Mathay Ballinger Park Expansion & Park Improvements

Mathay Ballinger Park located in SE Edmonds is nearing completion of an expansion and improvement project. The project included land acquisition to expand the size of the park, installation of a permanent restroom, an asphalt path to connect the parking lot, playground and Interurban trail, multiple park amenities and additional parking. This project also included new entry-way landscape and beautification efforts.

Park Expansion - Mee Property Meadow

The 1-acre Mee property, which was purchased with a

 Snohomish County Conservation Futures grant, expanded the footprint of Mathay Ballinger Park by nearly 50%.  The site has been improved with house and outbuilding demolition, rough and fine grading, addition of topsoil and mulch, hydroseeding, security bollards and fencing. The property officially opened to the public in April 2026.

 Park Improvements

• Permanent restroom facility
• Asphalt path connecting the parking lot, playground and Interurban Trail
• Expanded parking lot
• Shade Structure (grant funded)
• Benches and picnic tables
• Drinking fountain

Yost Park Bridge Repair & Shell Creek Restoration Phase 1 & 2

The 45-cre Yost Park contains a portion of Shell Creek which travels through the northern portion of the park and has eight bridges crossing the creek. 

Yost Park Bridge #6 

In 2022, bridge #6 was closed at the recommendation of a structural engineer who identified significant undermining of the bridge abutment caused by stream erosion. While the bridge deck itself is intact, the support structures beneath it are failing, making it unsafe for public use. 

Unfortunately, replacing the bridge is not a simple repair; it could require a complete rebuilding of the abutments farther away from stream edge or another location all together. It will require professional engineering design, environmental permitting, and specialized construction. Because the project crosses a salmon-bearing stream and a designated critical area, multiple federal, state, and local permits are required, which increases both complexity and cost. A full replacement is estimated at $75,000–$100,000.

Rather than invest in a costly replacement of one bridge that may not be needed or may fail again in the future, the city plans to evaluate the entire Shell Creek Valley (northern portion of Yost Park) including all eight existing bridges, several of which are also deteriorating.

The City’s ability to move forward with the project sooner has been affected by budget reductions of approximately 30% to the Parks and Recreation Department over recent years, which limits available staff time and resources.

We appreciate the community’s interest in the bridge’s closure and desire to re-open it as well as thinking that reinstalling a small pedestrian bridge may seem simple. However, due to regulatory requirements, environmental constraints, safety standards, and the need for professionally engineered solutions, the City cannot accept volunteer construction or informal replacement options. The upcoming Shell Creek corridor study will provide the information needed to determine appropriate trail and bridge locations and ensure long-lasting, environmentally responsible improvements.

Shell Creek Restoration Phase 1&2