Shoreline could get a Pump Track on the Interurban Trail
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Shoreline could purchase a 1.35-acre vacant lot along the Interurban Trail to be developed into a Pump Track
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| An aerial image from the city of Shoreline shows the location of the long-empty vacant lot at 14925 Aurora the city could purchase to develop into a public park. |
By Oliver J. Moffat
The city of Shoreline could purchase a long-empty vacant lot at 14925 Aurora for a new public park. The 1.35-acre vacant lot next to Seattle Ski and Snowboard is accessible from both Aurora and the Interurban Trail.
The location on the Interurban Trail makes the site a good spot for a BMX “pump track” - a closed loop course with berms and humps where cyclists gain momentum by shifting their weight instead of pedaling.
The owners agreed to sell the land to the city after a plan to build a 258-unit apartment building fell through because of pandemic-related financing issues.
The neighborhood needs more parks, according to the recently adopted Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Arts Plan (PROSA) plan, and the city set a goal to add a park in the Westminster Triangle neighborhood and along the Interurban Trail.
In 2021, the City bought an 0.43-acre property nearby for Westminster Park on N 150th Street.
The city says the owners of the adjacent Seattle Ski & Snowboard want to add bike sales and repairs, dining, and affordable housing for workers.
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| Cyclists ride the Pump Track in Leavenworth Wa, photo by Thayne Tuason licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike |
The city says the owners of the adjacent Seattle Ski & Snowboard want to add bike sales and repairs, dining, and affordable housing for workers.
Development of the site into a bike-focused destination park could help support the longstanding Shoreline business.
According to the city, the property has had “encampment issues” and has been used by unsheltered campers.
The city plans to use Park Impact Fees - one-time funds collected from housing developers - for the purchase. The city has applied for a $1 million grant from the state towards the purchase. An independent appraiser estimated the fair market value of the parcel at $4.4 million.
A proposed Skatepark and Pump Track at the Park at Bothell Landing could receive $1 million from the King County Parks Levy renewal that will appear on the August ballot.
The Shoreline city council will vote on whether to approve the purchase after hearing public comments at the Monday, May 5 meeting.
According to the city, the property has had “encampment issues” and has been used by unsheltered campers.
The city plans to use Park Impact Fees - one-time funds collected from housing developers - for the purchase. The city has applied for a $1 million grant from the state towards the purchase. An independent appraiser estimated the fair market value of the parcel at $4.4 million.
A proposed Skatepark and Pump Track at the Park at Bothell Landing could receive $1 million from the King County Parks Levy renewal that will appear on the August ballot.
The Shoreline city council will vote on whether to approve the purchase after hearing public comments at the Monday, May 5 meeting.
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11 comments:
Wait wait wait!!! The Shoreline school board just recommended asking taxpayers for $7.5 million dollars to fund education in Shoreline and our city could sell land for $4.4 million?!?! Why does everything have to fall on taxpayers. Sell assets to make up the shortage like taxpayer households would need to do instead of raising taxes.
I can’t help but wonder if the real reason has more to do with the disappearance of cheap labor than with the pandemic. After all, it’s been years—long enough that it shouldn’t still be disrupting the construction of massive apartment buildings popping up all over Seattle. When labor becomes less disposable, suddenly the math behind these projects doesn’t work as well.
Love it!
What a great idea, anything that encourages kids to get outside and interact with one another.
The city has heavily lobbied the state to increase the property tax cap because it's supposedly having trouble making ends meet on the taxes we now pay. Then it somehow has the money for a $4.4 million property that would be better utilized as commercial storefront space along Aurora.
Even if every grant comes through, this has "bad idea" written all over it.
Yess this is fabulous
ummm- I'm pretty sure Washington State is in a bit of a budget hole - I'd prefer grants and bonds rather than push the state further into dept to finance the park -
People are moving out of the area over cost of living concerns and our officeholders go on spending like there is no tomorrow.
Bikes keep kids out of trouble. I’ve seen pump tracks full of kids who otherwise would be inside on a phone or playing video games. It’s money spent to improve our kids lives.
This is an amazing idea! Our kids will love going to this park in shoreline over driving far for the nearest bike oriented park. Biking is getting more and more popular every year. AWESOME!!
It's pretty clear that we need to do a better job of teaching civics/government in our region. Reading the posts, it's clear that several people do not seem to realize that the Shoreline School district, City of Shoreline, and Washington State are discrete public entities with their own budgets and own objectives. This seems like a creative and positive action that would transform a chunk of poorly utilized land into an asset for the city's youth. The city and the land owners should be commended.
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