Residents urge Bothell to restore skate park at Bothell Landing; council hears fundraiser and design ideas

Dozens of residents urged the Bothell City Council on Jan. 14 to prioritize a new skate park at Bothell Landing, pressing for a covered, professionally designed “destination” facility that supporters say would serve youth, families and regional competitors.

At public comment, speakers representing a volunteer skate park committee and local programs described plans and fundraising progress. Bill Hogan said the effort already has significant private support and said a destination park could draw visitors, help local restaurants and hotels and provide productive recreation for youth. Pam Miller, a committee organizer, said she submitted a written letter with links and asked council to review the materials as staff and the council consider next steps. Other speakers — including former professional skaters and local skate‑school instructors — stressed the value of a covered park, lighting and inclusive programming for all ages.

Supporters urged the council to include a high‑quality skate‑park footprint in the preferred conceptual design for Bothell Landing. City staff and the project consultant later showed a conceptual plan that includes a skate park and pump track in the east portion of the site; the consultant said the current concept provides roughly 15,000 square feet of skateable area and can be expanded eastward to approach the 20,000 square feet local skaters said is desirable for competitions.

Why it matters: Advocates framed a rebuilt skate park as both a community‑building amenity and an economic draw for downtown Bothell. Several council members and staff acknowledged strong community interest and said design decisions and permitting (including shoreline and riverfront rules) will limit some choices; they asked staff to continue engagement during design development.

What was said: “We’d like this to be sort of a destination location,” Bill Hogan told the council, describing fundraising under way and the potential to increase restaurant and hotel usage downtown. Consultant remarks at a later study session indicated the skate park was one of the higher‑priority park elements in public outreach results.

Next steps: The park’s preferred conceptual design will move into a design phase; staff said the project will be scoped, phased and costed in greater detail and that the council will receive future updates, permitting information and funding options (including a donations policy staff plans to bring forward).