City, Google team up to give residents more information on CKC projects

Google is proving to be an invaluable partner with the City of Kirkland on Cross Kirkland Corridor initiatives.

In the latest initiative, Google, the city and the Kirkland Parks Foundation worked together to create the CKC Beacon Project, which uses technology to give trail users information about the master plan for the corridor.

“We want the section of the CKC near Google to be a great place for neighbors and the community at large,” Darcy Nothnagle, Google’s western region head of external affairs, said. “This project with the Kirkland Parks Foundation has the potential to give our neighbors new ways to explore this vibrant corridor.”

After downloading the New and Now app on their smartphones, users who walk by beacons (designated by signs with kites on them) will receive information about what the city plans for that particular area of the CKC. The 15 beacons are located along the corridor from 108th Avenue NE to 132nd Avenue NE.

The project’s organizers hope to expand the project by offering additional content at each beacon, such as historical information, exercise stations or bird calls (including audio). They are currently seeking public input on what they should include with the beacons, and ideas should be sent to info@kirklandparksfoundation.org.

“(The master plan information) is what we have, and (we’re asking), ‘What other kinds of things could we do?’” Kirkland Parks Foundation Executive Director Sally Otten said of getting feedback about the project.

The project is funded by Google, with city staff support including permitting, maintenance crews and testing the program out, according to Kari Page, City of Kirkland neighborhood outreach coordinator.

Otten said they would be testing out the project on a pilot basis for the next six months, with the hope being to keep the project going with the current and new information for each beacon. Otten said it may be a possibility to expand the beacons to other areas of the city with similar historical and wildlife information.

“In theory, if this is successful, we could place these all over parks in Kirkland,” she said.

For more information about the CKC Beacon Project, visit kirklandwa.gov/beacons. The website includes instructions for downloading and using the app, in addition to having all of the beacon information for those who don’t have a smartphone or choose not to download the app.