Photo by Sara Bruestle

Mayor Joe Marine cuts the ribbon at the grand-opening ceremony of Phase 2 of Lighthouse Park on July 24.  Also pictured: John Petroff, Mukilteo Historical Society president; Melanie Field, of the Parks & Arts Commission; councilmember Tony Tinsley; artist James Madison; councilmember Emily Vanderwielen; Randy Lord, City Council president; councilmember Linda Grafer; and John Barker, of Barker Landscape Architects.

Phase 2 of the Lighthouse Park’s renovation is nearing completion, and to celebrate the grand opening of that section of the park, the City of Mukilteo held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the lighthouse on July 24.

 “The celebration is really about a continued vision for Lighthouse Park,” said Mayor Joe Marine, who cut the ribbon at the ceremony.  “Just to be able to see it transform into what we knew it could be is really exciting.”

The renovation is an ongoing four-phase historical preservation and recreation project.
The city, in partnership with the Mukilteo Historical Society, is collaborating with interested tribes, archaeologists, artists and residents to design a park that protects cultural resources, including the Light Station, and encourages recreation.

Mukilteo had the park transferred from the state in 2003, with the hopes of someday turning it into something more than a parking lot and restrooms.

Phase 2 of the renovation focuses on the entrance to the park, and includes the widening of the turnaround for trucks and buses; the burial of power lines to open up the view of the lighthouse; and the addition of native plantings, rubber sidewalks, restrooms, a band shell and Native American artwork.

Local artists James Madison and Joe Gobin, both Tulalip tribal members, are building a metal sculpture of salmon for the center of the roundabout that represents the four directions and the four elements – earth, water, fire, and wind – important to the Native American culture.

“Native Americans used to come in the summers to fish and camp here, so they were here long before we were, and bringing them back and having a presence at this location, I think, is important,” Marine said.

Madison said he and Gobin also plan to paint orca on the sidewalk of the roundabout to look as though they are fishing for the salmon.  He said they’ll continue the salmon and orca theme in 8-foot planters, too.

“We’re water people, and that’s the main focus here,” Madison said. “With this art here, we have salmon and the orca whale or ‘black fish,’ as we call them, and wanted to keep that theme throughout the whole area.

“The whales, to us, have very common ground; they are our brothers and sisters, they chase the salmon into our nets.”

The restoration of the Light Station was also part of Phase 2 for the park.  The lighthouse was repainted, the roof cleaned and siding and fencing replaced where needed.  A three-rail fence was added to the lighthouse grounds.

Disability access to the lighthouse was also improved with the elimination of the curb, installation of a ramp at the entrance, and widening of the sidewalk.

Construction on Phase 2 is scheduled to be finished by September. Only the restrooms, band shell and Tulalip artwork are unfinished. 

The $1.8 million project, constructed by AERO Construction Company Inc. and designed by Barker Landscape Architects, was funded in part by a grant from the state Recreation and Conservation Office ($412,850) and the Washington State Heritage grant ($490,000).

“We chose Barker Landscape Architects for Phase 2 because they have worked on a lot of historical, cultural projects,” said Heather McCartney, Mukilteo’s Planning and Community Development director.

“And so [they had] the keen sensitivity for the design work that was required to change out what needed to be done” and yet still preserve the history and culture of the site, she said.
Phase 1, completed in 2008, added berms, restrooms, picnic shelters, a playground, volleyball court and a drive-in with a turnaround that tie the Light Station to the park.

Plans for Phase 3 include installing steps that lead from the Mukilteo Speedway to the park, while Phase 4 is going to be a central lawn replacing the old parking lot, McCartney said.

The mayor said the city hopes to finish the construction of phases 3 and 4 of the park by 2012 and 2014, respectively, but that the timeline depends on funding for the project.

“It’s been four years, two years almost to the day since we dedicated Phase 1, so in my mind it’s every two years,” he said, “but of course with the economy, some of the funding through the state has dropped off, so it’s going to be harder to get the funding to do the next phases.”

The Puget Sound Joint Service Color Guard presented the colors at the ceremony, under the command of Col. Ray Coffey. 

Coffey spoke to Saturday’s audience of 50 about the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.

The mayor and Madison also spoke at the ceremony.