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Kayak Point Park Day-Use Improvement Project
Updated 2/14/22
Please note the different tabs with lots of information below.
Construction for Phase 1 will be taking place July 2022 to December 2022. The day-use area will be closed starting July 8, 2022. Dates are subject to change. See below for more details on construction timeline, diagrams and Frequently Asked Questions.
Construction for Phase 1 will be taking place July 2022 to December 2022. The day-use area will be closed starting July 8, 2022. Dates are subject to change. See construction timeline for more details.
- During construction, the beach and day-use area (including parking lot, picnic shelters, restrooms, pier and boat launch) will be closed to the public.
- A walking trail down to the beach will be accessible from the campground.
- There will not be any ADA vehicle or pedestrian access to the beach during construction.
- Beach access within the construction area will not be permitted.
- July 2022 to December 2022 (Phase 1 construction). The day-use area will be closed starting July 8.
- Tentatively September 2023 - March 2024 (Phase 2 construction). The day-use area will be closed during construction.
- Due to sensitive fish spawning habitats located off the coast of Kayak Point, the new boat launch construction must occur during peak summer seasons in 2022.
- Alternate boat launches are available in Everett, Marysville, and Camano Island.
- Park staff and design consultant team of experts submitted for construction permit review (LDA, Building, Flood Hazard Permit)
- Shoreline Permit and SEPA determination of non-significance has been approved.
- US Army Corps of Engineers permit is under review by US Fish and Wildlife and NOAA Fisheries, as well as Dept. of Ecology.
- Grant awards for Phase 1 construction from Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) include over $2 million dollars of funding for the boat launch and upland improvements.
- Grant funds are being sought currently for Phase 2.
OVERVIEW
Snohomish County is working to renovate the day-use portion of this popular, well-loved park. An extensive design process has been ongoing for several years for reconfiguring the day-use area. The proposed design will provide additional recreation space, move parking away from the shoreline, improve the boat launch and make habitat improvements. As part of implementing these changes, park infrastructure will be replaced (e.g. failing water lines and buckling asphalt) and the park will be positioned for many more years of enjoyment.
• Estimated construction cost, Phase 1: $8M
• Estimated construction cost, Phase 2: $10M
Carol Ohlfs, Principal Planner
6705 Puget Park Drive
Snohomish, WA 98296
(425) 388-6609
Press Inquiries
Rose Intveld, Communications Specialist
(425) 409-7916
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When will construction work be happening and how loud will it be?
- Construction will be active typically M-F 7am-5pm, but work may be required outside this typical timeline to meet schedule requirements and permit conditions.
- In water work is expected to take place 7/15-10/15/22 and includes pile driving (impact and vibratory), which is very loud.
- Dump trucks and loud earth movers are expected to be active on the site for the entire length of the construction project.
What improvements are included in the project?
Depending on available funding, the anticipated elements included in each phase of the project are:
Phase 1
- Boat launch replacement with wider, steeper launch (elevated design allows water and sand to move underneath the launch, better for fish habitat)
- A boarding float, pier piling and decking replacement
- New parking lot to better connect and separate cars and boat trailers from pedestrians
- Central backshore berm, interim path connections, removing paving along the shoreline, planting and removing the sea wall along the central segment
Phase 2
- Completing the parking lot
- Renovations and moving of the existing picnic shelters + three new timber-frame picnic shelters
- Completing the backshore berm
- Creating a central grassy view mound
- Playground updates
- Renovations of the restrooms
- A waterfront promenade path, central plaza with hook ups for food trucks, access trails to the beach, planting and removing the sea wall along the northern end
What are the benefits of this project?
The final result will function similarly to the way it does now but will be a better version of everything that is brought up to the 21st century, easier to maintain, and better for the environment.
Safer, Easier Circulation Routes
- The new design will provide separate walking routes for pedestrians that are ADA friendly for visitors with mobility issues, and the shoreline will be easier to access for walkers, boats, and cars.
- The boat launch parking will have tie-down lanes and areas for prepping the boat, so that process won’t hold up traffic trying to access the launch or get to the beach.
Environmentally Designed and Longer Lasting Infrastructure
- It will be better for the environment because the parking lot next to the shore will be replaced with an expanded beach zone and native plantings, and the runoff from all the paved areas will go through stormwater treatment.
- The road along the shore will be replaced with a backshore berm to prepare the site for sea level rise and storm surges. For example, with the huge storm we had in November 2021, the extreme high tide pushed beach logs far into the site, covering the picnic shelters, parking lots, and roads, breaking the decking on the pier. The future design will protect the park infrastructure from storms of that magnitude because we’re adding 4-5 feet of additional beach height and raising all the parking and recreation elements up by a few feet.
- We’re doing a lot of infrastructure improvements that won’t be visible to the park visitors but are very important for the ongoing management of the park, such as complete overhaul of the septic system, water piping, and electrical connections.
Added Picnic Shelters and Parking Spaces
- There will be renovations to the existing picnic shelters and three new ones. We are adding about 10 more parking spaces but moving all the parking to a centralized location toward the hillside and away from the beach.
