WALTER E. HALL PARK IN EVERETT TO UNDERGO $1.25 MILLION PLAYGROUND OVERHAUL
The Everett City Council gave final approval Wednesday to a $1.25 million project aimed at revitalizing the playground at Walter E. Hall Park in south Everett. The upgrade will more than double the playground’s footprint, expanding it from roughly 3,500 square feet to over 8,300 square feet. Installed in 2008, the existing structure will be replaced with a larger, more modern setup that includes new drainage infrastructure alongside updated play features.
City Parks Director Kimberly Moore described the investment as substantial but well-timed, noting the surrounding community’s growing density and active usage patterns. At a Sept. 30 council meeting, she emphasized the park’s importance to residents who have increasingly relied on local green spaces for recreation and social interaction.
The Casino Road corridor, including sections of the Westmont and Holly neighborhoods, stands out as one of Everett’s most densely populated and demographically varied zones. Recent enhancements to the park already include a newly paved pathway linking its southern and eastern sections to adjacent residential areas, improving accessibility for families and commuters alike.
Council member Luis Burbano, whose District 4 includes the park, voiced strong support for the project ahead of the vote. “We in District 4, we are super excited and super happy to have a new park,” he remarked, underscoring local enthusiasm for the planned improvements.
Design input for the playground came from multiple community engagement efforts. Staff conducted neighborhood surveys, partnered with local organizations, and visited Horizon Elementary School, where more than 300 students contributed suggestions for the new layout. Their feedback directly influenced key elements in the final plan, particularly the inclusion of high-demand features.
The updated playground will feature two multi-level play towers with integrated slides, two ziplines spanning different sections of the site, and a total of six swings. Additional structures, including climbing walls, sensory panels, and interactive ground-level elements, are also part of the design. Moore noted that children’s top requests, swings and ziplines, were prioritized in the final layout.
Funding for the project stems from a combination of capital improvement funds and park impact fees. These fees are collected from developers who opt out of building onsite recreational facilities for new housing or commercial projects. State guidelines restrict the use of these fees to new or upgraded park infrastructure, ensuring the money supports community needs like this one.
City staff expect construction to begin sometime in 2026, though an exact start date remains pending. A public announcement is planned to keep park visitors informed. According to city spokesperson Simone Tarver, the project should be completed by the end of 2027.