Redmond is a dynamic place to live, work and play, and unique among suburban cities. Redmond is known for its green natural environment, abundant opportunities for community connections and diversity of cultural, arts and recreation experiences.

Unique Parks

Redmond has 23 parks and more than 1,000 acres of developed parkland. More than 7,000 street trees keep Redmond’s streets shaded in the warm summer months and provide vibrant color throughout the autumn. Among the many unique park features, and located just minutes from downtown, are a sandy swimming beach, more than 800 acres of secluded evergreen forest, more than 40 miles of trails and a historic farm park.

Idylwood Beach Park is located on beautiful Lake Sammamish. Enjoy a family picnic or a kayak paddle. Spend a warm summer afternoon swimming at the lifeguarded beach, play games on the grassy slope or explore the playground.

A tour of Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park features a historic barn, farm animals and a tractor-pulled wagon ride in the grassy meadow. Children greet Eyore the donkey, Bitsy the pig and Thunder the pony in the barnyard. The multi-use trails in the park connect to the Puget Power Trail. The Farrel-WcWhirter equestrian program offers riding lessons for children and adults, as well as the only horse arena with trailer parking open to the general public in the area. The orienteering course provides a challenge for experienced compass navigators. Farm-themed children’s birthday parties are popular, and the annual Big Truck Day on Aug. 30 attracts truck enthusiasts of all ages.

Watershed Preserve has 800 acres of forest and open space, just minutes east of downtown. The trails are perfect for mountain biking, horseback riding or a peaceful nature hike in the woods. The ADA interpretive trail is a unique feature of the Watershed Preserve.

Grass Lawn Park was selected as a 2013 Golden Teddy Awards finalist by Seattle ParentMap. With a spray park, large children’s play structure, unique climbing rocks and meandering pathways, Grass Lawn is a local favorite for families with children. The pavilion and picnic shelters can be reserved for summer gatherings. Lighted tennis courts, basketball hoops, baseball fields and field turf softball and soccer fields are active with youth and adult sports teams year-round.

Downtown Park

Every great city has a signature destination park, a catalyst for economic vitality and a gathering place. Downtown Park will be Redmond’s active community space for celebrating and showcasing arts and events. The park site, located between Redmond Way and Cleveland Street, and The Stone House and 161st Avenue Northeast, is now three-fourths of an acre of grassy open space. The red bistro tables and chairs currently invite residents to share a conversation over a cup of coffee. When construction is completed, the park will be two acres in the heart of downtown. Cleveland will be Redmond’s “main street,” and the arts will inspire and connect the community to the new downtown. Beginning this fall, residents and business owners will be invited to participate in the park master plan process by selecting concepts, character and design features, such as a plaza, walking paths and a great lawn. Residents will begin to see changes soon, starting with the demolition of the Brown Street Building on Cleveland Street later in August.

Redmond Central Connector (RCC)

The RCC is 1.1-mile of paved regional trail on the railroad right-of-way that connects the city’s historic downtown with the town center, Bear Creek Trail and the Sammamish River Trail. The 12-acre linear park will connect to more than 60 miles of regional trails. The RCC features the interactive Erratic Artwork public installation by artist John Fleming. The piece, using reclaimed material from the railroad, in addition to steel, glass and LED lights, explores the notion of time in Redmond’s history and changing environment.

This fall, watch for the RCC phase-one grand opening. The celebration will feature performance and public engagement with bicycle musical instruments, a bike rodeo, and Parks & Trails Commission walks, in addition to the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Phase two of the RCC project will extend the paved trail an additional 1.2 miles north, across the Sammamish River and 154th Avenue Northeast trestles and along Willows Road. This phase is currently in design, and construction will be completed in December 2014.

Bike Park

Final planning for the new bike park is underway and will be available for public comment in early August.

Construction will begin in October and volunteers are needed to help with the project.

Training will be provided. This is a great opportunity for bikers to get involved from the ground up.

Green Redmond Partnership

Green Redmond is a public-private partnership between the City of Redmond and the community building and conservation nonprofit Forterra.

Together with an amazing network of volunteers, supporters, local organizations and businesses, the Green Redmond partners restore and maintain the 1,035 acres of forested parklands in Redmond. Last year, forest stewards volunteered nearly 3,000 hours to improve habitat for wildlife, remove invasive species and provide safe places for people to run and ride. A healthy urban forest benefits everyone.

Get out in the parks this summer. It’s a great day to play!

Craig Larsen is the City of Redmond parks director.