My family has learrned a secret about September....this is the month when we find the very nicest conditions at Coulon Park.

It's beautiful year round, but this is the month when you can park your car easily, find plenty of empty tables and barbecues all day long, and it's still warm enough to splash around in the water.















Some shots from this afternoon.

Cathy, center of picture, makes her way upstream in the "not-so-lazy river"


My lovely wife discovered a fun work-out late this summer, water-walking in the "lazy river" of the Henry Moses Aquatic Center.

She has been enjoying it daily for the last couple of weeks, and she fully intends to enjoy it all summer in 2009.

She and her friends exercise by making like salmon, as they try to fight their way "up-stream" in the lazy river. She says the camaraderie is as good as the exercise. She gets in at no extra cost by using her regular swim pass; Renton residents without swim passes can get in for $3.00.

The pool has been open for water-walking Monday through Thursday in the mornings. Tomorrow is the last day this season. 

Renton gets a friendly mention in Seattle Times Columnist Jerry Large's story on making economic adjustments in downturn:

Here is an excerpt:

My family is making the kinds of adjustments typical of middle-class Americans. We're driving less ($55 to fill a tank), buying more frozen vegetables and fewer fresh ones, bringing lunch to work more often.

On Father's Day, we ate fish and chips at Gene Coulon Park rather than going to a more expensive restaurant.

The park is in Renton, which is determined to become the new Kirkland or Bellevue.

The economy looks bright from Coulon, which is ringed by new condos and apartments. It's on the edge of The Landing, a huge development still partially under construction.

This area has boomed in recent years, but we are now feeling some of the economic bumps plaguing the rest of the country.


Click here for the whole column.

This IS frustrating! We need to see some strong regional and state efforts to better clean up the water in Lake Washington. This is not a problem that Renton can solve.

_______________________________________________________________________________


>>> Gerald Rerecich 05/22/08 12:40 PM >>>
Hello,

The water quality check of Coulon on 5/20 by Public Health was not good. They will test again today and we should know the results by early afternoon on 5/23. Depending on today's test it may be necessary to close the beach over the weekend.

Although the swim area does not open until June 21 Recreation staff is preparing signs in the event of a closure and rec staff will be on duty to monitor the area and keep people out of the water over the weekend.

I will be off on 5/23 and Kris Stimpson will be the point of contact for the Recreation Division. Kris will check with Public Health at 11am or so and will take action if the beach needs to be closed. Kris will also alert the enclosed group one way or the other regarding a closure.

Thanks,

Jerr y

At a council offsite meeting today, we were discussing the issues we have with litter throughout our state right now. I will carry a wrapper or a smashed can in my pocket for miles to avoid dropping it where it does not belong, yet so many people seem to just discard trash wherever they are...whether driving or walking.

I was speculating that the national advertising campaigns in the 1970s might have helped instill a strong aversion to littering in many in my generation, and perhaps it is time to pull out some of the old ads.

Mayor Law thought it might be more effective to just give councilman/former-officer Don Persson a taser, and give Don permission to zap anyone he catches littering.

Until Don gets his taser, here is one of the ads that I remember best from my youth:

Scuba Diver/photographer, Travis S , took these interesting pictures between Coulon Park and Southport. Some of the pilings in this area are pretty large, and come close to the surface, so boaters need to use a lot of caution.

If you ever wondered where Clint Eastwood got those trademark squinty eyes, it may have been from staring into the sunset while lifeguarding at our own Kennydale Beach park.

"Lean and tall, stripped to his trunks, lolling in his chair or pacing the sand, Clint carved quite a figure at Kennydale Beach in Renton, where he was assigned. 'He was a nice-looking young kid, well built, said George D. Wyse, the athletics supervisor for King County who hired Clint. 'He drew quite a gang of young ladies around him." "There are stories,' added Penny Wade, chief of budget and personnel for King County Parks nowadays. 'He never had to bring his lunch. He never had to do any of the normal duties like beach clean-up, because all the girls would do it for him."

from; "Clint: The Live and Legend, By Patrick McGilligan"




"I said don't splash...do you feel lucky punk?"



