by City Council in 2010, was instrumental in completing Phase 1 of Meydenbauer Bay Park’s expansion and will continue to serve as a guiding document for the Phase 2 design process. 

The plan includes 12 planning principles which address the visitor experience and considers park priorities. These principles are: 

  1. Remarkable and Memorable Shoreline Experience: Provide a remarkable and memorable shoreline experience.

  1. Spectrum of Activities: Provide visitors with a wide range of activities and experiences.

  1. Complementary Land Uses: Ensure areas adjacent to the park create an inviting and pedestrian-oriented transition into the park itself.

  1. Increased Physical and Visual Access: Increase visual access and cues from downtown to encourage the public to access the park.

  1. Pedestrian Priority: Improve the pedestrian connection between downtown and the water, with safety in mind.

  1. Economic Vitality: Support local businesses by creating a welcoming downtown environment for employees, residents and visitors.

  1. Superior Design: Ensure a high-quality design for landscape, streetscape, and architecture both in and around the park.

  1. Environmental Stewardship: Respect the park’s sensitive waterfront setting, and explore opportunities to improve water quality and shoreline characteristics.

  1. History: Reflect the bay and park’s unique heritage through art, interpretive materials/programs, and by preserving historic structures.

  1. Neighborhood Enhancement and Protection: Revitalize older neighborhoods while minimizing impacts on nearby residents.

  1. Coordinated Planning Process: Plan with park master plan and land use plan in close coordination.

  1. Commitment to Implement: Fulfill the vision


These planning principles establish a framework of priorities and constraints which reflect the sentiment of the community prior to 2010. We realize, however, that it is important to examine these priorities, and their impact on the Phase 2 expansion, in the context of the Bellevue of today.  

Other Factors to Consider

This project will serve as the western-most terminus of the Grand Connection. The Grand Connection is Bellevue’s signature downtown place-making initiative, and functions as a series of cohesive, connected, and memorable spaces and pedestrian-focused experiences through the heart of downtown Bellevue. Meydenbauer Bay Park is the last stop of the Grand Connection and is considered a major pedestrian draw for the area. The next phase of the expansion will include pedestrian-focused considerations in alignment with the Grand Connection’s goals.  

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Meydenbauer Bay Park Community Feedback Survey

    The survey to provide feedback on the future of Meydenbauer Bay Park is now closed.

    Thank you to everyone who provided comments on the survey! Your feedback is invaluable. Please sign-up for email updates to get notified when we share early design concepts and have our next survey feedback opportunity in summer 2024.

    Take Survey
    Share Meydenbauer Bay Park Community Feedback Survey on Facebook Share Meydenbauer Bay Park Community Feedback Survey on Twitter Share Meydenbauer Bay Park Community Feedback Survey on Linkedin Email Meydenbauer Bay Park Community Feedback Survey link
Page last updated: 29 Feb 2024, 12:52 PM