Parks a priority for Issaquah residents – a new pool would be nice too

It’s a fact; the residents of Issaquah enjoy their parks. From the neighborhood pocket parks, to the large tracts of open space scattered through the area, there are plenty of options for people looking to get out.

But those same people would also like to see the city get a new pool, or maybe two, according to a survey done by the Parks and Recreation Department earlier this year.

The Issaquah Parks Department has 1,566 acres of parks and open space within the city limits.

According to the survey, a majority of people said they were satisfied with the parks and that it was an important part of their lives.

“Obviously this shows parks and recreation is an important component for people,” said Margaret Mcleod, an interagency coordinator and parks planner. “People are generally satisfied with the city’s park system.”

The survey, done by Herbert Research, Inc., found that the number one activity for people who use the parks is walking. This matches the findings of a 2004 Parks and Rec survey, as well as recent state survey results.

The latest survey also found that people would like to see more neighborhood parks, and would generally be willing to walk between a quarter of a mile and a half of a mile to get to a park.

“Neighborhood parks are kind of the backbone of our structure,” said Mcleod.

The city considers neighborhood parks to be those between 3 to 5 acres in size.

One area that citizens would like to see changed is the pool.

While most said they enjoy Julius Boehm pool, they were not opposed to having the pool remodeled, or adding another one in the Issaquah Highlands.

“The biggest issue to overcome there is the funding,” said Mcleod.

During last fall’s citizen outreach meetings, several options were posed to citizens, with most choosing the option to renovate the current pool and build a second one in the Highlands. That option is projected to run a $35 million tab for the department.

The parks plan, which includes the survey, was recently presented to the Planning Policy Commission, as part of a review for comprehensive plan. The updated parks plan allows the Parks Department to continue to meet state grant requirements.