LAKE TYE ADVENTURES

Adventures

BY CHRIS HENDRICKSON

hether you’re stopping by to catch some live music, have a barbecue or let your kids splash around in the water, there is something for everyone at Monroe’s Lake Tye Park. W

Sometimes referred to as Monroe’s own Green Lake, the sparkling 42-acre lake and long list of park amenities make Lake Tye Park one of the city’s most-loved and widely-utilized community parks. Located in the westernmost portion of Monroe, the lush, 64-acre park features sports fields, tennis courts, restrooms, picnic tables, lakefront beaches, fishing, a nonmotorized boat launch, summertime concessions, playground equipment, a veterans memorial, a newly-renovated board and blade park and more.

One of the park’s prime features is the easily-navigable 1.5-mile oval walking path, which smoothly encircles the lake. Its flat surface is well-suited for any user, accommodating walkers, joggers,

strollers, wheelchairs, and the four-legged members of your family. Two trips around the lake conveniently equal 5-kilometers in distance, making Lake Tye an optimal place to hold community fun-runs.

The lake is a peaceful retreat any time of year, offering a distinct and appealing separation from the noise and bustle of the city. Since the lake’s formation in the early-1990s, nature has gracefully begun to curl in around the edges, subtly framing the park with the tiniest hint of unrestrained wilderness. Summer sunsets shimmer across the lake, accenting the sky with shades of pink and deep fuchsia.

An evening stroll might reveal a cluster of water fowl, or even a glimpse of one of the bald eagles that call Monroe their

Photo by Chris Hendrickson

MONROE’S LAKE TYE PARK

14964 Fryelands Blvd., Monroe, Washington

Lake Tye Park is a 64-acre community park located in the west part of Monroe. Its showcase is a 42-acre, manmade lake that offers swimming, fishing and nonmotorized boating. Check the City’s website for kayak and paddle board rentals during summer months.

Trevor Feeble performs a trick at Lake Tye Skatepark

“THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SEEING THE PARK PACKED WITH FAMILIES AND KIDS ...”

MONROE PARKS DIRECTOR • MIKE FARRELL

home. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout every spring, which swim in its depths alongside largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish and brown bullhead.

In recent years, the park has become one of Monroe’s favorite community gathering places, known for free, citysponsored events including the annual community egg hunt and National Night Out Against Crime. During the summer, hundreds of guests arrive for Monroe’s free summer concert series, spreading out blankets, sipping locally-crafted brew in the beer garden, and dancing the night away.

Every August, the city parks department hosts Movies Under the Moon, which offers a series of free, family-friendly blockbuster hits. “There is nothing like seeing the park packed with families and kids, enjoying an evening out under the stars”, said Monroe Parks Director Mike Farrell.

It is more than just its features that make Lake Tye Park special, said Farrell, it is the community members and guests that give the park its incredible vibrancy.

If adrenaline is more your speed, Lake Tye Park has you covered there as well!

July 25–28 brings the 2018 Nautique Wakeboard World Series, a spectacular event featuring the world’s top wakeboard athletes as they compete for the series title. There isn’t a bad seat in the house as spectators gather to watch these elite athletes perform gravity-defying stunts while being pulled behind wakeboard boats. Monroe is one of five stops on the worldwide tour, boasting a position among Melbourne, Australia; Cancun, Mexico; Pine Mountain, Georgia; and Miyoshi City, Japan. Tri Monroe, held in June, is a nationalcaliber competition for teenage triathletes age 13 through 19. Top finishers qualify for a spot in the USA Triathlon National Championships, potentially paving their way to the Olympics. Another amazing opportunity for spectators, Tri Monroe is designed to give athletes a taste of Olympic-style racing, showcasing exciting high-speed transitions and awe-inspiring athletic skill.

Pack a picnic, bring your beach towels and head to Monroe’s Lake Tye Park for an enjoyable escape from the ordinary. Whether you seek thrills or serenity, Lake Tye is for you!