The City of Burien is developing a new citywide signage system for parks and public facilities. This initiative aims to enhance the experience for residents and visitors while creating a unified and consistent design across all wayfinding elements in both urban and neighborhood areas. The new signage will also help foster a shared identity for Burien’s neighborhoods, highlighting our community’s rich diversity, vibrant arts and culture, and beautiful natural environment.
Get Involved
Share your feedback:
Take our survey by January 30, 2026! This online form will take approximately five minutes to complete.
Your responses to the online survey will be anonymous and an email is not required.
This project will establish a comprehensive parks and facilities wayfinding signage system that will build upon the public engagement work from the Downtown Wayfinding Signage Plan. It will also create additional signage designs that project a consistent citywide image, help shape the identity of place (such as integrated placemaking and art elements) and a sense of belonging while contributing significantly toward the satisfaction of visitors and community pride as well as ownership among residents.
From community feedback, City staff will work with the consultant to make last refinements to finalize the conceptual signage design and move towards construction for the first phase of implementation signage.
Project Timeline
Summer 2025
Conduct focus group workshops
Fall 2025
Gather community feedback
Winter 2026
Finalize plan for wayfinding signage in parks and facilities
Winter-Spring 2026
Conduct pilot project for new design
The City of Burien has identified the replacement of the Chelsea Park Playground as a priority project in the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Capital Improvement Plan. This project is funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars and represents an important investment in the health, recreation, and wellbeing of the surrounding neighborhood. In addition to replacing aging play equipment, the City seeks to engage the community in shaping the design, look, and feel of the new playground. This process will also explore opportunities to incorporate public art that reflects the park’s identity, celebrates community stories, and fosters a sense of place, belonging, and welcome for all who visit Chelsea Park.
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Be on the lookout for new opportunities!
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This project will replace the existing playground equipment and park furnishings at Chelsea Park that are 24 years old and have reached the end of service life. The new equipment will fit within the existing footprint and have age-appropriate features for the two primary age groups: 2- to 5-year-old tot and 5- to 12-year-old youth.
From community feedback, City staff will work with a playground equipment manufacturer on the final design for the primary play feature and incorporate secondary play toys as space and budget allow.
This project is funded by the City of Burien and King County Community Development Block Grant funding provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Existing Equipment
Existing play equipment in Chelsea Park in Burien.
Project Timeline
Mid 2026
Gather community feedback
Late 2026
Construction
Late 2026
Playground re-opens for use
The City of Burien Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services (PaRCS) worked with the community to develop a vision plan for future improvements at Hilltop Park. This project built on the work begun by theHilltop Park Activation and Reimagination Project which gathered input on desired improvements from Hilltop Elementary students and park neighbors through theGreen Burien Partnership. Community input was also sought through the City of Burien’s Shape Your City initiative.
Get Involved
There are several ways you can get involved:
Sign up for the Burien Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services email newsletter for project updates
The Hilltop Park Vision Plan Project facilitates future improvements to the park by performing environmental and geotechnical studies, and a topographic survey, which were used to inform the design of park improvements in a vision plan and schematic design (or 30% design documents).
Environmental studies conducted include a Critical Areas Report and Buffer Mitigation Plan for the wetland area, and environmental compliance review. Other work included Site Surveying, select geotechnical borings and report, and preparation of land use permits.
Once the design team understood the limitations of the site based on these studies, that knowledge was combined with the community’s priorities for park improvements and used to develop two vision plan themes and cost estimates. The themes were presented to community members for input, which were used to refine the themes into one final vision plan.
The vision plan became the basis for 30% schematic design documents. The schematic design and associated cost estimate will be used in budgetary planning for the long-term capital improvements plan and to seek funding for final construction documents and construction of park improvements.
Concept Themes and Vision Plan
The community was asked to provide input on the two park vision plan concepts, the Environmental Education Theme and the Community Theme, through online survey and two in-person open houses. Both themes feature a new ADA park entry, play equipment, a paved loop path, waterless restroom, drinking fountain, picnic tables, and open lawn field with the following differences.
Environmental Education Theme
Outdoor Classroom
Exercise Areas
Expanded Nature Trail
Large Playfield
Community Theme
Off-leash dog area
Community Garden
Small Playfield
Multiple Pavilions
After reviewing the survey results and in-person community feedback, it was determined the community theme concept best represented the vision for Hilltop Park. Additional community feedback showed a desire for an expanded nature trail network, more smaller picnic shelters and additional play and exercise opportunities. These amenities were incorporated into the community theme concept to create the final Hilltop Park Vision Plan.
Next Steps
With schematic design and cost estimating complete, the PaRCS Department is working on funding strategies for future construction of the vision plan.
