Olympia's plan to build its first dedicated mountain bike park advanced

On June 22, Hearing Examiner Mark Scheibmeir held a public hearing on the development permit for Kaiser Woods Park, the roughly 68-acre forested site in southwest Olympia now officially named Marj Yung Park.

The hearing, which began at 5:30 p.m., covered Case 23-3261, the land-use application for a project that would bring more than five miles of hiking and biking trails, skills areas for beginners through advanced riders, a 25-stall parking lot accessible from Black Lake Boulevard, and a single restroom to the undeveloped parcel at 4300 Park Drive SW.

No decision was announced at the hearing. Under Olympia Municipal Code Chapter 18.82, Scheibmeir will issue a written ruling with findings of fact and conclusions of law after taking the case under advisement. Scheibmeir, who has served as Olympia's hearing examiner since 2013, was reappointed by the City Council in April through 2028.

The city purchased the Kaiser Woods site in September 2015 for $1.1 million using a Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office grant. A feasibility study identified the location as ideal for mountain biking because of its terrain, topography, and access.

The park sits above the Westbrook and Ken Lake neighborhoods off Black Lake Boulevard, where residents have raised concerns during the multi-year planning process about environmental impacts, stormwater runoff, parking, and traffic.

The project entered its permitting phase after years of public engagement, with the city originally hoping to break ground in 2025, according to the city's Engage Olympia page.

Residents who want to track the case or contact the city can reach Community Planning & Development at 360-753-8314 or [email protected].