Clint Eastwood as he looked in that time period (location of photo unknown)

It is frustrating to see Coulon Beach Park closed with increasing frequency due to fecal coliform. With its 55 acres of land and a mile of waterfront, it's too valuable of a public asset for us to sit by and watch the beaches get closed for yet another weekend due to pollution. Our Northwest summers are too short already.

For years we've had no closures of this park, in part because we have been paying about one-hundred-thousand dollars per year to keep geese away from the park and to stop the geese from breeding.

But last year, and this, we seem to be getting a new source of pollution from an as-yet undetermined source. Even though we have the goose population much reduced from years past, the fecal matter is getting worse and we have to do something about it.

Some possible causes are failing septic systems or broken sewer pipes in older neighborhoods around the lake. Maybe... but I sometimes wonder if Metro's own sewer interceptors, which run right along the lake shore and even under water (carrying sewage from Mercer Island and the entire East Side of Lake Washington), might be the source.

It's not right for the responsible jurisdictions of Metro, King County, and the State of Washington to sit by and watch as Renton maintains this priceless public property with the highest quality of care all year; then watch as we hire life guards, summer maintenance assistants, extra police, and a cadre of other summer help so that the entire south County may have free public access to Lake Washington compliments of Renton taxpayers; AND THEN SHUT OUR BEACH.

The mayor should demand that Metro fix this situation immediately...if she can't turn the situation around, the city council may have to step in.



1958 campaign poster to encourage voters to form Metro, to clean up Lake Washington



Coulon Beach Park, 50 years later

For King County information on beach closures click here

( More Pictures!..Click here to see more pictures from the Coulon Beach park closure )

One of the most controversial rezones that has been proposed this year is the up-zone of the Kennydale Blueberry Farm from 'RC- Resource Conservation' to 'R8-Residential-8 units per acre.' Citizens have been appealing to council not to allow this, as it would likely usher in the end of the beautiful 3.5 acre, 50-year-old U-Pick blueberry farm in Kennydale.

All sides of this dispute make solid arguments. The owner of the farm points out that the property was zoned R8 until about thirteen years ago, at a time when the city suggested she should have the new RC zoning to help her better mange and protect the farm. But she never received any benefit for making this change, and has instead watched as more and more restrictions were placed in the RC zones. At this point, the owner is ready for retirement, and ready to move on.

The city staff and the Planning Commission have been inclined to agree with the property owner, and are recommending that the Council make the upzone to R8.

Meanwhile, Kennydale residents are speaking overwhelmingly against the rezone, as they love the Blueberry Farm and they understandably don't want to see it go away. They know that the upzone will make it viable for development, and that it will be sold for such. They also make strong environmental arguments for keeping it zoned RC.

Like all the other outspoken residents, I too want to see the Blueberry Farm stay. In addition to providing the community with a bountiful supply of inexpensive fresh blueberries, it sits on an ancient peat bog, probably thousands of years old. The blueberry bushes receive natural irrigation from underground springs...these springs bubble up to the surface through the peat moss and form the headwaters for Kennydale Creek. State biologists have confirmed that this formation is a rare environmental feature (known scientifically as a 'fen'), and to me it seems a shame to see it simply be divided into back-yards of new homes.

But all is not lost for blueberry farm lovers. At the last council meeting, we received the latest figures on it's full development potential. It turns out, even with R-8 zoning, the 3.5 acre property could only be subdivided into two or three building lots due to the substantial wet-land setbacks mandated by state law. Since it is can only be three buildable lots, not twenty-four like we often see on 3.5 acres, it could theoretically be in a price range where the public could chose to purchase it for a park, open-space, or to run it as a blueberry farm (the way Bellevue does with their blueberry farm.)

So, I did what I often do when I calculate that there may be a solution that will satisfy all parties...I suggested it. In this case, I proposed we openly and publicly consider a possible purchase of the Kennydale Blueberry Farm for a park. I even made a motion that we study/discuss this option at an upcoming committee of the whole meeting (which I chair), and my motion was swiftly seconded by my brilliant colleague Marcie Palmer. Thanks Marcie! But then, like we have seen too often on the council this year, rather than openly debating the merits of my motion, those that were against my motion (including a certain lawyer-councilman and the mayor) tried to convince me that my motion was illegal! The mayor even went as far as to ask me to withdraw it! Their logic seemed to go like this... we can never discuss purchasing sensitive lands for parks or open-space in an open public meeting, because then if we decide to buy the land the owner may raise the price.

