You’re invited to Newcastle Trails’ Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 26, 6:30- 8:30+. It’s a public meeting, open to all. We’ll have a social period 6:30-7 (refreshments, displays, handouts), meet 7-8:30 (short talks, trails report), and end with a brief business meeting. The meeting is at the Newport Hills Community Church, 5833 119th Ave SE, Bellevue. Enter the parking lot from SE 58th (map).
City Council Report. At their 3/19 meeting, there were many requests at the Public Hearing, but the City Council voted 4-3 to follow the Finance Committee’s recommendations for ARPA funds: $342K for Infrastructure (generator, traffic calming) and $1.28M for Public Safety ($55K license plate reader, $1,225K for police & fire cost increases 2025-2026, adding a 12th officer). Council members Clark, Griffen, Lakhotia, and Tallman voted for the motion, with Burford, Sherlock, and Charbonneau opposed. Sun Burford spoke for the Promenade, Ariana Sherlock raised questions (extra taxes for 12th officer after 2026? officer availability for 2025-2026?), and Paul Charbonneau moved to add $25K for Community Development (wayfinding signs). His amendment failed 4-3.
Trails Report. This is an exciting time for Newcastle’s trail system, with major projects nearing completion. The Lake Boren Boardwalk on the south lakeshore will be completed by May, linking the west and east shores, and providing a shorter, more scenic route for the CrossTown Trail – which will be further improved by a new boardwalk in Hazelwood Park, and ongoing trail work east of the Parkway. The Horse Trail from Hazelwood south is now connected to May Creek Park and Trail by a safe route with a crosswalk, and the remaining steep section is being improved with switchbacks.
The new Alterra Trail is complete within the Alterra subdivision, starting just north of the Newcastle Elementary School on 136th Ave SE. And the Olympus Trail within Olympus has been rebuilt with greatly improved walkability, benches, and great views, by PSE. The Olympus HOA worked closely with PSE to create, in effect, a linear park with a public trail – at no cost to the City. PSE has made similar improvements in the corridor west of Lake House Residences, improving the China Creek Trail.