Totem Lake community joins with King County Parks to build, dedicate playground at 132nd Square Park

Dozens of volunteers will celebrate with picnic, games Sunday at noon

Kids in the Totem Lake community are among the dozens of local volunteers who are helping King County Parks install a new playground at 132nd Square Park near Kirkland this weekend.

Their work will pay off Sunday at noon with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and old-fashioned picnic to celebrate completion of the first phase of improvements at the park, which is at 132nd Avenue Northeast and Northeast 132nd Street.

"This is an excellent example of a passionate community taking ownership of their park" said T.J. Davis, King County Parks project manager. "King County Parks is thrilled to award a $100,000 grant to the community, to help them translate their civic dedication into on-the-ground improvements that will completely rejuvenate this park."

More work is scheduled for the park. Funded by a $100,000 grant awarded to the Totem Lake Neighborhood Association by King County's Community Partnerships and Grant Program, phase two improvements could include a half-court basketball court, a natural amphitheater and work out stations around the park.

A new reflexology path will be installed later this year by King County Parks and Partnership for Parks partner, ÁegisLiving.

Bring your own picnic and a blanket to the park this Sunday and enjoy the entertainment and games, including a water balloon toss, three-legged race, sack race and tug of war. Gifts and services that have been donated from several Totem Lake businesses will be raffled off every half-hour from 12:30-3:30 p.m.

The King County's Community Partnerships and Grant Program is a public/private partnership initiative that empowers user groups, sports associations, recreation clubs and other community-based organizations to develop, build or maintain new or enhanced recreation facilities on King County land at no new operations and maintenance costs to taxpayers. More information on the program is available at www.metrokc.gov/parks/cpg/. For more information about King County's reflexology paths, visit www.metrokc.gov/reflex.

King County Parks - Your Big Backyard, offers more than 25,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails, plus pools and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. Learn more at www.metrokc.gov/parks/.