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Redmond RiverWalk
reflects the community's efforts to rediscover and improve the character and quality of
1.3 miles of the Sammamish River corridor through the heart of downtown. Building on
a history of ideas generated over several years, the RiverWalk Master Plan, adopted by the
City Council in October 1997, fits new site-specific recommendations and improvements to
existing features which represent a series of places for people to interact with each
other and observe nature, all connected by the existing Sammamish River
Trail.
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- Two gateways, the North and South Gateways,
that announce entry on to RiverWalk, establish its visual character, and provide
directional and interpretive information.
- Five small and large scale community places
designed and located to maximize social, aesthetic and nature-related opportunities.
Sites include The Great Lawn, The Stroll, Heron House, RiverWalk Square, and Luke
McRedmond Landing.
- Three river sites that provide direct
controlled access to the river and the opportunity to enjoy the visual and sensory
attributes of water. Sites include Water Under the Bridge, Heron House and Luke
McRedmond Landing.
- Improved riparian habitat along both sides of
the river, including woodland along the west side (Westside Wildlife).
- "Place-making" along the west side
with the siting of public art or the development of small woodland gathering
spots (Art and Wildlife).
- Segments of the corridor along the eastside
which will not be further developed.
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The North Gateway site is located at the NE 90th Street crossing of the
River. It represents the north entrance to downtown and presents a
positive statement about the community and its points of interest.
The concept for the North Gateway is simple and elegant - a quiet
transition into the city. The NE 90th Street bridge creates the opportunity for art, riparian
plantings and a
pedestrian/bicycle crossing of the river. |
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The Great Lawn includes City Hall and grounds. It could
serve as a civic place along the river for community events. The Great Lawn is a
simple park area that provides a variety of spaces created from the placement of trees and
benches. The park is envisioned as a quiet urban space that will provide a setting
for community life.
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Located under the NE 85th Street bridge, Water Under the Bridge will create an access
location for small boats and people to reach the river. The storm drain outfall can
be reworked to be less visually intrusive. Large boulders can be added in place of
some of the broken rock and areas can be replanted with riparian and upslope vegetation to
create a pleasant and functional place.
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The Stroll extends from the NE 85th Street bridge south to the
Opportunity Building. The concept is to change the linear nature of this area into a
garden consisting of fields of masses of wildflowers, which could serve as a community
garden. Benches will be located among the flowers but close enough to the trail to
be visible and enable people watching. A long pergola or arbor could extend through
the flower field to define the space, provide vertical structure for climbing vines, and
give shade.
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RiverWalk Square is located adjacent to and immediately south and southwest of the
Opportunity Building. It will be a small public plaza designed to bring the urban
environment of Redmond to the
softer landscape along the river, provide another gathering place along the river, and
create a different visual experience associated with the river and its edges. The
Square will include a rectangular paved area with a grove of deciduous trees to provide
canopy and definition to the space. Park furniture will provide seating, meeting and
reading areas.
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Heron House will be a roofed fishing pier located over the river at the westernmost edge
of RiverWalk Square. The building will be
simple but handsome, providing function, ornament and a focus to this part of the
corridor. It will provide a place to fish, watch birds, and read signage that
interprets wildlife and the features of the river. Access to the river for
hand-carried boats will be possible using a ramp extending from the pier down to the
water.
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Luke McRedmond Landing is Luke McRedmond Park. The new Luke McRedmond Landing will
improve the usability of the Park by strengthening its relationship with the river and
providing additional facilities. A
lagoon will be cut out of the linear channel and established with a nesting island, a
channel bypass, native wetland and riparian vegetation, trees and rock outcrops.
This will provide habitat restoration to the river's edge as well as shade and controlled
limited access. A public restroom, picnic shelter and tables, and possibly a tot lot
could be sited along the eastern edge of the park.
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The South Gateway is located just north of Leary Way. The design is simple
including a kiosk with interpretive signage, drinking fountain, trash
receptacle and bollards, complemented by public art. These elements will announce RiverWalk, welcome users and present a positive community image to visitors.
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Westside Wildlife extends along the west banks of the Sammamish River from Leary Way to
NE 90th Street. Westside Wildlife will establish an urban
woodland within this area that will maintain this "wilder", quiet and more
solitary character. It will also begin to reestablish native riverine wildlife
habitat within the project area. Plans include regrading in certain areas, the
removal of invasive plants and exotics, and the reestablishment of a variety of wildlife
habitat including nesting and foraging sites using native trees, understory shrubs and
grasses.
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Art and Wildlife sites provide places where the community can embrace RiverWalk as something more than just a
recreation corridor. Art and Wildlife can occur throughout the west and east
sides. A variety of types of art can fulfill the concept - totems, nesting boxes,
prayer wheels, whirly gigs and other flying objects, a mural, etc. - as long as they
celebrate the richness of nature, use natural or recycled materials, and illustrate how
nature enriches the community.
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