FAQs

A park master plan is a comprehensive and strategic document that outlines the vision, goals, priorities and recommendations for the development, management, and enhancement of a future park. Specifically, this park master plan will consider the existing landscape features and incorporate community feedback to create a design for the future park and a roadmap for implementation through design and construction.  

The City of Renton strives to provide residents access to developed parks and trails within a ten-minute walk (1/2) mile from home. Research shows this is the distance most pedestrians are willing to walk to reach a destination and is an emerging national standard. Located in the north end of the East Plateau planning area, this park site has remained undeveloped for many years and is located in a residential area that currently does not have access to a park within a 10-minute walk. It also offers new and unique opportunities to create new trails and enhance connectivity to existing and future trail networks both inside and outside of Renton. To fill this so called “service gap”, developing a park in this location is identified as a high priority in the Renton Parks, Recreation and Natural Areas Plan. This location is also identified in the Renton Trails and Bicycle Master Plan due to its local and regional significance for future trail connections.

Hearing from our Renton community is a central element of this planning process. Our initial community engagement focused on the theme of park opportunities, constraints, and general programming themes. We aimed to reach a broad cross-section of the community, particularly those near the future park site, by sending over 4,000 mailers to addresses within a 1/2-mile radius of the proposed park. We received written feedback through the project website, emails, letters, and in-person at the Renton Community Center, Highlands Neighborhood Center, Renton Senior Center, Neighborhood BBQs, and the Renton Farmers Market. Over 100 individuals participated in an online survey and/or provided written feedback regarding initial design concept alternatives. All this input is considered in the final concepts, helping us plan a park that meets a variety of community wants and needs.

Pickleball is an exciting and rapidly growing sport, and we are actively exploring opportunities to meet the increasing demand. In 2025, we plan to expand courts at Talbot Hill Reservoir Park and have recently converted a tennis court into two pickleball courts at Liberty Park. Balancing diverse community interests can be challenging. Throughout our engagement process, we've heard concerns about noise and the impact on other activities due to pickleball play. We've also received numerous requests to increase the number of courts across the city.

While many residents eagerly anticipate new pickleball facilities, we are committed to ensuring that their inclusion does not adversely affect other park uses or wildlife habitats. We are dedicated to expanding offerings across Renton's park system and facilities. We value feedback from the pickleball community and are actively addressing these considerations.

Please stay tuned for updates as we continue to enhance our park offerings in Renton.

Yes! Planning for renovations at Earlington Park in Renton's West Hill community began in early 2024, and planning for a new park in South Renton will kick off in summer or fall 2024. Additionally, the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Area Plan, which helps us better understand needs and priorities across the park system, is scheduled for an update starting in mid-2024. We're busy planning across Renton's park system!

Unfortunately, the new park planning area is not serviced by sewer. While the existing and previous houses in this area used septic systems, septic systems are not an allowable facility for the new park under Renton's current municipal code. Though they are not always the most preferable option, we are considering options for portable facilities in the park concept plan as a temporary solution, since creating a new sewer connection is a potentially costly and complex undertaking. Note that while providing restroom facilities is not a requirement for the park, we feel that offering some option is preferable.

Trail construction in and near wetlands can be thoughtfully approached to avoid and minimize impacts. We are excited by the opportunity to meet the community's desire to access and appreciate nature. Building a trail through a wetland can improve conservation by fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of wetland ecosystems, providing controlled access to sensitive areas, facilitating educational opportunities, promoting stewardship and community involvement, and enhancing habitat restoration.

We recommend avoiding the site at this time. The area is largely undeveloped and lacks essential infrastructure for visitor safety and enjoyment. Anyone who does visit the property is advised to respect the posted closures and signage, be considerate of adjacent private property, and avoid bears, cougars, and other wildlife that frequently travel through the area. We appreciate your cooperation as we plan and prepare for the future development of the site.