New South Lynnwood Park Renovation Creates Healthy Playspace

On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, the City of Lynnwood, Trust for Public Land, and Kaiser Permanente will celebrate the reopening of South Lynnwood Park, providing a newly renovated park for over 2,000 residents who live within a 10-minute walk.  Utilizing input from the community, the park will now include new amenities such as pickleball courts, bike service station, neighborhood inspired art, and expanded play and gathering spaces.

The grand reopening will be attended by Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzell, Council President George Hurst and other community partners.

“After two years of working with South Lynnwood residents to design a park that meets local needs, the City of Lynnwood is excited to reopen the South Lynnwood Park,” said Deputy Parks Director Sarah Olson. “These renovations increase accessibility, add more fun for families, and provide expanded health opportunities.”

The renovations are the first updates the park has received since its development in 1978. South Lynnwood Park will serve the most diverse and lowest-income community in the City of Lynnwood, an area that has been historically underserved. Renovations to the four-acre park were made possible by community engagement, planning support, and funding from Trust for Public Land, private funding from Kaiser Permanente, and grants from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
“All people deserve quality, close-to-home access to the outdoors, within their communities,” said Sarneshea Evans of Trust for Public Land. “South Lynnwood Park is a perfect example of how parks can improve community health and protect the environment at the same time.

“Kaiser Permanente believes good health extends beyond the doctor’s office and begins with healthy environments including accessible parks and safe playgrounds,” said Dr. Elisa Frost Granger, Associate Medical Director of Primary Care at the Kaiser Permanente Lynnwood Medical Center.  “We’re honored to support South Lynnwood Park as an investment in keeping our community healthy.”

Based on community input, the park was designed as a space to help community members exercise, gather, and access greenspace that is critical for a healthy life. Improvements include better sightlines so parents can more easily track their children at play, better access for people with disabilities, and an improved picnic area and pond.

 A full list of new park features includes:

• Updated tennis courts with 4 pickleball courts
• Basketball court
• All-weather, urban-size, soccer field
• Picnic shelter
• Lawn drainage improvements
• ADA-compliance with new parking access, pathways, restroom upgrades, and inclusive features
• Mural brought about by an artist-in-residency program partnership with a local school
• Expanded and renovated Playground 
• Native plants
• Bike service station

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About Trust for Public Land 
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 3 million acres of public land, created more than 5,000 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $84 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected more than 9 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org. 
 
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington are committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.6 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information visit about.kaiserpermanente.org.

About City of Lynnwood
Incorporated in 1959, Lynnwood is the economic hub of South Snohomish County. Situated at the convergence of interstates I- 5 and I-405, Lynnwood’s accessibility, variety of housing and employment options, colleges and outstanding park system attract a wide variety of businesses and residents. For its diverse population of more than 36,000, Lynnwood is a great place to live, work and play. Lynnwood Moving Forward: Our Community Vision – the City will be a regional model for a sustainable, vibrant community with engaged citizens and accountable government. Lynnwood is…a great deal more!