Lake Sammamish State Park
Encyclopedia
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
. The park covers an area of 512 acre (0.800000707339155 sq mi) and has 6858 feet (2,090.3 m) of waterfront and is known for its boat
ing 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.
The state park is the center of a controversy over the ecological benefits of beavers.
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.
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 12.8 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.
abducted Janice Ott and Denise Naslund in broad daylight within four hours of each other at the park. 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.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
at the south end of Lake Sammamish
Lake Sammamish
Lake Sammamish is a freshwater lake east of Seattle in King County, Washington, United States. The lake is long and wide, with a maximum depth of and a surface area of . It lies east of Lake Washington and west of the Sammamish Plateau, and stretches from Issaquah in the south to Redmond in...
, in King County, Washington
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The park is administered by the Washington State Park System
Washington State Park System
The Washington State Park System is a set of state parks owned by the state government of Washington, USA. They are managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. As of 2011, the parks are primarily funded through the state's general fund, augmented by usage fees...
. The park covers an area of 512 acre (0.800000707339155 sq mi) and has 6858 feet (2,090.3 m) of waterfront and is known for its boat
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
ing and watersport activities, such as waterskiing. The park has about 250 parking stalls for vehicle/trailer combinations. Issaquah Creek
Issaquah Creek
Issaquah Creek is a small stream flowing through the city of Issaquah and nearby communities, in the U.S. state of Washington. Its headwaters are on the slopes Cougar, Squak, Tiger, and Taylor mountains in the Issaquah Alps. Tributaries of Issaquah Creek include Holder Creek, Carey Creek,...
enters Lake Sammamish in the park.
The State Park is accessible from Interstate 90
Interstate 90 in Washington
Interstate 90 , a transcontinental Interstate Highway from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts, crosses the state of Washington before crossing the Idaho state line between Spokane and Post Falls...
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.
The state park is the center of a controversy over the ecological benefits of beavers.
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.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.
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 RescueEastside Fire and Rescue
Eastside Fire & Rescue is an emergency services provider located in King County, in the State of Washington, United States. Eastside Fire & Rescue provides fire suppression, fire prevention, and emergency medical services as well as first response for all hazards in the eastern portion of King...
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 12.8 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.
Connection to Ted Bundy
The park gained temporary notoriety when on July 14, 1974, serial killer Ted BundyTed Bundy
Theodore Robert "Ted" Bundy was an American serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, and necrophile who assaulted and murdered numerous young women during the 1970s, and possibly earlier...
abducted Janice Ott and Denise Naslund in broad daylight within four hours of each other at the park. Their skeletal remains were found months later on the side of the road two miles (3 km) away near Issaquah
Issaquah, Washington
Issaquah is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 30,434 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, Issaquah ranks 25th of 522 areas in the State of Washington to be ranked....
, the town nearest to the park.