Project Updates
2025 October Update
There is big news at the lakefront park! Park construction is nearly funded!
Lake Forest Park has been successful in raising funds for the park’s completion. The city’s investment in the design process has allowed the project to secure numerous state and county grants for project construction. In total, nearly 90% of total project costs will be funded through grants and outside sources. The city anticipates that funding will be finalized by January 2026.
This project was made possible thanks to the community’s participation in the design process and support from the following sponsors: Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, King County Conservation Futures, King County Parks, Forterra, and the Taxpayers of Washington State.
Curious about what else is going on with the park?
Project updates and answers to frequently asked questions are below. To submit a question or learn more about the project, please contact Cory Mattson at cmattson@cityoflfp.gov or sign up for project emails at www.lfplakefrontpark.com.
What is the status of the park’s permitting?
Permitting is well underway. The city and its consultant team are advancing the design and working to secure permits for the park’s construction. Local, state, and federal land use permits are currently under review. Building permit submittal is anticipated in late-winter and early-spring.
What’s next for the design of lakefront park?
After approval of land use permits, the design will be refined to final stages and submitted for building permits. As the design is refined and finalized, updates will be presented at meetings of the Parks and Recreation Board and City Council and shared on the project website. You can also look out for the city’s information booth at upcoming community events.
When will construction take place, and when will the new park open?
Park construction is anticipated to begin in 2026 and conclude by the summer of 2027. Park construction will be phased to minimize disturbance from construction and to reduce impacts to habitat and wildlife, including the salmon migrating through Lake Washington and Lyon Creek.
Can I make a donation to support the park?
What a wonderful thought! Currently, there is not a formal campaign for community donations to the park but stay tuned for ways that you can support the project. Please check the website or sign up for email updates to be notified if opportunities for community donations arise in the future.
If you represent an organization that may be interested in a cash or in-kind donation to the park in the future, please feel free to send any relevant information to Cory Mattson at cmattson@cityoflfp.com. Commitments for organizational donations are not being made at this time, but this information may be considered in the future as the project moves closer to construction.
2025 February Update
What’s new at lakefront park?
If you’ve passed by the lakefront property this fall, you may have noticed changes on the site! Specifically, a few of the buildings have been demolished and a new fence and gate have been installed. To see what things looked like before, you can view the virtual tour on the project website: https://lfplakefrontpark.com/virtualtour. Below are answers to a few frequently asked questions.
Why were buildings demolished?
To acquire the property for a public park, the city received grant funds from several sources. Some of the funding sources do not allow for the purchase of buildings. Prior to accepting the funding and acquiring the property, the city had to determine which buildings would be demolished and which ones would be evaluated for preservation and reuse. Based on many factors, the city decided that the buildings on the northeast parcel should be removed. The demolition was required to accept the grant funds and is a necessary step toward making the property more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
In 2023, an evaluation revealed extensive damage to several structures, mostly from mold and moisture, and the presence of hazardous materials, like lead paint and asbestos, in several of the buildings. Based on this information, the city determined that the preferred action would be to remove two additional structures.
What’s next for lakefront park?
The city and its consultant team are advancing the design work and applying for permits. The city is also continuing to fundraise for the eventual park construction. As the design continues to develop, the city and consultant are identifying ways to streamline construction and long-term maintenance costs. Over the next several months, you can view updates on the project website and at the city’s booth at upcoming community events.
Can we see what the park looks like now?
Yes! An updated virtual tour has been added to the project website so that community members can see how the project is beginning to take shape. Check the website or sign up for email updates to be notified when new content is posted.
Can parts of the building be salvaged?
Yes! The buildings were demolished using a process called “deconstruction.” In deconstruction, materials that can be recycled are carefully removed and stockpiled for later reuse. On the lakefront property, old growth wood, fixtures, and brick were the main materials recovered. The deconstruction work yielded roughly twelve palettes of brick (nearly 7,000 bricks) and eight palettes of wood (an estimated 5,000 board-feet of clear fir and cedar plank). This material will be reused in the construction of the new park, community center building, park restroom, and picnic shelter.