Funding
This project is funded by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) and the City of Burien.
Looking to add shade, beauty, and value to your property? The City of Burien is giving away free trees to Burien residents this fall. It’s a great opportunity to enhance your landscape while helping expand our community’s urban forest.
Healthy forested parks and green spaces have the power to strengthen neighborhoods, provide safe access to nature, and provide many benefits to the environment. Without a coordinated effort to restore and care for our forests, we are at risk of losing many benefits of these forests and natural areas.
The Green Burien Partnership brings together community members and private and public agency partners to restore and care for Burien’s parks and urban forests. The Partnership’s activities include:
Community outreach and engagement to guide project prioritization and implementation.
Development of a 20-year plan for restoring forests and increasing the amount of tree canopy across the three cities.
Implementation of projects and volunteer programs that organize local neighbors and community groups to plant indigenous plants, remove weedy plant species, and meet restoration goals.
The Green Burien Partnership relies on a network of individuals, organizations, staff, and volunteers. All partners are essential for the success of the project.
Other key partners have played an essential role in defining the goals of the partnership, volunteering in their community, offering their expertise, and increasing canopy cover by planting trees in their yards or patios:
City of Burien
Port of Seattle
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
King County Conversation District
Highline Public Schools
Elected officials
Nonprofit, faith-based, and community groups
Businesses
Youth groups and clubs
Landowners
Individuals like you
How is it funded?
The Green Burien Partnership receives funding from the City of Burien General Fund and grants.
The City of Burien worked with community stakeholders to re-imagine the long-term future of our city through a coordinated planning effort combining major updates to the Comprehensive Plan, a new Transportation Master Plan, an update to the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, and a new Economic Development Action Plan.
Specifically, this planning process focuses on land use, economic development, human services, environmental protection, infrastructure, transportation, parks and open spaces, recreation programs, public art, and cultural services. Results of this planning effort will guide policymaking, operational plans, and budgets for the next twenty years.
Comprehensive Plan
The City of Burien embarked on a major update to its Comprehensive Plan. This effort will help Burien plan and build for the next few decades. Planning for this growth helps us build a city with an equitable, sustainable, and healthy future.
The Transportation Master Plan helps determine our community’s current and future transportation needs, guiding how we invest in transportation over the next 20 years.
The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan is a six-year strategic plan for the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. The plan looks at the existing conditions, identifies gaps in facilities and programs, and offers strategies, projects, and programs to address those gaps.
The Economic Development Action Plan contains specific economic development goals, strategies, and implementation measures and an implementation plan, outlining the timing, anticipated cost, and funding source of each implementation action.
Develop a shared vision to guide planning and policy development.
November 2022-June 2023
Community Stories and Strategies
Staff will communicate what we have heard to date and present draft strategies and projects for feedback.
July 2023-January 2024
Community Review
Staff drafts plans, and community will provide feedback on each plan.
January 2024-October 2024
Legislative Review
Plans go before Burien City Council for review and approval. Public comment accepted.
March-October 2024
Plans Adopted
All plans adopted by end of year.
The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS Plan) is a six-year strategic plan for the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. The plan looks at the existing conditions of our facilities and programs, listen to community desires and priorities, identifies gaps in facilities and programs, proposes strategies, projects and programs to address those gaps, and finalizes those strategies and a prioritized capital improvement plan in the final PROS Plan. The 2024-2030 plan was approved on March 18, 2024.
For the 2024-2030 plan, we evaluated the location, quality, and barriers to accessing our current parks, recreation programs and facilities, and cultural services programming. The plan makes recommendations for improving existing facilities and services, priorities for public art, and evaluates feasibility of new parks in key neighborhoods.
Through the Shape Your City initiative, we asked neighbors to provide feedback on all parks, but with a specific focus on needs for a few key parks, including Hilltop Park, Community Center Annex and garden, Jacob Ambaum Park, Chelsea Park, Puget Sound Park, Hazel Valley Park, Southern Heights Park, Manhattan Park, Moshier Memorial Park, and Salmon Creek Park/Salmon Creek Ravine.
After more than a year of community engagement activities, your participation and valuable insight helped us build the 2024-2030 Parks Recreation and Open Space Plan, which was adopted by the Burien City Council on March 18, 2024.
A PROS plan is a functional plan that develops strategies to implement the policies adopted in the Comprehensive Plan. The plan evaluates the current inventory of assets and the community’s desired level of service for future assets, then identifies gaps in the system. It also prioritizes capital project investments in the community for use in the City’s budgeting process and to make the City eligible to apply for grants to fund those priority projects.
