Kirkland Parks Foundation announced a collaborative project with the Rotary Club of Kirkland and the city of Kirkland to fund the construction of a new picnic shelter at Waverly Beach Park.

The picnic shelter is part of a larger park improvement plan that will replace the playground, add ADA accessibility, improve public access to the park, enhance drainage and improve habitat for fish in Lake Washington.

“The addition of the shelter to this larger project will bring a much-needed community meeting area to one of Kirkland’s most popular and scenic parks,” said Sally Otten, Executive Director, Kirkland Parks Foundation. “Picnic shelters at our parks are very popular and a new one at Waverly Beach will be appreciated and frequently used by our community.”

“We’re very pleased to partner with the Kirkland Parks Foundation and the city of Kirkland to fund enhancements to our local parks,” said John Pruitt, President, Rotary Club of Kirkland. “We have a long history of funding legacy projects: the arbor at Heritage Hall, the Everest Centennial Pavilion, the Boys & Girls Club Teen Room to name a few. We’re looking forward to having our annual picnic at Waverly Beach in a few years.”

The picnic shelter will be located at the southern end of the park and will offer eight picnic tables that seat 48 people, an ample preparation area and two outdoor grills. In addition there will be a retaining wall for the shelter, enhanced drainage and 150-foot pathway along the shoreline to enhance public access. As with other picnic shelters in Kirkland city parks, the Waverly Beach shelter will be available for reservations for group functions.

The total estimated cost for the picnic shelter and site is $150,000. The Rotary Club of Kirkland and the city of Kirkland have each pledged $50,000 to the project. The Kirkland Parks Foundation has committed to working with the community to raise the remaining $50,000. Funding must be completed by June 2015.

The Kirkland Parks Foundation invites the entire community of Kirkland to make tax-deductible contributions of any dollar amount to this project. Donations of $500 or more will be recognized on a permanent plaque displayed on the picnic shelter and will be grouped at levels of $500, $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. Donations are tax-deductible.

If fundraising is successful, the contract will be put out for bid in the summer with construction scheduled to begin fall of 2015 and completion anticipated in the spring 2016.

Galen Page of Page and Beard Architects is designing the picnic shelter has been kind enough to offer his services on a pro bono basis.