Kayak Point Park Day-Use Improvement Project

Updated 11/10/22


Please note the different tabs with information below. 


Kayak Point Day Use Area plans to be closed to the public for summer 2023, although the project is still awaiting final permit approvals. Construction for Phase 1 is scheduled to start in July 2023.  Phase 2 construction will follow in a future year, depending on funding availability. See below for more details on construction timeline, design and site access diagrams and Frequently Asked Questions.


PROJECT DESCRIPTION

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.


The full renovation project is anticipated to cost approximately $18M, and is planned to be completed in phases as funding allows.

UPDATES

  1. Park Closure Information
  2. Construction Timeline
  3. Current Status

We are still waiting on federal permit approval for permits submitted in 2019. Kayak Point will remain OPEN to the public for summer 2022 as we await these approvals. Construction for Phase 1 is now scheduled for 2023. Phase 2 construction is planned for 2024, depending on funding. Dates are subject to change. See below for more details on the construction timeline, diagrams, and Frequently Asked Questions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  1. Overview Questions
  2. Timeline
  3. Environmental Impact

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? 

How can I stay updated on progress? 

Sign up for our newsletter, follow us on social media or check this project page for updates. 

DESIGN DRAWINGS

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  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4

COST

    Estimated construction cost, Phase 1: $8M

    Estimated construction cost, Phase 2: $10M


CONTACT INFORMATION

Carol Ohlfs, Principal Planner

6705 Puget Park Drive

Snohomish, WA 98296

Email Carol Ohlfs

(425) 388-6609


Press Inquiries

Rose Intveld, Communications Specialist

Email Rose Intveld

(425) 409-7916