EDUCATION | Bellevue students getting an out-of-this-world experience [2]
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INSIDE TODAY: ■ Bellevue’s bass man ■ Art takes center stage ■ Time for Kung Foo Grip ■ Kabobs with a kick
Arts | Bellevue artist to make her Washington art show debut at FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2012 Crossroads. [16]
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A park for the senses
Playground redesign to provide unique sensory experience for kids with, without disabilities BY JOSH SUMAN Bellevue Reporter
For the past 15 years, Robert Rose has dedicated his life to disabled children in the mountain nation of Nepal. Soon, his impact will be felt much closer to home. Rose and the Rotary Club of Bellevue have partnered with the city of Bellevue to overhaul the playground at the Downtown Park, creating a sensory experience for children with and without developmental and physical disabilities. Coloradobased Design Concepts, a landscape architecture firm that specializes in “destination parks,” is set to handle the construction, which comes with an estimated $1.5 to $2.5 million price tag. “My experience in Nepal has taught me when you get people with and without disabilities together, that is where the shift in perception really occurs,” Rose said. “I wanted to do something that would engage and encourage our local community to have that interaction.”
Tactile sculptures encourage active touching and climbing, an interactive music plaza allows a chance to create and respond to sound and a hands-on water feature encourages exploration with different textures, a critical aspect for children with autism. COURTESY DRAWING, Design Concepts Community and Landscape Architects Rose said the idea came to him on a bike ride to Woodinville, when he happened across a city park that listed the local Rotary Club as a sponsor. After
speaking with the board of directors at his own club, Rose met with city of Bellevue Parks Department officials to decide on a redesign that would offer
functional and entertaining elements for all children. The result is a collection of SEE PARK, 9
The Scene magazine
It will be a blast in Bellevue on the Fourth
The Symetra Bellevue Family 4th celebration returns to the Eastside next week, with a jam-packed lineup of activities for the whole family. Co-produced by the Bellevue Downtown Association and the city Where to of Bellevue, this year’s find fun celebration will kick off on the Fourth at 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 4, at Bellevue’s Page 9 Downtown Park. Unique to this year is the debut of the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra, which will perform prior to and during the fireworks display. Also of note is the Community Spotlight Pavilion, which will give attendees the opportunity to connect with local nonprofits. Organizations at this year’s celebration include the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club, the Bellevue YMCA, the Imagine Children’s Museum and Sophia Way. Complimentary event parking is offered after 6 p.m. at the Bellevue Collection (Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square and Bellevue Place). Free parking also is available in the visitors’ lot at Bellevue City Hall (450 110th Ave. NE).
Bellevue narrows options on cutting light rail costs The Bellevue City Council has narrowed the options on how to cut the cost of the East Link light rail line to a handful of ideas for further study. The plan, and a list of principles that will guide the next round of work on cost saving ideas, is now in the hands of Sound Transit. The council approved the plan 6-1 on Monday, with Councilmember Don David-
Scene Magazine Photo Specialists in today’s paper
son voting against it. The city’s ideas are not a decision to incorporate the ideas into the East Link project. Sound Transit’s Board of Directors considered the ideas at its meeting Thursday, after the Reporter’s deadline. The council wants further study of cost savings ideas at three locations: Bellevue Way Southeast/Winters House:
Replace a below ground light rail line with a street-level line. One option that will be studied further is to shift Bellevue Way and the light rail tracks to the west and consider adding a high-occupancy-vehicle lane (HOV); another option is to relocate the historic Winters House to the east, and leave the rail line on the east side of the street.
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Read about Eastside Living Bellwether 2012: reGeneration brings sculptures downtown Eastside bass maker Mike Lull is in the business of rock’n’roll Cooking teacher shares tasty recipes for summer kabobs (425) 455-2126 Check out what’s happening on the Eastside for nightlife All cameras includes one year limited warranty
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112th Avenue Southeast: Replace a below-ground light rail line the length of 112th with a street-level line as much as possible while maintaining access to the Surrey Downs neighborhood. Crossing 112th from east to west at Southeast 15th Street would be accomplished with a new SEE LIGHT RAIL, 9
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› Bellwether 2012: reGeneration brings sculpture downtown › Eastside bass maker Mike Lull is in the business of rock’n’roll › Cooking
teacher shares tasty recipes for summer kabobs › Check out what’s happening on the Eastside for nightlife