Exploration of Seattle Kraken's Iceplex Proposal

The Kraken proposal consists of an iceplex facility at the former Houghton Park and Ride with two regulation NHL ice rinks, restaurant and support facilities, as well as a proposed second story community center. The community center would become the City's largest at approximately 12,500 square feet (sq ft) with an estimated 8,000 sq ft of programmatic space, including:

• A divisible multi-purpose room with kitchen that will be able to support community gatherings and events
• A multi-purpose activity and wellness room
• A youth recreation room
• A weight room with cardio machines

The remaining square footage would include administrative and operations space. 

Potential programming for this new space may include:

• Fitness classes for youth, seniors, and adults
• Educational and artistic classes for youth and adults
• Preschool music, movement, and general education classes
• Youth camps
• Personal training
• Drop in use of the cardio and weight room
• Community rentals

These programs would create new program offerings and expand capacity for existing programs at Peter Kirk Community Center and the North Kirkland Community Center.

Please note these are possibilities, and no decisions have been made.

In addition to the potential recreation benefits, the proposed Iceplex facility has the potential to bring multiple benefits for Kirkland, including:

The facility could bring about significant economic opportunities. Jobs would be created during the construction and for the ongoing operations The facility would generate sales tax revenue and/or admission tax revenue. Athletic tournaments at the Iceplex could generate additional revenue for Kirkland restaurants, hotels, and other local business.

The Iceplex could elevate Kirkland's profile as the home to a professional NHL team's facility. Increased visibility could attract sports tourism as visitors are drawn to Kirkland for games, tournaments, and other events at the Iceplex. The Iceplex could also offer sponsorship opportunities for local Kirkland businesses, providing them with exposure to a broader audience and potential customers.

The proposed Iceplex would promote health and wellbeing by offering new and diverse opportunities for physical activity. The facility would provide better access to ice for our current skating community by increasing the amount of dedicated space for them to pursue their passion or hone their hockey skills. 

The proposed Iceplex could be a hub for social connections and community building. Whether it's through recreational skating programs, youth leagues, or community events, the Iceplex fosters relationships in our community. Additionally, if negotiated, offering free or discounted skating programs ensures inclusivity and accessibility for all Kirkland community members. While no decisions have been made, possible programming for the two regulation ice rinks could include:

• Public skate sessions
• Learn to skate classes and camps
• Figure skating, ice dancing, and synchronized skating lessons
• Hockey lessons, camps, and leagues
• Sled hockey
• Broom ball
• Curling
• Skate competitions including hockey tournaments
• Birthday parties
• Special events and exhibitions
• Kraken skate and watch parties

A proposed partnership with the Kraken could lead to philanthropic initiatives benefiting our community. The Kraken's One Roof Foundation works to ensure that every young person in the community has a roof over their head, access to play hockey, and clean air to breathe. They partner with schools and community organizations to connect low-income families and youth of color with financial assistance for skate and hockey programs. Learn more about the One Roof Foundation at onerooffoundation.org.

A partnership with the Seattle Kraken brings the NHL brand presence directly into the Kirkland community, instilling a sense of pride and identity among residents.

Check out the existing Kraken Community Iceplex in Northgate to envision what an Iceplex could offer Kirkland by either visiting the facility, which is open to the public, or watching this brief promotional video.

The City's 2022 Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Plan describes several goals and objectives based on extensive community input that the Kraken Iceplex might help fulfill. They include:

Goal #1: Expand the Provision of High-Quality Park Experiences to Meet the Active and Passive Recreational Needs of Kirkland Community Members

• Objective #1.1: Continue to maintain, expand, and improve existing facilities, components, amenities, and level of service based on GRASP® scores, population growth, and urban development guidelines.

• 1.1.C Maintain a similar or greater capital investment per resident as population grows.
• 1.1.G Pursue the development of an aquatic/recreation center and smaller community centers.
• 1.1.I Consider and address insufficiencies based on population-based standards, and as identified in the LOS through future capital campaigns. Address short, medium, and long-range capital needs.
• 1.5.B Explore potential pickleball court locations in the park system as well as regional collaboration to address the growing popularity of this sport.

Goal #3: Provide a Variety of Recreation Services, Facilities and Programs that Promote the Health and Well-Being of Community Members of All Ages and Abilities

• Objective 3.1: Maximize use of existing program spaces and work to identify additional program spaces, staffing, and resources to create new programming opportunities.

• 3.1.A Explore opportunities to lease space to create additional capacity for existing enrichment opportunities until new permanent facilities are available.
• 3.1.B Pursue the funding, design and construction of an aquatics center that includes recreational programming space, community space, cost-recovery targets, operations and maintenance requirements, and administrative and staff areas.
• 3.1.C Pursue the funding, design and construction of neighborhood recreation centers in areas with gaps in delivery of recreation services. Explore feasibility, design, location, operator, etc. for two new neighborhood recreation centers that include space for enrichment classes, neighborhood meeting spaces, administrative and staff areas, cost-recovery targets, operations, maintenance requirements, etc.

