What improvements will be 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 storm water 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? 

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