March 24, 2026 Meeting Summary
-- see also the February 24, 2026 meeting summary
- Welcome and Introductions: Justin Camputaro, Marymoor Park Administrator; Patrick Tobin, Marymoor Maintenance Supervisor; Michael Hobbs, Marymoor Bird Survey, FOMP Secretary; Glenn Eades, Eastside Audubon Bird Loop, neighbor; Shai Hinitz, MAR/C; Jannell Seigwarth, Marymoor Live; Emily Alexander, Marymoor Velodrome Associatio, online
- Guest Discussion - Patrick Tobin, Marymoor Park Supervisor
- Patrick started in September. He’s fairly new to KC Parks. Before becoming the Marymoor supervisor, he with KC Parks North Trails which includes the maintenance facility NE of the model airplane field at Marymoor.
- Patrick's purview includes:
- Managing the 11 full time employees (plus the seasonal workers) that maintain the park: garbage, mowing, restrooms, trees, parking.
- Taking delivery of new equipment, including their new mower with better all-weather capabilities. (Less subject to sinking. Has a “rough deck” that can take out blackberries.) Also got a 16’ mower last year. Two 11’ mowers are also coming.
- Working with a tree guy, Hamilton, to assess and catalog the trees. Hamilton is also developing a “nursery” to raise some trees for planting in the park.
- Fields need a lot of care right now. Grass fields are wet and muddy but need to be ready soon.
- Turf fields are wearing. Patrick et. al. are developing repair kits.
- 20 seasonal workers start April 18th. 19 of 20 are returning workers, so training will not be immense.
- Patrick mentioned a restoration and study project Parks is doing at Marymoor. You can read more about it here: A Living Laboratory in the Heart of Marymoor Park.
- Glenn asked about Hamilton's inventory of the trees, and whether that includes the natural area. Patrick say, yes. There is a significant net loss of trees in the park over the last 20 years, including in the natural areas.
- Michael raised issues about the increase in mowing, and significant concerns about creating a barren mowed environment.
- CIP/Project/Facility Updates:
a. Eastside Audubon Birdloop: Their most recent work party was the first Saturday of the March. More regulars return for these monthly work parties. They have about 20 people per month. They will be working on the north end of the East Meadow.
b. Marymoor Community Gardens: Getting prepped for spring. Food Bank priority this year is greens and herbs.
c. R/C Field (MAR/C):
- Spring Swap Meet and the youth event were held together recently. Youth put on an amazing display of flying. Got some new members, and donations. Parking signs worked, and they did not have a problem with non-airfield cars parking in their lots. Potholes were filled, but there are new ones; Shai asked about whether an apron can be paved at the entrance to the lot.
- The many mowed trails around the flying field have attracted pedestrian use. Temporary signs will go up to discourage people going out there. Permanent signs will have to wait until archeological clearance digs are completed, which will be months away.
- Shai also requested some hydro-seeding for the area along the ADA path, where grass seems to have trouble growing.
- The fence replacement will require some forms filled out by MAR/C, so that CPG can pay for it. Will probably be done in the fall, or in 2027.
- Shai also asked about the bleachers; some were removed a couple of years ago and replaced with smaller ones. Shai would like some larger ones. He’s unclear about when/why they were they were removed, but probably for safety reasons. Patrick said he’d check on the history.
d. Marymoor Velodrome Association: Track cleanup March 28th-29th. They may, or many not, have some classes soon after The season really starts in May.
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: Heronry fencing is up.
g. SES/CMC - Concert Venue & Clise:
- There may be a later-date concert than had previously been planned. Otherwise, the concert calendar is filling out well, with a wide range of kinds of music and events.
- Concessions will be very similar as previous, with similar number of vendors and similar layout.
- Clise rental is refocusing on corporate events rather than aiming at weddings; few people have wanted to get married there, mostly due to inability to assure dates during concert season, and due to maintenance issues with the facility.
h. Events:
- See the updated Calendar page
- Cirque just wrapped up: 62 shows, with more than 100,000 people total. Averaged about 450 vehicles per show (plus VIP, which are accounted separately). Per show attendance was down only slightly from last year, which given the current economy, this was great. The 5-year term of the agreement has finished, so they are negotiating a new agreement.
- Shai brought up the Cirque “billboard” trailer in the Clise Mansion parking lot. Michael pointed out that this billboard-like trailer was very much not in-keeping with past Parks' (unofficial?) guidelines for signs in parks. Justin insisted that the trailer does not violate KC Parks signage ordinances, since "billboard" is defined in code as being a permanently-installed sign. He also averred that the trailer sign was appropriate because of the economic value of Cirque to KC Parks.
i: Capital Site Planning: Clise sun porch repair, and the roof of Clise Mansion are a priority. Other capital-intensive projects will be funded post-2026.
Next meeting, TUESDAY, April 28th, 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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