"Much can seen by looking" (Yogi Bera). This town center green space was given a relatively low Visual Survey score by children. Through an interview process, the kids pointed out to the charrette leaders that they did not like the green space because it had a fence. Fourth grade and eighth grade children interviewed at their schools commented on being unable to cross fields because of mud, finding golf courses to be barriers, and not liking fenced yards. Children do not like being locked out of places. Children also commented that there is only one tree. Children, as adults, love trees.

Safety and Security. Children's instincts may be well founded. Police specialists know that transparent edges to a park, surrounded by houses, is best for low crime rates. Parents know that their children are more secure where people can watch them. The more children and adults present, the more secure a place becomes. A feeling of inclusiveness, not walling off, is what prevents crime.

Link everything to everything

A key to reducing suburban sprawl is to promote many ways of accessing properties, and to hold to a walkable scale. Charrette participants placed a high value on walking and bicycling. They also voted to have small neighborhood size parks close to their homes (1/8th to a 1/4 mile radius). Maple Valley is fortunate to have significant open space that can be acquired and preserved to form a continuous network of trails, interconnecting many neighborhoods with an emerging town center and other commerce and service providers.

Build a Town Center

A highly interactive town center is the key to providing a base for new jobs and building a strong local economy. It is a place for performing arts,

movies and common play activities. It is a safe place where children can come and go, and a place where a working transit system can center. It may be a place where medical services can be provided and where seniors and others on fixed incomes can find quality housing. This is also a place where local shops and other small businesses can provide for daily needs. It is a place where people can be found night and day, which in itself creates security.

Where should the town center be? Based on core community values, the most likely location for the town center is adjacent to Lake Wilderness. Two locations were considered. The consultant recommended location, as depicted in the illustration, is adjacent to the southern side of northeast quadrant of Lake Wilderness.

This area will be accessed by a new entry to be created off SR 169 at the current intersection of the Tahoma School District Central Services Building. An elliptical roundabout with a prominent tree or tree cluster centered in the roundabout will create a visual anchor for one end of the new boulevard. At the opposite end of this 80' boulevard, sitting prominently several hundred feet back from the Lake, will be the new city hall, post office, and a cluster of civic buildings.

Alternative locations. Consideration was given to a location at the opposite end of the lake. Reduced access, lack of connectivity to future neighborhoods and topography all limit the ability to use the other point on Lake Wilderness.

Create Numerous Parks

Every house should be within 1/8th or 1/4 mile of a small park. Residents identified the need for a number of neighborhood parks. Large, regional parks are hard to access by most residents. Today most children have to be driven to places to interact and play. The availability of parks in current neighborhoods and planned developments should be a high priority for community development. In some cases, small parks of 1/2 acre or more can be created in existing developments. For future developments park land and actual installation of play equipment should be provided in a central area.

As Facilitated and Recorded by Walkable Communities, Inc.
Website Produced by WebTown Technologies.
E-mail comments to Gregory J. McCormick
       AICP, Director of Community Development.