• Objective 3.4: Promote active, healthy lifestyles through additional recreation programming.

Goal #6: Enhance and Improve Access to Athletics and Sports Opportunities

• 6.1.F. Explore regional partnerships and collaboration to support unserved sports such as cricket, rugby, lacrosse, pickleball, (and hockey).

Learn more about the 2022 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan.

There are several key legal documents, which are still under negotiation and required to complete an agreement with the Kraken for the development of an Iceplex and associated community center in Kirkland as detailed in the Aug. 6, 2025 Council memo and summarized below:

• The Kraken will finance and construct the entire facility, including the City-owned community center, using private capital and will assume full development risk throughout the planning, permitting, and construction phases.
• As part of the agreement structure, the City will choose whether to purchase the completed facility and then enter into a leaseback arrangement with the Kraken. In this scenario the City would issue a bond to purchase the building once construction is complete. This bond would be tax-exempt for the City (due to its governmental status) and taxable for the Kraken. The City would then lease the rinks and restaurant to the Kraken at rates sufficient to cover the City’s bond debt service and anticipated long-term maintenance costs.
• Should the City not exercise its option to purchase, the City will lease the community center from the Kraken under an alternative agreement. 
• To protect public interests and secure the City's position, the Kraken will provide both a completion guaranty during construction and a financial guaranty for after construction to ensure the Iceplex operates for the full term of the Kraken’s lease from the City.
• After the 34-year term, the City may choose to operate the facility, identify a new operator, repurpose the facility, or explore other future options.

This approach aligns with community priorities: no new taxes, high public benefit, and strong long-term control over a critical public asset.

While the City evaluates this proposal and other options for long-term uses for the former Houghton Park and Ride, temporary recreation improvements were made in 2024 for the benefit of the community, transforming the site into a ‘Park and Play’.

The Houghton Park and Play was always intended to be temporary. The Park and Play will remain only until a long-term use for the site is officially decided and construction becomes imminent. The City is committed to maintaining existing service levels to the broader community by relocating these features to new locations when or if that becomes necessary. Some possibilities include:

• The community garden plots will be relocated to a new addition to Rose Hill Meadows Park area in 2026. This new addition was made possible by a generous land donation to the City.

• The City partnered with the Lake Washington School District to dual stripe eight existing tennis courts for pickleball at Kirkland Middle School and Finn Hill Middle School; and will convert at least one of the existing tennis courts at Peter Kirk Park to up to three pickleball courts in fall/winter 2025.

• The City is also identifying possible locations that could accommodate the following without significant site preparation:

• Adding the bike pump track and bike park features to the north end of Terrace Park located adjacent to the Cross Kirkland Corridor.
• Renovating the current skate park located at Peter Kirk Park (by the newly renovated Kirkland Teen Union Building) to include more skate park features.

Take this survey to provide your input.

The mechanism to change a zoning classification on the Zoning map is called a rezone. The zoning classification sets how land may be used. The City owns the former Houghton Park & Ride and is proposing to rezone the property from its current zoning designation, Low Density Residential (RS 8.5), to Park. The Park zone is used for parks, recreation facilities, and community centers throughout Kirkland. Please note that the rezone of Houghton Park & Ride property was pursued separately from the Kraken Iceplex Proposal. The Planning Commission recommended the rezone at a public hearing held during the Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, March 13, 2025, and Council adopted the rezone at their May 20, 2025 meeting. See the Planning Commission webpage or the 5/20/25 Rezoning Council Packet(PDF, 1MB) for more information.

This possible partnership reflects extensive community feedback over the year from the 2022 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, indicating an urgent need for more multi-use recreational space with no new taxes. Additionally, community feedback during and following the 2023 pool ballot measure demonstrated the community’s interest in the City pursuing public-private partnerships to expand the parks and recreation system.  At the direction of Council, City staff has explored this opportunity by conducting extensive third-party research that has enabled ongoing and robust Council and public discussion to ensure that it would meet the dynamic needs of the community. In July, City and Kraken staff also hosted three community tours of the existing Kraken Community Iceplex in Northgate to help community members envision the possibilities for Kirkland. At this stage, feedback about what excites and concerns you about the opportunity is greatly appreciated. You can provide feedback in the following ways:

• Comments and feedback can be submitted via OurKirkland
• Live spoken comments can be made at City Council meetings
• Sign up for This Week in Kirkland newsletter or subscribe to the podcast to stay up to date and learn of additional opportunities to provide input.