Newport Hills Woodlawn Park open after decade in the making
The City of Bellevue will have a grand opening Saturday, Oct. 15, for the newest addition to its extensive network of parks – Newport Hills Woodlawn Park, a 13.5-acre
neighborhood facility south of Interstate 90.
The festivities, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the park, 11560 SE 60th St., will include a ribbon-cutting, live music played by neighborhood musicians and hot dogs.
Features of the new park include an open lawn, forested and loop trails, a playground, adult exercise equipment, a picnic shelter, restrooms and parking. In the spring, once the
grass is established, a fenced off-leash dog area will open.
“Bellevue’s parks are treasured community assets, allowing everyone to gather, play, learn and develop a relationship with nature,” said Mayor Lynne Robinson.
“Thanks to the community for its active engagement and patience in the planning and development of the park,” said Michael Shiosaki, director of Parks & Community Services.
“It’s great to see the next jewel in Bellevue’s park system now open for all to enjoy!”
Funding for park planning and development was approved in the 2019-2021 budget cycle.
With funding from the 2008 Parks and Natural Areas Levy and King County Conservation Futures, the city in 2010 acquired the first of three properties on Southeast 60th Street
for a new neighborhood park in the Newport Hills area.
Five years later Bellevue acquired the second parcel for the park, a heavily forested five-acres adjacent to and north of the first property. In 2019, the city acquired the last parcel,
3.5 acres.
In 2019, the community worked with city staff to come up with the final vision for the park. After the completion of engineering and permitting, construction started in 2021. Some
funding came from the 2020-2025 King County Parks Levy.
Original source can be found here.
