Wapato Hills Park Master Plan

Metro Parks is inviting the community to an open house to revisit and comment on the Wapato Hills Conceptual Master Plan. The plan, developed and approved by Metro Parks Commissioners in 2005, lays out a long-term vision for the design of Wapato Park. The plan provides a long-range guide for future development and improvements to the park, including uses and activities that might occur at the park, and seeks a balance between historical qualities of the park and current and future needs of the community.

Wapato Park was officially established as a public park in the 1920s, after having served as an informal and private recreation facility since the late 1800s. The 2005 plan is the first comprehensive plan for the park. Since 2005, the park has seen improvements to lake water quality, acquisition of the remaining private properties existing within the park; a restoration of the bathhouse; lakeshore plantings to reduce erosion, reduce use by water fowl and reduce water mixing from wind; improvements to ADA accessibility; landscaping and native plantings; paved pathways; an off-leash dog area; irrigation enhancements; and parking lot repairs. In 2012, the park celebrated the completion of three phases of improvements worth more than $4.6 million at a grand re-opening.

Of the key improvements listed in the Master Plan, some have been accomplished, others are still on the future list.

• Bathhouse Renovations
• Lake Enhancements
• Sculptured Garden
• Playground / Sprayground
• Off-Leash Dog Area
• Reserved Picnic Areas
• Trails
• Roadway & Walk Enhancements
• 72nd Street Café & Parking Area
• Utility Upgrades
• Site Furnishings

A Metro Parks public meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 24 at 6:00 p.m. at the STAR Center will give the public a chance to review the plan, and comment on the park’s future. Download portions of the plan from the Wapato Park Improvements page for more detail on the existing 2005 master plan.

What priorities for improving the park would you like to see moving forward?