The new beach provides public access for swimming and hand-carry boat launch. The new small boat rental building features a "Flume Sculpture" that collects and distributes rainwater to an adjacent garden.
The improved Log Boom Park on the shore of Lake Washington in Kenmore, Washington, opened on June 30, 2022. Confluence was part of a multidisciplinary team led by engineering firm Mott Macdonald and including J.A. Brennan Associates landscape architects and Davido Consulting Group civil engineers.
The citizens of Kenmore had been seeking better waterfront access on Lake Washington since the City incorporated in 1998, noted Maureen Colaizzi, Parks Project Manager. In 2005, the City adopted a Master Site Plan for Log Boom Park to create an expanded beach and restored shoreline. The project goal was to improve the built environment for park users while enhancing ecological functions of existing wetlands, shoreline habitat, and aquatic habitat.
Environmental elements of the design include protection of on-site wetlands, removal of invasive plant species, and plantings of native vegetation (over 100 new trees and 1,000 new shrubs) in riparian, wetland, and upland areas. In addition, in-water areas have been enhanced by adding gravel and large woody material to reduce shoreline/wetland erosion, provide rearing areas for migrating fish during high lake levels, and provide improved foraging opportunities for juvenile fish.
Confluence led the effort to obtain local, state, and federal permits for the project. Work involved critical areas studies and report preparation, code consistency analyses, and development of mitigation plans for the redesign of the park. In addition, Confluence developed a Habitat Conservation and Stewardship Plan that combines the monitoring and maintenance for the new plantings and restored habitat at the park. This document clearly describes activities needed to both monitor compensatory mitigation areas for permit requirements and ensure future stewards of the park understand the project restoration goals and how to communicate their importance to the public. Currently, Confluence is working with the City to coordinate the long-term monitoring (5 years) and maintenance of the park.
Log Boom Park now has new recreational amenities in the westernmost part of the park for all to enjoy. “It is amazing to see how the community has embraced the improvements,” Ms. Colaizzi said. “I am proud to be part of the team to make this goal a reality.”
Park vendor “Captain Steve” agrees. Co-owner of WhatSup, which rents paddleboards and kayaks in the new boat rental building, Captain Steve said, “Whether they are Kenmore residents or they come from Seattle, people absolutely love it here. They bring their boards or boats and they have barbecues. Kids use their buckets and shovels. They absolutely love this beach.”
Project Location
Kenmore, WA
Client
City of Kenmore
Project Timeline
Ongoing since 2015