A fun morning for families is planned at Redmond’s Grass Lawn Park, 7031 148th Ave NE, Thursday, Aug. 7 from 10-11:30 a.m.

The official program and ribbon cutting by Mayor John Marchione will be at 11 a.m.

The City of Redmond has coordinated the ribbon cutting with family activities, including a scavenger hunt throughout the park, to celebrate Grass Lawn Park’s new all-season picnic pavilion and park upgrades.

Construction of the third phase of the Grass Lawn Renovation Plan is complete. Renovations include a new, all-season picnic pavilion and restrooms, children’s play area with splash pad and climbing boulders, fountain, a redesigned basketball court and a new maintenance building. The all-season picnic pavilion offers glass walls that can be opened, a covered patio with café tables and chairs, space heaters, a fireplace and artwork.

In addition to these wonderful new elements, the park is designed to be friendly to the environment, thanks to a generous grant from the Washington Department of Ecology. The new maintenance building has a green roof, meaning rain water is absorbed by the plants on the roof, which cleans the water and decreases the storm water run-off that flows to the storm sewer system.

Additionally, the roof on the all-season picnic pavilion collects rain and discharges it into new rain gardens, which also clean and minimize runoff. The special asphalt used for trails and the new basketball court surface also percolates, cleans and reduces storm water run off.

The final phase, the renovation of existing ball fields 2 and 3, is currently underway. It includes new synthetic turf, consolidation of two softball fields to one multi-use field with soccer field striping, restoration of backstops and new sports field lighting.

An expanded lawn area near the picnic shelter will create a greater open area for play and casual use, while new landscaping will improve aesthetics and provide a visual buffer at the park boundary.

For more information about the Grass Lawn Park celebration contact Jill Smith, City of Redmond events and marketing administrator, (425) 556-2360 or jesmith@redmond.gov.