Increasing the number of parks and open spaces in Maple Valley is on everyone's mind. Three of the four images presented received high scores. The image of the river trail received the highest score. The natural setting of the trail with an unpaved walkway is similar to the Lake Wilderness Trail a highly prized resource.

Score: +7.0

The Lake Wilderness trail system is a first class facility. The charrette team's design proposal links the trail to the proposed town center to increase the amount of pedestrian and bicycle access through the use of an existing facility.

In addition to the trail, community members indicated during the charrette that neighborhood parks were needed within a 1/4-1/2 mile vicinity of each Maple Valley neighborhood. The two other images that received high scores are prototypes for neighborhood parks in Maple Valley.

The first image depicts a small neighborhood park traversed by paved walkways. The trees and plantings are plentiful and the pedestrian scale lighting has signature posts and globes. This park provides a place of refuge in the community.

Score: +5.8

The other neighborhood park was the favorite of the children who liked it best because "it had lots of space to run around in." This is the type of park that invites family picnics and barbecues, local festivals and fairs. Another appealing feature of this park is the combination of facilities that allow for all sorts of activities to happen simultaneously. There is a lawn for pickup sports games, benches for sitting and people-watching, public art, a gazebo for shade and to use as a stage and mature trees around the perimeter that define the space. This park provides a focal point in the community.

Score: +5.7

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.