A millennium gift to the region: Unification of Sand Point Peninsula

By TOM CARLSON AND ILZE JONES
Jones & Jones

In Februarys report to the Mayor and Seattle City Council from the Sand Point Blue Ribbon Committee, land is the highest priority. The first recommendation is to integrate Sand Point within Magnuson Park and begin the restoration of this expanded park as a millennium gift to the region a single bold proposal for immediate action to underscore our commitment to environmental restoration and stewardship.

Jones & Jones Architects and Landscape Architects has been awarded the contract from the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation to update the long-range plan for the newly expanded Magnuson Park at Sand Point.

Sand Point and Magnuson Park. Photo courtesy of Jones & Jones.

The civic vision also closely parallels Jones & Jones' 1975 Master Plan for the 500-acre Sand Point Peninsula, developed at the time of the Navys initial property surplussing which now comprises Magnuson Park and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) campus. It offers a superb opportunity to develop the park as a living laboratory of the restorative powers of natural processes to heal the land restoring the peninsula to its natural beauty, bringing back to life a magnificent lake, wetlands, streams, grasslands, and forest.

The restoration of the Mud Lake wetlands system the historic wetland at the heart of the peninsula was a key part of our 1975 plan, and is a key part of todays plan. Formerly occupying the site of the Naval Commissary, slated for demolition, it will become the heart of a wetland system unmatched by any other Seattle Park, and will provide habitat for migratory waterfowl, and many other species of birds, amphibians, and mammals, and could become a great attraction for naturalists, as well as partners with an interest in funding on-site research and education.

Jones & Jones aim is to weave the historic structures and a rich array of active and passive uses including field sports, off-leash dog exercise, community gardens, arts, education, boating, and housing into the fabric of the land. Through workshops and public meetings, the firm will work with user groups and endeavor to integrate facilities that meet their needs into the natural infrastructure of the restored peninsula.

The planners and landscape architects are eager to work with the many institutions and organizations who will occupy the park to help establish synergistic connections between their programs and activities. Monitored on-site environmental restoration and field research could support on-site environmental education programs for children, and help to ensure that the various park uses contribute to a vibrant, cohesive campus.

The Jones & Jones design team includes special consultant Richard Haag; the public involvement firm of Norton-Arnold & Janeway; wetland specialists, Philip Williams & Associates; transportation consultants TDA, Inc.; Symonds Consulting Engineers; and the C3 Management Group. Together, we will develop a concept design that matches this vision and resolves outstanding design issues. In June, the design concept will be presented to the City Council and the Mayor for approval. Then in Phase II, we will develop detailed designs for yet undetermined Phase I components. Throughout both phases of design, we will work closely with user groups and the broader public in a systematic public involvement process.

Everyone at Jones & Jones looks forward to finishing the work began 25 years ago, and to making Magnuson Park a great nature park in the city a gift of the light, land, wind and water for Seattle's millennium celebration.

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