HAYDEN — Ross Welburn liked what he saw when he looked over concepts for the future of McIntire Family Park. 

“I can see that they pretty much thought of everything,” the Hayden man said. 

Two Master Plan concept maps drawn up by Architects West were presented during a two-hour open house at City Hall on Thursday night. Dozens of attendees were encouraged to vote by placing a sticker on their preferred layout, share feedback and discuss the park’s future.

Concepts “A” and “B” both focused on preserving the park’s character while adding space for activities, with layout differences that ultimately influenced how residents voted. 

For Judy Eichelberger, it came down to parking.  

“Parking is at a premium downtown — you can’t find it anywhere,” she said.  

Both concepts propose adding a new parking lot off Honeysuckle Avenue while maintaining access to the City Hall lot from Government Way. The proposed layout of the lot varies between the two.  

After much discussion with a friend, Eichelberger supported Concept B.  

“It seems to accommodate more people, which is something we need,” she explained.  

Updates to existing park amenities were also considered.

In the playground-style category, almost every vote of the dozens cast was in favor of a naturalized, nature-inspired play structure. Climbing boulders and challenge courses were also popular ideas for additional features.  

“It makes the most sense for where we live,” said Olivia Baker.  

Since its establishment in 1960, the park has hosted countless gatherings and events. It has also become home to several memorials over the years, including a statue of Ron McIntire, which was unveiled last summer to honor the former mayor and his wife. The park received the McIntire family name in 2016. 

The city previously said that they “identified McIntire Family Park as a well-loved and highly visible community asset in need of thoughtful updates."  

Architects West also developed the city’s 2040 Parks Master Plan and will use feedback gathered at the open house to identify and prioritize areas of improvement.  

Added or improved amenities could include fitness stations, botanical gardens, multi-use sport courts, lawn games, a walking loop, a covered shelter or a new event stage.  

Architects West will present its recommendations before City Council in May.  

“We got an unending supply of opinions and feedback tonight,” said Ty Kovatch with the city of Hayden.

    Hayden residents shared feedback on potential McIntire Park improvements at a City Hall open house Thursday night.
  

    McIntire Family Park in Hayden is home to many events, including Hayden Days, outdoor concerts and the yearly Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.