The Kirkland City Council approved the proposed master plan for 132nd Square Park during its meeting on Oct. 15.

The 132nd Square Park master plan will result in improvements to the park including one synthetic turf field with lighting, which will allow for year-round athletic play at the park. Council will discuss funding for the plan during the Nov. 5 meeting. City staff will continue to work with the community during the park design process.

The development of the plan included input from community members that was gathered during a variety of meetings including open houses, meetings at the park and meetings at a neighboring apartment building.

Located in the Evergreen Hill neighborhood, 132nd Square Park is one of Kirkland’s seven community parks. The park is about 10 acres and is currently includes athletic fields, a playground, a parking lot, restrooms, a small picnic shelter and walking paths. The master plan is a requirement of Kirkland’s zoning code when park infrastructure improvements are considered.

“I’d like to thank all of the community members that took the time to be engaged in the development of the 132nd Square master plan,” Lynn Zwaagstra, director of parks and community services for the city of Kirkland, said in a press release. “The city looks forward to implementing the plan and creating a space that will be enjoyed by the community for decades to come.”

Construction of the synthetic field, including the stormwater improvement project, is scheduled to begin fall 2020. According to the release, the city is planning to install a stormwater system beneath the ball field that will consolidate and treat stormwater run-off from the surrounding 48.5 acres. The project will require a 10-foot-deep hole that is nearly the size of the soccer field. Kirkland’s leaders are capitalizing on this money-saving opportunity — as well as the need to expand park access — to replace the grass surface with synthetic turf.

More information can be found on the project website at bit.ly/132ndSquarePark.