Key Concepts
Park level of service: Level of service (LOS) is a term that describes the amount and quality of park and recreation facilities that are needed to serve the community at a desired and measurable standard.
Park Facilities: This is a general term that refers to the types of recreational amenities in parks or recreation centers such as sport fields, sports courts, picnic areas, playgrounds, or arts classrooms.
Envision the future of parks, recreation, and cultural services in our community.
Spring-Summer 2023
Strategies Development
Develop and get feedback on proposed strategies to meet community needs.
Summer 2023
Draft Plan
Draft and get feedback on plan with capital project and program priorities.
Summer 2023
Advisory Board and Council Review and Approval
Draft final plan and gather community feedback.
Early 2024
Final Plan Development and Adoption
Present plan to Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Arts Commission, and City Council for adoption by January 2024. Public comment encouraged.
Early 2024
Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
Submit plan to Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.
The City of Burien completed a major update to its Comprehensive Plan on October 28, 2024. This effort will help Burien plan and build for the next few decades. Planning for this growth helps us build a City with an equitable, sustainable, and healthy future. The Comprehensive Plan covers many topics including land use and zoning, economic development, public services, environmental protection, and infrastructure, meeting the community’s needs and reflecting the community’s vision.
Identify and implement the community’s vision and priorities
Extend Burien’s planning horizon to 2044
Comply with the State’s Growth Management Act and regional planning requirements
Incorporate updates from Transportation Master Plan and Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, which set infrastructure priorities for the next 6–20 years
Comprehensive Plan Focus Areas
The Comprehensive Plan update will focus on the following:
Integration of equity into the planning and engagement process and policy development
Housing to meet state requirements and local household needs for affordable ownership and rental housing, especially “missing middle” housing
Employment opportunities and jobs capacity to meet growth targets and improve jobs-housing balance
Regulations and incentives to realize Burien’s vision for mixed uses, gathering spaces, affordable housing, and job opportunities in Downtown, 1st Ave, Five Corners
Avoiding and addressing displacement risks for housing and jobs
Equitable access to parks, recreation, and services
Supporting transportation by all modes including active transportation like pedestrian and bike facilities, long-term maintenance, and capital investments
Airport policies and compatibility
Healthy communities promoting clean air and water, trees, and noise management
Climate resilience to adapt and protect our places and people from extreme heat, flooding or sea level rise
Critical areas (streams, wetlands) restoration and green infrastructure (like rain gardens)
Human services and meeting people’s needs
Creating effective, streamlined, and implementable plans that guide and direct development and investment
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Comprehensive Plan? A Comprehensive Plan guides Burien’s physical development over 20 or more years including desires for housing and job growth, community character, capital investments in infrastructure and services, and policies and regulations. The Plan is informed by and addresses community values and needs.
How will this affect me? An updated Comprehensive Plan can impact housing choices, the location of jobs, walking/biking/car mobility, parks and recreation opportunities, and overall public services. The Comprehensive Plan and updated policies can help all of Burien.
Why do we have to accept growth? In Washington State laws and policies determine that growth be directed to some areas and away from others. Burien is in an urban area that will always have growth directed to it, and we’re required to accommodate the growth distributed to our city while protecting critical areas and providing for parks and open space. Growing “up not out” helps protect regional natural resources like farmlands and forests.
Why are we updating the Plan now? Why not wait? The GMA requires Comprehensive Plans to be updated periodically. The State deadline is December 31, 2024. Also, updating housing, transportation, economic development and other elements can meet critical community needs.
When will there be community engagement for the Comprehensive Plan? Burien has developed multiple ways for the community to be involved in this update. We are trying to make sure we are reaching people where they are at and making it easy to participate in this process.
Environmental Impact Statement
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is an environmental review of growth alternatives to help guide community discussion on growth options and priorities. The Environmental review for the Comprehensive Plan update will meet the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements and will consist of a number of natural and built environment elements.
The environmental review will be shared with the community in draft and final stages of the Comprehensive Plan.
Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee
The City of Burien established a committee in early 2023 to help advise City staff on a major update to Burien’s Comprehensive Plan. The advisory committee is one of many groups of stakeholders advising the City on the Burien community’s needs and wishes for its future. Over the course of six meetings, the committee provided recommendations to the Burien City Council. Learn more about the committee.
After years of community input, we’ve developed draft zoning code amendments and design standards designed to implement the Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan, Ambaum and Boulevard Park Community Plan, and Burien Urban Center Plan. See the links below to review draft zoning code and explore an interactive map. These will be presented at a public hearing on November 4, 2024 and the Burien City Council will take action on November 18, 2024. Find agenda packets online once they are published ahead of each meeting.
