The Puget Sound Regional Council has once again honored Kirkland for its efforts in accommodating the region’s growth.

“The Cross Kirkland Corridor is a wonderful example of reuse of the BNSF corridor,” PSRC Executive Director Josh Brown said before presenting a Vision 2040 Award at the Nov. 1 Kirkland City Council meeting.

The city, in conjunction with the Lake Washington School District, Google and SRM Development, received the award for the work done on the Feriton Spur by the Google campus on the CKC and the updated field at nearby Lakeview Elementary School. Google invested $3.2 million in the Feriton Spur, and SRM Development, which owns the Google property, oversaw the project.

“We wanted to invest in making the section of the corridor near Google a great place for all of us — neighbors and the community at large,” Darcy Nothnagle, Google’s head of external affairs and government relations for the Pacific Northwest, said. “This newly enhanced section of the Cross Kirkland Corridor provides neighbors, businesses and schools with new recreation areas that give the public opportunities for community gathering and exercise, including a sand volleyball court, children’s play structure, basketball court, Crossfit/TRX fitness section and zip line.”

“Google’s been an outstanding partner with the city,” Kirkland Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator Kari Page, who also is the city’s CKC coordinator, said. “They have worked with the community a lot.”

Kirkland Mayor Amy Walen remarked that the project was a great example of what can be done with a public-private partnership, something SRM Development Manager Dave Tomson echoed in his comments to the Reporter. “We could not have done what we did without that level of involvement with the city,” he said, specifically citing Walen and City Manager Kurt Triplett for their support. “When you talk about public-private partnerships, this is as good as it gets.”

This is the second year in a row Kirkland has won a Vision 2040 Award; the city (in conjunction with the City of Bellevue, ARCH and King County Metro) also was recognized last year for South Kirkland transit-oriented development. For more information about the awards, visit prsc.org/about/awards.