Construction in the middle of Redmond's Dry Canyon ran from May 2025 to July 2026, and the $7.2 million project left behind very little that's new to look at. The ballfields, courts and dog park were all there before. The project didn't add a big new attraction. Most of the money went into the space between the existing parks: the trail that links them, the crossings at street edges, and parking set where people actually arrive. Seen that way, the center of the canyon now works as one park for the first time.
A Project Built Around the In-Between
Construction started in May 2025, and the Redmond Spokesman reported that it had one aim: to connect Weigand Family Dog Park and Sam Johnson Park in a way that is safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The city's capital projects hub marked the work substantially complete in July 2026.
The city's own scope list makes the point. Here's what changed at each stop through the center of the canyon:
| Place | What the project changed |
|---|---|
| Dry Canyon Trail through Sam Johnson Park | Resurfaced pathways between the tennis courts, Hope Playground and neighboring fields |
| Sam Johnson Park to Weigand Family Dog Park | Improved path connection north along the trail |
| Antler Avenue | New Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon crossing |
| NW 15th Street, Spudbowl to Kiwanis Field | Street improvements and a raised crossing |
| Spudbowl and Kiwanis Field area | New parking lots |
| Hope Playground | Replacement of the fall surface |
| Under the canyon | Waterline improvements |
Only one item on that list touches play equipment. Everything else is a path, a crossing, a parking lot or a pipe. The total comes from the Spokesman's coverage, which called it a $7.2 million project. Not all of that went to visible park work. The city's construction contract with Keeton King went out in March 2025 for about $3.995 million. The waterline work also ran into a surprise. In August 2025, KTVZ reported that the City Council approved a $175,418.60 change order to rebuild Cascade Avenue pavement after digging for the waterline showed it wasn't up to standard.
The Walk the Whole Project Was Designed For
Start at Sam Johnson Park, 333 SW 15th St., and head north toward the dog park. That's the trip the project was built around. Before construction, the city's main concern was getting people safely between the dog park and the tennis court area. That goal shows up in the earliest coverage of the design.
Going north, the route covers three changes:
- The resurfaced Dry Canyon Trail through Sam Johnson Park. This stretch runs between the tennis and pickleball courts on one side and Hope Playground and the fields on the other.
- The improved connection along the trail up to the dog park.
- The new flashing-beacon crossing at Antler Avenue. The dog park sits on Antler, at 1429 W Antler Ave.
During the last phase last winter, the closed section ran along the trail between 15th Street and Rimrock Way. Assistant City Engineer Lindsey Cromsigt asked trail users to go around it, the Redmond Spokesman reported:
"We appreciate the public's patience as we work through the project. We do ask that pedestrians and cyclists respect the detours and use Rimrock Way and Antler Avenue when the Dry Canyon Trail is completely closed."
That detour onto neighborhood streets is the trip the finished trail now replaces. The center section is one piece of a longer route. The city's Parks Division puts the Dry Canyon Trail at 4.2 miles. Farther along, the trail passes the Maple Bridge Climbing Arches, which sit under a concrete bridge 70 feet tall and 780 feet long.
Parking Went Where the Games Are
The parking changes follow the same idea. Back in August 2025, the Redmond Spokesman's coverage put the new lots near Spudbowl and Kiwanis Field, with more upgrades at Sam Johnson Park and Rimrock Way. Those plans called for 48 spaces near Spudbowl and the tennis and pickleball courts, plus 85 angled or parallel spaces spread through the complex. Those were projected counts from 2025. The city hasn't published a final as-built number.
The location makes sense once you look at what's there. Spudbowl Park, at 164 SW 15th St., is a soccer field with bleachers. Kiwanis Field is right next door. Fields like these fill up all at once, and before the project people parked on whatever street was closest. Now the parking sits next to the fields, and a raised crossing on NW 15th Street connects the Spudbowl side to the Kiwanis Field side. The Spokesman also described Spudbowl itself as "reshaped" by the project.
Hope Playground Got New Ground Under It
The one change aimed at play equipment came at Hope Playground, which got a new fall surface. That's the cushioned ground under the equipment, and it matters more here than at most playgrounds. Hope opened in October 2015 as an inclusive playground. When it opened, the city's announcement listed a dual zip line, more than 70 play events and room for 450 people. The city said more than $750,000 in donations, grants and in-kind labor went into building it.
In 2025, the city's bid notice listed the playground surface as a separate add-on estimated at $700,000. That figure makes the new surface one of the larger single items tied to the project. Final repairs closed the playground briefly on August 18 and 19.
Two Projects Still Running at the North End
The center of the canyon is finished. The dog park end isn't quite there yet, and the two remaining projects are separate from the canyon project.
The first is the dog park itself. The Parks Division closed Weigand Family Dog Park, which some city pages spell Wiegand, from Monday, September 28, through Monday, October 19, 2026, to install an automated irrigation system. As of October 12, that leaves about a week to go. The city laid out the closure in two phases. While the small-dog area is closed, the large-dog area is split into separate spaces for large and small dogs. Then it flips: while the large-dog area is closed, the small-dog area is split the same way. Temporary signs point the way.
When it reopens, the regular rules apply. The park is open sunrise to sunset. Dogs stay leashed outside the off-leash area and need current vaccinations and licenses. Puppies under four months and females in heat stay out of the off-leash area. The park has paved parking, a water fountain, and portable toilets in winter.
The second is the Well 9 Improvement Project, a new pump house north of Antler Avenue near the dog park. It will add capacity to the city's water system, and the Spokesman reported in January that it was expected to finish by the end of 2026.
One more detail is still catching up. Sam Johnson Park's listing on the city site still says the park can't be reserved during the Central Dry Canyon project, which "will span the majority of 2025 - 2026." If you're planning a pavilion booking for next season, the Public Works Department at (541) 504-2000 can confirm what's open.
Why the Middle Came First
The center of the canyon got this work first because of a plan from years ago. The city's 2018 Dry Canyon Master Plan ranked land acquisition priorities in this order: the central canyon first, the area north of the sewer treatment plant second, and the stretch south of Kalama Avenue third. That list was long-range. It wasn't a construction schedule, and no dated project for the north or south canyon has been announced. The citywide Parks Master Plan update had its review and adoption postponed in early January 2025. The Parks Division now says the update is still in progress.
For now, the finished part is the stretch from Spudbowl past Sam Johnson Park and Hope Playground to the crossing at Antler Avenue. After October 19, the walk to the dog park ends at an open gate.
If you live near the canyon and want to talk about how the finished trail fits into your plans, whether you're staying put, settling in, or thinking about a move, I'm always happy to compare notes. Reach out to Marge Gatien any time. Let's Connect.
