Story and photos
by Doug Petrowski

Upgrading bleachers, moving play equipment, repairing fences, painting buildings and improving parking areas are all plans for various parks around Mountlake Terrace over the next few months, according to Ken Courtmauch, Parks and Facilities Superintendent.

Courtmauch reported to the Mountlake Terrace City Council last week detailing the many projects that the city’s Park Services and Property Management Departments has scheduled through the spring and summer.

In addition to every day routine work, “both Park Services and Property Management perform a number of specialized tasks such as plumbing, electrical work, lighting, roofing, carpentry work,” said Courtmauch. “Maintenance activities and projects are identified in a work plan.”

The work plan for spring/summer maintenance and projects listed 65 separate items to be completed throughout the city. Some projects have already been finished, while others are scheduled for May-September.

The city facility with the most projects in the work plan is the Evergreen Playfield Complex on 56th Avenue West. Some work has been completed, such as installing the new 50-foot outfield netting at the E-3 baseball/softball diamond and pressure washing the tennis courts and walkway. Work yet to be completed at Evergreen Playfield includes cutting back and removing overgrown vegetation, repairing some paved areas around the concession stand, repairing gates around the tennis court and the E-3 field, removing picnic tables around the tennis courts, and repairing and painting the E-3 field bleachers.

The biggest changes are taking place at Firefighters Memorial Park on 228th Street Southwest. Demolition of Fire Station 18 is complete; the contractor is now cleaning debris and tearing up some of the old asphalt to make way for an expansion of the park, where play equipment will be moved and additional fencing will be installed.

“Bicentennial Park has received a lot of work over the last three years,” Courtmauch reported. “The transformation has been astounding at that park.” Work scheduled at Bicentennial Park, 4105-222 Street SW, over the next few months includes removal of dead or diseases trees and stumps, cleaning and repairing the vandalized park sign, and preparing the south side of the park for sidewalk installation, which is scheduled for this summer.

Terrace Creek Park along 48th Avenue West, also known as Candy Cane Park due to its red-and-white striped playground equipment, will be receiving a kiosk near its parking lot. Plans for a new look to the front of Veterans Memorial Park at 23400-58th Ave. W. will also be developed this summer.

The benches at Jack Long Park, 22106-58th Ave. W., are scheduled to be repaired and painted. Fences are being repaired and added at Ballinger Playfield, 23000 Lakeside Drive. Ballinger Playfield is also slated to receive a new entry sign.

Work at Forest Crest Playfield, 5006-236th St. S.W., includes trimming or removing overgrowth, repairing fences, and work on the drainage system of the parking lot.

Even Ballinger Island is included; “No Trespassing” signs are scheduled to be replaced later this month.

The work plan also outlines projects to be completed at various city buildings, such as the Recreation Pavilion, the clubhouse at the Ballinger Lakes Golf Course, the library, the police station, and the Operation Facility.

Courtmauch and his crew of six full-time employees maintain the 11 parks, three sports complexes and all the buildings and grounds within the city year-round. The city also utilizes volunteers and contracted work crews to complete special projects.

You can view the entire Park Services and Property Management Spring/Summer Work Plan here.