sweetwater creek waterwheel park
A sustainable, ADA accessible park renovation and expansion in the heart of Belfair, WA.
Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park is a renovation and expansion of a park project on Sweetwater Creek next to Belfair Elementary School and across highway 3 from the Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve Center. Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel park is designed to be sustainable, accessible and enhance both public spaces for our community as well as the natural ecosystem of the project location. This park will include the only freshwater ADA fishing access in Mason County!
Project Partner:
Project Goals & Highlights
Free and ADA accessible public park in Belfair, WA
Located near transit lines, public library, grocery stores, and other public trail systems
Sustainable design with solar panels and hydropower
Updating and building new bridges and trails
Removal of trash and other hazardous materials currently at project site
ADA freshwater fishing access and new dock
Waterwheel Interpretive center
Nature playground
Invasive plant removal and native plant installation
Gardens and native plant installations that benefit native bugs, pollinators, birds and fish
Volunteer and environmental stewardship opportunities
Education opportunities
Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park Master Plan
Below is an overview of the park plans which includes some of the features listed above.
Nature Playground Plans
This is the plan and concept for Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park’s nature playground. Rather than building slides, swings, and other typical plastic playground structures, kids will be inspired to interact and have an adventure with the natural features of this playground, such as boulders, logs and rocks.
Project Vision
These are more current photos of the project site along with photos of our future vision for the park.
Before
Current condition of Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel
After
Dalby Waterwheel – HCSEG partnered with DOT for this project, and it is an example of our vision for the Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel restoration.
Before
Current condition of Sweetwater Creek Pond – the water is inaccessible due to an infestation of invasive Himalayan Blackberry.
After
Dalby Waterwheel – HCSEG partnered with DOT for this project, and it is an example of our vision for the Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel restoration.
Before
Current condition of Sweetwater Creek Pond – the water is inaccessible due to an infestation of invasive Himalayan Blackberry.
After
ADA accessible, wooden bridge concept that will be implemented for the 3 bridges in park design.
Project Location
Help us build Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park! Every donation helps. If you are a local business who would like to submit a letter of support for this project, please contact alexandra@pnwsalmoncenter.org.