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Lea Hill

Corner of 124th & 319 St. SE
9.0 acres

Lea Hill Park is primarily an active athletic park with two ball fields and dugouts, tennis courts, and play structure that is located near Green River Community College. A trail runs along one side of the park.

Park Features:

Two Athletic Fields
Play Structure
Two Tennis Courts

Park History

Named for the property development and transferred from King County Parks to Auburn in 2002.

For information about the future of the park, check out the Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan.

Park Planning Efforts

Lea Hill Option 1 (PDF)

Lea Hill Option 2 (PDF)

Notes from the May 18, 2010 New Lea Hill Park Public Meeting
The current Lea Hill Park property is proposed to be developed by Green River Community College (GRCC) for their new Trades Building. Construction of the new building is scheduled to start in 2013. A new park is being planned on property just north of the current park. The development of the new park is slated to start during the summer of 2011.

An Open House was held at the Lea Hill Community Clubhouse (12120 SE 319th Place, Auburn, 98092) Tuesday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. The purpose of the open house was to begin a discussion for the park design; present several site planning concepts to interested individuals; solicit input from the Lea Hill Community and other park users as to the vision of how the site can be used; and answer general questions about the project.

Approximately 13 people attended the meeting including neighbors, representatives of GRCC and Auburn City Council Member Bill Peloza. Presenting to the attendees was Daryl Faber, Director of the City of Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation Department, Charles Warsinske, ASLA and Michael McMasters of Susan Black and Associates, Inc. Landscape Architects.

The presentation included a brief overview of the character of the neighborhood and the landscape setting of the property, issues and considerations in the planning and design of a park at this location and the relationship of the new park development to the development of GRCC’s new Trades Building. Also presented was a draft design program for the park identifying possible elements to be included such as baseball field, picnic shelter, playground, walking paths and soccer field. 6 design concepts were presented illustrating the possible arrangement of the program elements on the property.

During the 1½-hour open house many comments, ideas and questions were offered for the new park development.

Issues

Concerned that the new park would be redeveloped for college facilities by GRCC at some future date.
Parking was mentioned several times as a concern. Options discussed included on street parking on NE 316 Street with restrictions for park use only, and after hours, shared parking at the new Trades Building and the Child Care Facility.
Illegal activities and after hours use of the park
Noise generating activities
Scheduling of new facilities (baseball field, picnic shelter)
Street crossings to get to and from the park
Ensure that the park has proper drainage allowing full use of fields

Questions

If there are baseball fields available at other parks in the vicinity, do we really need a field in the new park?
Will the college use a 220-foot baseball field? (Yes)
Will the new park be lit at night? (Probably yard lights and pedestrian lighting, fields will likely not be lit)
How will the san-i-cans work? (Universal access portable toilets have been successfully used in other parks in Auburn. With the use of ornamental screens, these facilities are a reasonable alternative to an expensive, stand-alone restroom building.
How/where does a person cross the adjacent streets to get to and from the park?

Comments

The demand for 220-foot baseball fields is the fastest growing need for local leagues.
The naming of the new park was discussed with “Martin Park” being offered as a possibility.
Art in the park was discussed and centered on “agricultural-related” art elements
Keeping an open character to the new park was mentioned as desirable.
Use pervious pavements, rain gardens and other Low Impact Development features
Existing tennis courts are currently used for a variety of non-tennis activities
Tennis courts are a lower priority than other court facilities
Focus on activities for teens ages 13 to 15

Suggested Program Elements (beyond those presented)

Fenced area for unleashed dog run
Small skateboard elements
Volleyball venue (formal or informal)
Dodge ball venue
Play elements for all age groups
Multi-use courts
P-Patch Gardens

Next Steps

The next steps for this project is to review the comments and issues and come back at the June 15th open house with a couple of refined options for the placement of the park program elements. At this meeting we will have templates for various facilities (such as p-patch plots, skate board elements, soccer pitch sizes, etc). We will also bring catalog cuts for a variety of facilities and equipment that could be installed in the park.

Notes from the June 15, 2010 New Lea Hill Park Public Meeting

The current Lea Hill Park property is proposed to be developed by Green River Community College (GRCC) for their new Trades Building. Construction of the new building is scheduled to start in 2013. A new park is being planned on property just north of the current park. The development of the new park is slated to start during the summer of 2011.

At the first Open House was held at the Lea Hill Community Clubhouse (12120 SE 319th Place, Auburn, 98092) Tuesday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. The second open house was held at the Lea Hill Community Clubhouse and began at 6:45.

Approximately 20 people attended the meeting including neighbors and representatives of GRCC Presenting to the attendees was Daryl Faber, Director of the City of Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation Department, Charles Warsinske, ASLA and Michael McMasters of Susan Black and Associates, Inc. Landscape Architects.

The presentation included a brief overview of the information presented at the May 18th meeting, a review of what was heard at that meeting and a review of two new concepts for the development of the park.

Generally, there was a positive reception of the park concepts. Comments included the following:

Design elements need to anticipate the possibility of tagging
Park too small for a dedicated off-leash area
Baseball field to be oriented to the northeast
Located skateboard elements along widened paths
Lets have some “cow art”
Keep slopes in the meadow to a minimum to allow active use
Pedestrian-level lighting desired along 316th
P-Patch spaces not a priority
Increase the size of play areas
Discussion of permanent verses temporary fencing around baseball field
Generally liked Option 1 over Option 2
Use area northeast of the baseball field in Option 1 for skateboard elements
Generally impressed with the multiuse Kompan Freegame concept with integrated soccer and basketball goals

Next Steps: The next step for this project is to refine Option 1 and present to Parks Board at their September 2010 meeting.

Driving Directions

From I-5 or Hwy 167, take the Hwy 18 East. Take the Auburn-Enumclaw Exit. At the end of the ramp, turn north onto Auburn Way. Continue on Auburn Way North to 8th Street NE or 1.0 mile. Turn right onto 8th. Continue across the river and up the hill on Lea Hill Road (road becomes 312th) to the blinking light at 124th. Turn right on 124th. The entrance to the park is on the right.