The scope of work for the Campus Park Improvement project and this proposed design
process may include, but is not limited to:
o Walking trails
o Disc-golf course
o Children's Play Area, including both traditional and nature play
o ADA Compliance from parking to play area
o New crushed rock walking paths and nature trails
o Bike/pedestrian connectivity
o Natural area and outdoor education
o Public Engagement
o Limited Multi-Agency Coordination
This scope of work is focused on making a connected park space throughout the property.
Historically this park has been used as a pass through for KM sports facilities. While this will
remain a use, the facilities/amenities listed above will expand the recreational value at this
park. Further increase in recreational value would involve addressing the natural areas
inundated with invasive species which limit visibility through the understory.
A children's play area is included in this scope of work and should be a focus area attached
to the upper parking lot. This play area should be complementary to the connectivity planned
between the two larger natural areas of the property, the high school parking lot and KM
sports fields. The proximity to the natural area provides the opportunities to expand from
traditional play structures into nature play, further expanding recreation value. The selected firm will work with the city and the community to develop a shared vision for the park which includes a conceptual design with renderings and sections. The public engagement phase will be city-led with support provided by the consultant for graphics and presentations. After concept design, the project will move quickly into full design phase including 30/60/90% design milestones and full construction documents. The intent is the park will be redeveloped in two phases. Primary tasks of design will include: A. Inventorying and assessing existing conditions B. Analyzing opportunities and constraints C. Assisting City staff with 3 rounds of public engagement D. Preparing graphics and exhibits for meetings/project website E. Development of alternatives for public feedback F. Refining the chosen alternative into a final concept design H. Design Development I. Construction Documentation I. Support through permitting and bidding J. Construction Administration A more detailed scope and fee will be developed with the selected consultant from the RFQ process Campus Park is a 16.5-acre park located in the East Hill South region of Kent directly adjacent to Kent Meridian High School and across Route 516/Canyon Drive from Mill Creek Canyon. This property was purchased and assembled into Campus Park between 1975 and 1982, in agreement with Kent School District (KSD) as part of their French Field Renovation project around that time. Part of the purchased property had a residence which was leased to a non-profit. Today, the park is a mostly wooded area with a parking lot at the end of South 252nd Street. There are multiple pathways within the park connecting Route 516/Canyon Drive, parking lot for Kent Meridian High School, the parking lot at the end South 252nd Street, and the sports fields at Kent Meridian (KM). The park has steep walking paths throughout natural areas, and lighting along the eastern side of the park that follows the connectivity between parking and the sports fields. Paths are asphalt, non-ADA compliant, and in many places heaved by root damage. Adjacent to the parking at South 252nd Street is a flat grassy area. This area and the parking are seldom used by park patrons and have no programmatic use but present an opportunity to expand recreation value to Kent residents living in the multi-family units surrounding the park. The flat area was once the residence that was part of the original property purchase. Since then, Kent Parks demolished the building and filled the hole to make way for future redevelopment opportunities. The population immediately served by Campus Park, approximately 1/2 mile radius, is generally between the ages of 25 and 50, white, and renting, and in two distinct income brackets. Regarding race, 51% of the population is white followed by 21% Black or African American and 18% Hispanic. The median income of this population is $36,048 (compared to $66,174 median in WA) per year. However, 12% of the population makes under $10,000 and 11% of the population makes between $75-99,000 a year, demonstrating a wide income gap. 75% of the people in this area rent and 40% of the multi-family housing units have over 10 units per facility with less than 10% availability of 2-4-unit buildings. Campus Park has steep topography throughout the site as well as a seasonally wet ditch running through part of the site, under the road and into Mill Creek Canyon. The park has existing water services for minimal irrigation. There is a lighting system along the eastern edge walking paths connecting the Kent Meridian High school parking lot and their sports fields on both the east and south of the park. These lights are owned and managed by KSD. Campus Park is located across Route 516/Canyon Drive from Mill Creek Canyon but connecting these two parks for students and community members would be ideal. As part of the Earthworks and Mill Creek Canyon Framework Plan a proposed flyover from Campus Park to the Plateau Area of the canyon proposes to connect students to a large natural area and possible outdoor education. Also proposed is a pedestrian bridge connecting the east and west side of the canyon and surrounding neighborhoods.
.webp)