- There will be lots of wide-open grass spaces and easier access to the pier, the boat launch, the shelters and fire pits, the playground, and the restrooms.
Why are you doing this now?
Kayak Point is one of our most popular, most visited parks. It was last renovated in the 1970s, which makes the infrastructure over 50 years old. We’ve gone through a multi-year process with public outreach, design, and permitting, it’s taken almost eight years, but we’re finally getting ready to start construction of the almost $18 million project across two phases. The park will be positioned for many more years of enjoyment.
Who can I contact with questions?
- For project questions: Carol Ohlfs
- For media inquiries: Rose Intveld
How can I stay updated on progress?
Sign up for our newsletter, follow us on social media or check this project page for updates.
Can the public still access the beach?
- The southern portion of the beach will be accessible by foot or boat only. Most day-use area facilities will be closed to the public and include the pier, boat launch, north picnic shelters, playground, meadow, and all parking lots (upper and lower lots). The south shelter is closed to reservations but will be available for public shared use.
- If you have a camping reservation, there is a limited access trail to hike down to the beach. This trail is not ADA accessible.
- All trash must be packed out.
Will a restroom on the beach be open during construction?
Yes, the south beach restroom will be open.
Will parking be available?
No. The day-use and overflow parking lots will be closed. The campground will remain open for reservations and walk-up camping (if available).
Where is the closest alternate boat launch?
Alternate boat launches are available in Everett, Marysville, and Camano Island. Other parks with beaches include Picnic Point, Lake Goodwin, Wenberg, Flowing Lake and Martha Lake parks. To find other Snohomish County Parks to enjoy, visit www.snocoparks.org
Can I still fish/crab?
No, there will be no access to the pier for fishing or crabbing while the day-use area is closed.
Can I still kayak/boat into the beach?
Yes, the south beach will be accessible, but all construction areas are closed with no access permitted and there is no pier, dock or boat launch.
Is there ADA access to the beach?
No, there is no ADA access to the beach when the day-use area is closed for construction.
Are interpretation and translation services available?
Yes, for translations, please contact the Parks front desk at 425-388-6600.
What is the construction timeline for this project? When will the day-use area be closed for construction?
All dates are subject to change.
- Phase 1: Park Day-Use Area closed 7/8/2022-12/31/2022:
- Construction starts: July 8, 2022
- In water work allowed: July 15-October 15, 2022
- Final phase 1 wrap up by 12/31/2022
- Phase 2: Park Day-Use Area closed 9/11/2023-3/31/2024:
- Construction starts: September 2023
- In water work allowed: until October 15, 2023
- Final phase 2 wrap up by 3/31/2024
When will construction be taking place during the week?
Construction is planned to typically take place Monday-Friday during daylight hours, but schedules may change. There is no planned work on the weekends, but work may be required outside this typical timeline to meet schedule requirements and permit conditions.
I have an existing camping reservation. Can I change or cancel my reservation?
To be eligible for a cancelation or change fee waiver, all the following must be met:
- Reservations must be at Kayak Point Park, and were booked prior to January 21, 2022
- Reservation dates (all or part) must fall on or between July 8, 2022, and December 31, 2022
- Your request to cancel/change dates must be received no later than May 31, 2022. Standard fees and policy will be applied for any requests received after that.
IMPORTANT: Do not cancel online. To waive fees, cancellation and date changes must be processed through the Call Center at 425-388-6600.
I bought an annual pass. How does this affect me?
Annual passes cannot be refunded. To make up for the missed summer of 2022 access, passes sold in 2022 or July-December of 2021, will be extended through end of August 2023. This extension applies at Kayak Point Park ONLY. The original (punched) expiration date on the pass will still apply at all other parks. More information: https://snohomishcountywa.gov/1027/Annual-Day-Use-Boat-Launch-Passes
Annual pass sales at Kayak Point have been paused until construction is complete. Passes can still be purchased online.
Will the renovated park be able to retain the old trees along the shoreline or are they being removed as part of the project?
The mature Lombardy Poplar trees along the shoreline at Kayak Point will need to be removed during the renovation project. Their location along the shoreline is going to be transformed into a soft-shore berm which will be an extension of the backshore marine shoreline habitat. It will be beach rocks and sand at the lower elevations and planted native shrubs and trees at the upper elevations, with a walking path meandering through the new plantings and beach access trails located strategically between tree groves. We cannot create the new shoreline without removing the existing trees, as they occupy the same footprint. The current trees are nearing the end of their typical life cycle and will begin dropping large branches and become in bad health before too much longer. They typically only live for around 50 years. It will take some time for the new plantings to mature and grow tall like those existing trees, but the new plantings will create a healthier habitat for birds, critters, and fish.
What has been done to study and mitigate for the environmental impacts of the project construction?
The project is located along the marine shoreline and has wetland identified nearby. There will be some temporary and permanent impacts to critical areas and important animal habitats for which we are providing mitigation on site. Overall the project includes extensive riparian zone habitat improvements integrated into the design and will be a significant improvement for the park, for Snohomish County residents, and for the Puget Sound.
