Luther Burbank Docks and Adjacent Waterfront Renovation and Upgrade

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The City's Public Works Department is planning to renovate the waterfront at Luther Burbank Park. Built in 1974, the docks and adjacent waterfront need major repairs to continue to provide the public with shoreline recreation. In particular, the fixed height piers are not useful for smaller boats and don't serve the needs of most current boaters or the City's boating programs.

The City is completing a design to:

  • Replace the south piers with floating docks for small (26' or less) power boats and non-motorized craft
  • Renovate the north pier
  • Expand the cobble beach and provide an accessible route to the ordinary high water level
  • Renovate the plaza with permeable paving, landscaping, furnishings and art
  • Install overwater stairs next to the Handsome Bollards to provide seating and contact with the lake
  • Stabilize the Boiler Building for continued boat storage and future reuse as a small craft boating facility
  • Renovate the restrooms and concession stand for boating programs
  • Construct a deck and railing on top of the restroom annex to provide space for viewing and passive enjoyment of the lake setting
  • Improve drainage across the site while minimizing impacts to the nearshore lake environment
  • Install a lake water intake and irrigation pump to irrigate the swim beach and Calkins Point

This work will use the Luther Burbank Park Master Plan to guide the design process. The plan provides a vision of a waterfront activity center centered around small boats including power, sail and paddlecraft. The design will also consider how to make the waterfront more accessible and attractive for the general public.

This project has received (so far) funding from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, The U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, and King County Flood Control District. Washington State Department of Natural Resources leases the shorelands at no cost for public access to the waters of the State.

The City's Public Works Department is planning to renovate the waterfront at Luther Burbank Park. Built in 1974, the docks and adjacent waterfront need major repairs to continue to provide the public with shoreline recreation. In particular, the fixed height piers are not useful for smaller boats and don't serve the needs of most current boaters or the City's boating programs.

The City is completing a design to:

  • Replace the south piers with floating docks for small (26' or less) power boats and non-motorized craft
  • Renovate the north pier
  • Expand the cobble beach and provide an accessible route to the ordinary high water level
  • Renovate the plaza with permeable paving, landscaping, furnishings and art
  • Install overwater stairs next to the Handsome Bollards to provide seating and contact with the lake
  • Stabilize the Boiler Building for continued boat storage and future reuse as a small craft boating facility
  • Renovate the restrooms and concession stand for boating programs
  • Construct a deck and railing on top of the restroom annex to provide space for viewing and passive enjoyment of the lake setting
  • Improve drainage across the site while minimizing impacts to the nearshore lake environment
  • Install a lake water intake and irrigation pump to irrigate the swim beach and Calkins Point

This work will use the Luther Burbank Park Master Plan to guide the design process. The plan provides a vision of a waterfront activity center centered around small boats including power, sail and paddlecraft. The design will also consider how to make the waterfront more accessible and attractive for the general public.

This project has received (so far) funding from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, The U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, and King County Flood Control District. Washington State Department of Natural Resources leases the shorelands at no cost for public access to the waters of the State.

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    I'm interested in starting a non-profit rowing community and wanted to see if there is potential to store some boats in in the boiler building once complete? Would love to be part of any discussions around this project moving forward.

    Lauren A. asked 4 months ago

    Hi Lauren, thanks for reaching out. Rowing was explored in the scoping phase of this project. The future use of the Boiler Building will depend, in part, on what types of boating are likely to meet the demand for boating programs. We currently have high demand for paddle and sailing camps. I would be interested in discussing your ideas more and filling you in on some of the conversations we have already had on this topic. Please call or email me at your convenience. Paul West 206-677-1028 paul.west@mercerisland.gov.

    rowing, crew, shell
    rowing crew shell
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    What is the total project cost and how will this benefit residents of Mercer Island as opposed to the off island users? It seems like we are creating better access to the park for everyone else and using Island residents property tax dollars to pay for it all. Am I missing something?

    JT asked 9 months ago

    The total project cost is $7.5 million. The majority of this cost will be funded by grants in support of the regional importance of the park. A statistical survey of park users conducted by Bellevue College found that 60% of park users are not from Mercer Island. We expect that non-City funding will pay for the project in a similar proportion.

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    Will the dock include recharging stations for electric and hybrid power boats? As and Island community that prioritizes sustainability and a pleasure boating industry that is heading to electric powered boating Mercer Island can take the lead on this. Perhaps we can even get a partner to install the charging station --but a a minimum let's get the power stubbed out for the future!

    EastSeattle asked almost 3 years ago

    Great idea! Unfortunately, there will not be power on the docks. The power feed to the waterfront is very limited and there are no plans to upgrade that.

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    Would it make sense to consider moving MIPD Marine Patrol to the new docks at Luther Burbank (they are currently located under I-90 bridge and their space seems a bit small and dated). Might allow Marine Patrol to have larger/better dock space and potentially storage or small precinct facility near the dock. Could then upgrade the public boat launch docks (at a later date) and have more access points for the public there, which seems to be a busy launch site.

    Jason asked about 3 years ago

    Sgt Brian Noel of the Mercer Island Marine Patrol weighed in on this answer. Security is the biggest issue. Luther Burbank Parks is a harder site to secure. Marine Patrol's current location allows interstate 90 to be a gigantic roof over the boats which allows us to do a lot of maintenance and work out of the weather. We would need good vehicle access. A lot of the equipment we take to and from the boats requires access by vehicle, and or the boat ramp. Moving the boats to Luther would move the boats a significant distance away from the police department which would slow our response times. The only way we would agree with moving the boats to Luther Burbank would be if the police department moved there also. 

    Additionally, this idea is not part of the Luther Burbank Park Master Plan. That was the product of two years of conversations and negotiations within the Mercer Island community. The resulting plan preserves the open space character of the park. To relocate marine patrol to the park would require amending the master plan which likely would be controversial.

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    On August 5: The video made mention of the Boiler Bldg. as being central to this idea of a gathering place. What is the funding available for this project to upgrade/re-design that building? by Peter Struck via email

    over 3 years ago

    in 2017, the City completed a feasibility study for the renovation and reuse of the boiler building in accordance with the Luther Burbank Park Master Plan. The first step is to stabilize the building to preserve it for future reuse. City staff have identified the Washington State Capital Heritage Grant program as a source of matching funds to begin some of this work. This work has been proposed in previous capital budgets but has not yet received funding. 

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    in order to tailor the best deck size and deck freeboard design, etc. wouldn't it help to have hard data on usage among boaters (and the different types), pedestrians, fishing, etc. Clearly, if the predominate use was kayaks that would suggest a different design/layout than if it was going to be a fishing pier?

    over 3 years ago

    It would help to have use data. That is not easy to come by. We have time-lapse video of the docks from 2017 that we have looked at. We did a survey of dock users in 2018. The problem with both of these sources is that they do not anticipate recreation trends or changes in demand with the construction of new facilities. Currently not a lot of paddlecraft use the area, but would they if it was more accessible? The State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) has surveys that show trends in outdoor recreation which we can study. 

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    On August 5: In listening to the videos, it sounded like this meeting would allow input that would help the consultants in their design. To put in context, is the next step a 30% design phase? by Peter Struck via email

    over 3 years ago

    The next step is a concept plan which is typically considered 10% design. This is deciding what components will be designed in what configuration. It does not get into the nuts and bolts of how the components are constructed for the most part.

Page last updated: 07 Nov 2023, 01:49 PM