LAKE STEVENS — After 10 years of trying to get a skate park in Lake Stevens, a new 16,000-square-foot skate area could open by August at Cavelero Hill Park.
Designs were finished in November. Construction likely will start in April or May, said Kevin Teague, a senior park planner for Snohomish County.
It’s the first step in building up the 32-acre park. Currently, the park includes two fenced off-leash areas for dogs, gravel parking and an open field. The only piece of the longterm Cavelero plan with a firm timeline is the skate park.
The goal is to eventually put in a BMX track, playground, restrooms, picnic shelters and courts for volleyball and basketball. The dog park would be expanded. Trails and parking would be added. The final proposal also included plans for the addition of three small shops at the north end that could be leased from Snohomish County.
The skate park was the natural first piece of the project, according to city leaders and planners.
Locals have been trying to get a skate park in the Lake Stevens area for more than a decade, Mayor John Spencer wrote in a monthly letter to the community. The Lake Stevens Rotary Club has supported that effort. Spencer expects the new park to be “worth the wait,” he wrote.
The skate park is expected to have two bowls, street features and covered picnic tables. One large bowl would be for all skaters and another 11-foot-deep bowl, shaped roughly like the lake the city shares a name with, would be for advanced skaters. The plan is to put a roof over part of the skate park if funding is found for that later, but it won’t be covered at first.
The park would be open for use by people on skateboards, scooters, skates and bicycles. No motorized vehicles would be allowed.
Some skate parks do not allow bicycles, and that’s something planners considered, Teague said.
“Since we’re planning to have the BMX facility there, as well, it’s not realistic to keep them out of the skate park,” he said. “They’ll have to coexist.”
The skate park and related work is expected to cost more than $1 million. The city and county each have committed at least $250,000, with the county still finalizing the project budget and setting aside money. The state Department of Commerce provided a $500,000 grant.
The park is designed by Grindline Skateparks, which also has done work in Everett, Arlington, Tulalip and Monroe.
While putting in the skate park, workers also are set to add parking and expand the access road leading into the park. If the budget allows, a playground may be added, Teague said.
“We’re just pretty excited about this skate park and what that means for the community,” he said. “It’s going to be a draw from quite a distance, I think. People will want to come skate it.”
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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