The City of Bellevue is continuing its review of the Ashwood Park Master Plan Update, moving forward with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process to evaluate the project’s potential impacts. The update, proposed by the Bellevue Parks Department, is a non-project action, meaning that while no construction is scheduled yet, it provides a framework for future development.
Located at 10875 NE 12th Street in the city’s downtown core, Ashwood Park spans approximately 3.82 acres adjacent to the Bellevue Library. The proposed master plan update includes a set of design alternatives, with one preferred option—referred to as Alternative F—identified as the most likely path forward.
The preferred plan features:
- 1.25 acres of open lawn and plaza space
- A 0.25- to 0.5-acre off-leash dog area
- A 4,000 to 8,000 square foot children’s play area
- Two picnic shelters
- Expanded walking paths
- A new parking and loading zone
- Enhanced landscaping and planting throughout the park
While the original site plan was adopted in 1990, the current update reflects changes in population, land use, and demand for downtown open space. The SEPA review represents a more advanced stage of the update process, building on earlier steps that included community input and a formal recommendation from the Parks & Community Services Board in early 2025.
In February, the board voted unanimously to recommend Alternative F and the formal naming of the site as “Ashwood Park.” Board members noted the plan’s balance of passive and active spaces, its connectivity to the Bellevue Library, and its alignment with the evolving needs of the downtown neighborhood.
This new phase of environmental review focuses on evaluating potential effects of implementing the updated plan, including impacts to traffic, stormwater, vegetation, and urban use patterns. No final decisions have been made yet, and the city has committed to additional community engagement before adopting a final version of the plan.
Ashwood Park has long served as a shared community space and is currently home to a large open field, paved plazas, and a parking lot used by the Bellevue Library and KidsQuest Children’s Museum. The updated plan would expand its role as a neighborhood park while addressing citywide goals for accessible, multi-use green space in downtown Bellevue.