Ummm...I am pretty sure that the owner would eventually find out we want to buy it...like when we make an offer to her. Furthermore, we should not be deciding what we are going to do with large amounts of taxpayer money in secret...it is always right to have such discussions in open public meetings. And ironically, ensuring we pay fair market value would be an honest and fair use of the eminent domain power (unlike using it to take property from one private owner and give it to another private owner as I fought in the Highlands).

So where did we end up? With certain people frowning at me for not withdrawing my motion, I instead moved to table it until next week to allow our city attorney to study the issue. And Councilwoman Palmer seconded my motion to table. (Thanks again Marcie!). Since a motion to table is not debatable, it passed with no more squabbling.

This item will be picked back up off the table next week, so stay tuned and be prepared to weigh in on this during audience comment if you are so inclined. Personally, I don't know if we could afford to purchase the blueberry farm for a park. But what I do know is that before we see it gone forever we owe it to the citizens of Renton to at least talk about our options.

We teamed up with another family to participate in the River Days Fun Run this morning, which benefits Communities in Schools. We called our team "over the top" which seemed a little fitting consider how goofy we may have looked!



Yes, running with 5 year olds and pushing strollers and being detoured by potty breaksmay not get you the speediest time.....










But it can get you the winning view of the fastest runners as they enter the home stretch!

We had a GREAT time, and the walk was organized supurbly...shirts, water, refreshments, and music at the end. Good accomodation for speedsters like those shown, and the over the top families like ourselves. We were also in the parade this morning, and had no difficulty making it to the start on time. Thanks Recreation Staff and Fun Run Sponsors! (Valley Medical Center, Valley Orthopedic, Wizards of the Coast, Proliance Surgeons, Cat's Eye Group, Sign Prints, Inc.)

Show tunes performed from upcomming teen musical, Damn Yankees!




Vigilant Lifeguards scan the water constantly, as hundreds of swimmers frolic throughout the hot and busy day. Occasionally the lifeguards had to clear the water due to lightning, and on occasions when children were reported missing from their parents. The vistors were supportive, and the lifeguards perfomed expertly.



  

  

  


  


Scenes from a festive Fourth of July.

I've heard many wonderful rave reviews of the festivities! I am extermely proud of all our recreation and police staff, along with an army of volunteers, that made it all a success.

A friend of mine posted a really neat slideshow of the event here: http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery.php?instanceid=31408420

There was a bit more excitement on the South end of the park than we would have liked, as too many visitors crowded the area and an altercation nearly broke out. After a temporary interuption in the influx of visitors, the police managed to secure normal functioning of the park, and the fireworks went off without a hitch. It seemed to me that the rain and lightning, on such a hot sunny day, added a sense of intensity to the air which might have made visitors a little edgier than they would have been otherwise. Suggestion for next year: We had a terrific classic care show at Coulon on the Fourth, in which many beautiful cars were displayed for the crowd to admire and enjoy. Perhaps next year we might want to hold this event the afternoon and evening of July Third, to give all participants on both days a chance to spread out a little more and take pressure off the park on the Fourth of July.

We held our first cinema at Liverty Park last Saturday Night. A terrific choice of films...Jurassic Park. The recreation department did a fantastic job setting up, and the location could easily accomodate 1000 or more. A permanent snackbar is located near the basketball courts, and it offers hot dogs, pizza, candy, and drinks. I would estimate Saturday's crowd at 200-300, perhaps off a little because it was the first show of the season, a new location, and a four-day travel weekend for many folks.

We have a great line up of shows for the season. Next Satruday it will Be "City Slickers,"

Thanks to Spirit of Washington Dinner Train for co-sponsoring the cinema with the City of Renton. The Spirit of Washington's gift of $20,000 makes this summer event possible.