Looking around the City of Kirkland, it’s plain to see what we love so much about it.

Residents can play in 40-plus neighborhood parks, including Marina Park — one of several waterfront jewels. We can send our children to Lake Washington School District’s high-performing schools and rest assured that every student will be future ready.

We love Kirkland’s unique low-rise downtown along Lake Washington, replete with boutique shops, restaurants, art galleries and bronze sculptures.

There’s also the 402-seat Kirkland Performance Center that provides cultural enrichment to the community.

Residents value their safe community, as well as Kirkland’s small-town atmosphere.

But beyond all that we love about Kirkland, the city also has a host of issues.

Take development.

Eastside cities like Bellevue and Bothell have undergone the building boom, while Kirkland remains cautious of change.

How should Kirkland focus on progress, while maintaining the attributes that make our city unique?

What should the Parkplace redevelopment look like? How about Totem Lake?

And there’s the annexation.

Our community of more than 45,000 residents will nearly double on June 1, 2011.

Should the annexation transition focus more on public safety? Budget concerns?

These are just some of the questions we face as the city moves ahead.

It’s time to start talking, Kirkland.

Next week, the Reporter begins a new column to our paper (and online) — Kirkland Conversations. Every few months, the Reporter will publish a background article on some Kirkland issue and invite the community to form independent conversation groups for the purpose of discussion.

The background article will provide information and an overview of a particular issue and questions will follow that will, hopefully, stimulate informed conversation.

Please consider forming your own discussion group and chat over coffee, or have a conversation with your family at the kitchen table.

If you care to express your opinions, please contact us using the address in the article and we will share your ideas with city leaders.

We invite you to be part of the conversation that will move Kirkland forward and keep our city a special place.