Join Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park to celebrate a new addition to the park.
The organization will host an open house to celebrate the completion of the park’s new Sunset Beach Bathhouse at 5 p.m. July 7, 2015.
The event also will commemorate the annexation of the park into the City of Issaquah earlier this year.
Festivities will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by music from the Sammamish Symphony quartet and tours of the new building. Refreshments will be served.
The public is welcome to join local dignitaries, including Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler, who led the discussions to have the park annexed into the city. Also attending the celebration will be state park officials and state legislators, along with award-winning architect Christopher Patano, who will introduce the bathhouse.
“For decades, Lake Sammamish has been a destination for people to experience outdoor adventure or enjoy a quiet moment in beautiful natural surroundings,” Butler said. “We are so excited to welcome this new amenity — and all of Lake Sammamish State Park — into our city.”
In keeping with the vision for Lake Sammamish State Park to be Washington’s signature park for protecting and celebrating urban natural areas, Patano designed the bathhouse to be a model of green construction. Features include:
- A “living” roof with plants to blend with the park’s open space along Sunset Beach
- Solar panels
- Rainwater collectors to irrigate adjacent rain gardens
Reclaimed redwood siding salvaged from a dismantled dam in Northern California is used on the bathroom and concessionaire structure. Over time, it’s expected to add a weathered feel as part of the design.
Other features of the include outdoor showers for swimmers; a covered picnic area and outdoor seating adjacent to the food concession area; and a covered open-air area in the center for events.
The Seattle Chapter of the American Institute of Architects awarded the bathhouse design a “What Makes it Green?” Regional Top Ten Green Award.
The bathhouse is one of many projects intended to revitalize Lake Sammamish State Park. A nature trail and interpretive signs will be completed this fall.
In 2013, the park’s boat launch was renovated and a fully accessible boardwalk to the mouth of Issaquah Creek opened.
New sand for Sunset Beach, improvements along the lakefront sidewalk, boating and fishing docks, and a destination playground are expected in 2016.