Lake Sammamish State Park
| Lake Sammamish State Park | |
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| Location | King County, Washington, USA |
| Coordinates | 47°33′35.4″N 122°3′35.5″W / 47.559833°N 122.059861°WCoordinates: 47°33′35.4″N 122°3′35.5″W / 47.559833°N 122.059861°W |
| Area | 512 acres (2.07 km2) |
Lake Sammamish State Park is a park at the south end of Lake Sammamish, in King County, Washington, United States. The park is administered by the Washington State Park System.[1] The park covers an area of 512 acres (0.80 sq mi) and has 6,858 feet (2,090 m) of waterfront[1] and is known for its boating and watersport activities, such as waterskiing. The park has about 250 parking stalls for vehicle/trailer combinations. Issaquah Creek enters Lake Sammamish in the park.
The State Park is accessible from Interstate 90 at exit 15 and the north end of State Route 900. Local access uses East Lake Sammamish Parkway SE and NW Sammamish Road, both are separate alignments of former State Route 901. Public transit (bus) riders can access the Park via Metro Transit's routes 200, 216, 217, and 927.[2]
The state park is the center of a controversy over the ecological benefits of beavers.
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[edit] Facilities
Lake Sammamish State Park includes numerous day-use facilities allowing a wide range of recreational uses. The park's facilities are grouped in three areas. The area west of Issaquah Creek includes picnic tables and shelters, two swimming beaches (Tibbetts Beach and Sunset Beach), restrooms, an RV sanitary dump, and athletic fields. Parking is available in many lots. Athletic fields include two softball fields, seven full-size soccer fields, and four youth-size (smaller) soccer fields. Separate parking is provided near each group of soccer fields. An entrance on NW Sammamish Road provides access to this area.[3]
The area east of Issaquah Creek and west of East Lake Sammamish Parkway contains a boat launch, trails, and natural habitat. At the boat launch, recreational boaters can access Lake Sammamish, park their vehicles and boat trailers, and use restrooms. The area east of East Lake Sammamish Parkway contains the Hans Jensen Youth Camp. Entrances on East Lake Sammamish Parkway SE provide access to these areas.[3]
[edit] Public safety
The park is generally a safe place to visit. Park Rangers, who are commissioned law-enforcement officers, and local police officers patrol the park and enforce state laws and park rules. Eastside Fire and Rescue provides emergency medical services and fire protection.
As a popular lake front park, the park has its share of tragedies. Swimmers drown in the cold water (approximately 50 to 55 °F (10 to 13 °C) year-round. Boating accidents cause injuries and property damage.
On 17 July 2010, a shooting occurred about 9:00 PM. At the time, the park was packed with visitors enjoying a sunny summer day. Police responded to the park and locked it down. Firefighters and paramedics arrived to treat wounded. Two men died at the scene, and four men went to local hospitals.[4]
[edit] Connection to Ted Bundy
The park gained temporary notoriety when on July 14, 1974, serial killer Ted Bundy abducted Janice Ott and Denise Naslund in broad daylight within four hours of each other at the park.[5] Their skeletal remains were found months later on the side of the road two miles (3 km) away near Issaquah, the town nearest to the park.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Lake Sammamish Park web page". Washington State Parks. http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Lake+Sammamish&pageno=1.
- ^ "Issauquah Neighborhood Bus Routes". King County Metro. 7 June 2010. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/neighborhoods/issaquah.html. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ a b "Lake Sammamish State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/thumbnailAndmaps/8600042.pdf. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ John Flick; KOMO-TV staff (18 July 2010). "Deadly State Park shootout started with a taunt". SeattlePI.com. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/423587_shootout18.html?source=mypi. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Ted Bundy, notorious serial killer". CourtTV Crime Library. CourtTV. http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/bundy/9.html.
[edit] External links
- Gracey, Celeste (April 27, 2011), "A Park Out of Place: The long-time struggles of Lake Sammamish State Park : Part 1", Bellevue Reporter, http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/120823919.html
- Gracey, Celeste (May 6, 2011), "A Park Out of Place: Can Lake Sammamish State Park find a future, support in the community? : Part 2", Bellevue Reporter, http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/121336674.html
