Redmond will have another park by the end of the year if planned construction is completed at Hathaway Overlook Park, at the southeast end of the Maple Street Bridge in the NW Rockcrest Court cul de sac.

“It’s the only (park) that lets you gaze into the canyon,” said Annie McVay, Parks and Administration Division manager for city Public Works.

Although the planned park will be one of the smallest in Redmond, at about a half-acre, it will be the only park directly budding up to the cliffs of the Dry Canyon in Redmond. The unique location offers a bird’s eye view of the canyon. The location is a lot in the cul de sac, and is now a well-manicured lawn.

“It adds another opportunity to sit and relax and enjoy some open space,” McVay said.

The project began about eight years ago, when the city decided to commemorate Paul Hathaway, a city councilor who passed in 2005, and dedicated the park in his name. Hathaway was known for his volunteerism and work with the parks division. The park is a celebration of his contributions to the city of Redmond.

The park will receive four parking spots, meeting ADA standards, gazebo, picnic table, and shade trees. The city has a long-term goal of adding a staircase down the Dry Canyon at Hathaway Park, which it has pursued over the past four years.

The city has applied twice for a grant to build the staircase, which is estimated to cost $350,000 to $450,000, but was not successful. Officials recently decided to establish the area as a park after not being awarded funding a second time — instead of waiting until money was received. McVay said that the staircase at Hathaway is the only current additional staircase planned in the Dry Canyon and has been a goal of the city’s for more than five years. She said it will remain a priority until sufficient funding is supplied and the staircase can be built.

“It’s a small park so it will be great for a picnic,” McVay said. “But since it is a small park we don’t expect it to receive a ton of usage.”

The currently planned construction at the park is estimated to total less than $50,000, and will be completed “in-house,” according to McVay. Construction hasn’t begun, but the park is planned to finish before the end of the year. It is the last major Parks Division project of the year. The next project will be improvements at Quince Park, which are scheduled to begin Spring 2017. Another potential project, which was brought to the city by a group of local bicyclists, is a paved bike park. McVay noted that the project is still in the “dream phase,” but said it had potential of becoming reality.

“It’s inspiring, so that means it might come true,” McVay said.

Hathaway Overlook Park brings Redmond’s park count to 22, based of the parks map at the city website.

“It’s a quiet spot to look at the canyon,” McVay said. “You could probably get a lot of solitude there, it wouldn’t be like going to Sam Johnson and having a lot of people around.”

— Reporter, 541-t548-2185, cbrown@redmondspokesman.com