January 27, 2026 Meeting Summary
-- see also the November 18, 2025 meeting summary
- Welcome and Introductions: Justin Camputaro, Marymoor Park Administrator; Greg Helland, FOMP President, online; Michael Hobbs, Marymoor Bird Survey, FOMP Secretary; Glenn Eades, Eastside Audubon Bird Loop, neighbor; Rob Thomas, AEG Presents; Kevin Killeen, King County Levy Oversight Board; online - EmilyAlexander, Marymoor Velodrome Association
- CIP/Project/Facility Updates:
a. Eastside Audubon Birdloop:
- January work party: Good turnout, building a group of new team leaders. Next work party is the first Saturday in February, with more planting around the viewing mound.
- They are still dealing with hawthorns taking over the south end of the East Meadow. Glenn is hoping KC staff will apply more herbicides to help in this work.
- The EAS agreement with King County Parks has been extended (2 years?)
b. Marymoor Community Gardens: MCGA has also been renewing their contract with KC Parks, which is expected to be completed in January.
c. R/C Field (MAR/C):
- Healthy number of membership renewals underway for 2026
- Off season (aka not summer) training activities progressing well. Steady flow of students maximizing out trainers' capacity
- Full calendar of club events and meetings posted. Expecting another stellar year of club and community participation
- Their main mower died, they purchased a new one. Using alternate for now. Expecting no disruption in grounds keeping.
- MAR/C will reach out to Justin to coordinate some needed blackberry and brush trimming (removal?) beyond east and west ends of runway
- Summer projects planned to repair and update flight line tables
- Reminder that fence separating spectator area is dangerous and needs to be replaced
d. Marymoor Velodrome Association:
- Currently doing pre-season planning
- Track cleanup in March, their first races will be in May
- Big events in 2026: Junior Takeovers, July 4th weekend; Grand Prix (coincides with Derby Day), July 24th-25th; Regional Championship also in July.
e. Sammamish Rowing Association: No update, except to note that they are rebuilding the dock to the same size, in the same location
f: SODA - Off-leash Dog Area:
- Renewed contract with King County Parks in December, for 5 years.
- The SE corner of the Dog Area was closed during flooding
- Their Marymoor Parking Pass fundraiser is complete
g. Concessions Updates: WashSpot will be having a major roof repair or replacement. The roof is 18 years old.
h. Events:
- Cirque du Soleil's show, Echo, starts January 30 and runs through March 22nd. This is the last Cirque show under the current contract. Negotiations will start after an evaluation of continuation
- Six concerts have already been announced
- With the new contract, the Movies in the Park will be a little different. Parking will be free, so there will just be a single fee to attend
- There may be drive-in movies in September, though definitely not in October
- On July 19th, there will be a World Cup watch party in the concert venue for the WC final
i. Maintenance Items:
- Tennis court light switches are being improved
- The flag pole near the Mansion Lot is being replaced, with a garden underneath
- Picnic B, near the ballfields, will be redesigned. There will be some pavement, and new barbecues. Should make Picnic B more attractive
- Velodrome security lighting problems are being repaired
j: Capital Site Planning:
- Marymoor Plan finally moving along post-levy. Prioritization includes pedestrian and traffic issues #1, Clise repairs near the top
- Phase II of the new entrance trail - construction now targeting March
- The ParkMobile app is active, allowing parking fee payment by phone
k: Cricket/Multipurpose Facility Proposal: It has been decided that, should a cricket facility proceed, it will NOT be located on the Recreation Pad, nor the velodrome.
l: Concert Venue: The contract for the Concert Venue will be up for bidding in 2027, for the 2028-2033 time period. AEG Presents is interested in making a bid.
- Traffic Data - Justin presented some of the traffic data Parks has gathered for 2025:
- Total vehicles: 1,549,204; Avg. daily: 4244; weekly: 30,088; monthly: 129,100
- Total pedestrians: 280,571; Avg. daily: 769; weekly; 5,451; monthly: 23,560
- Total annual park visits: Conjecture, based on assumed people per car, adjusted for different situations: 3,381,127
- Vehicle rates were fairly similar in all seasons, though definitely lower in the colder, wetter months with fewer special events
- Day of week makes no significant difference to usage!
- Days over 14k cars: 10, over 15k: 6, over 16k: 3. These all correspond with large events such as Ganesh
- Pedestrian rates distinctly higher in warmer months
- Use of new access trail from Light Rail still low, but expected to increase dramatically this summer
- East Entrance used less than West Entrance, but in closer than a 40/60 split
- Hour-by-hour traffic data shows little evidence for a large cut-through problem - perhaps just a few hundred cars a day (certainly under 10%)
The park is clearly used at about its vehicle capacity all of the time, with steady, high usage 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. (slightly higher from 3 pm - 8 pm), seven days a week. Any traffic over ~400 cars/hour tends to need active traffic management or traffic slowdowns will result. Even with active traffic management, any large event causes backups.
Next meeting, TUESDAY, February 24th, 2026 in the Art Barn
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These notes do not constitute an official record of the meeting. They may have inaccuracies and omissions. If anyone has any complaints about the content of these notes, they should direct them to Michael Hobbs at fomp@marymoor.org, and he will endeavor to correct them.
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