Park Board

Mike Holland was excited to begin his role on the Parks Board starting in April 2019.  He retired in 2017 from an information technology leadership role within our local King County government and hopes to use some of those skills as a member of the Parks Board.  Mike and his family have resided in our great city for about 39 years.  Both his son and daughter graduated from the UW and still live in the Seattle area.  In his spare time, Mike is an outdoor enthusiast who is an avid hiker and road biker.  Crestwoods Park is his favorite park and he takes his three-year-old granddaughter there three times a week (weather dependent).  The park has a wonderful playground, lots of open green space for kids to play, plus acres of wooded trails to enjoy!

Tessa Hansen has lived in Kirkland for 5 years and counting but is a south sound native who know the PNW inside and out. Professionally, Tessa has a background in biology and ecology but currently works for a local non-profit, the Kirkland Downtown Association, leading events for the Kirkland community and tourists alike. She takes pride in building community. Her favorite park is Juanita Bay Park because it was the first park she visited when she moved here and it’s where she fell in love with Kirkland’s beauty. Tessa is pleased to serve on the Park Board and continue working for her community while learning about the inter-workings on the Parks and Community Services department.

Amy Ambrosini moved to Kirkland in 2019. With a background in engineering and business, Amy currently works in biotech manufacturing. Her favorite park is her family's currently most frequented park, Phyllis A. Needy Houghton Neighborhood Park. Amy is thrilled to have the opportunity to give back to Kirkland by serving on the Park Board. 

Tara Bobbarjung has lived in Kirkland for her entire life, and is proud to call it her home. She attends Lake Washington High School, where she is an ASB officer and Vice President of the Green Team. She has been vegan since 2020 and is passionate about the environment and social justice. Her favorite park is Marina Park, as she loves the view of Lake Washington. Tara is excited to serve on the Park Board and give back to her hometown community.

Tammy Cohen moved to Kirkland WA from western New York at the end of 2017, trading harsh winters for the milder, always green Pacific Northwest. She and her husband chose the Norkirk neighborhood to be near downtown and close to the lake; and to have easy access to all the amenities that Kirkland offers. They also calculated that the walkability would be a great draw for their five adult children to come and visit, and they haven’t been disappointed!

Tammy is a health and human services senior fundraising executive of more than 25 years. Most recently she retired from the Stroum Jewish Community Center of Greater Seattle as senior director of advancement to focus on the needs of her aging parents and the joys of travel. She believes her roles in philanthropy and management make her a strong advocate for Kirkland residents as she serves on the Park Board.

Tammy enjoys volunteering to decorate downtown for the July 4th Parade and volunteers at Summerfest and other outdoor festivals. She enjoys walking and biking along the Cross Kirkland Corridor, swimming laps in the outdoor pool, and boating on Lake Washington. Tammy and her husband Barry are expecting their first grandchild and they look forward to exploring each and every playground in Kirkland when the time comes. Tammy’s favorite park is Heritage Park.

Kathy Kearny has raised her family on Finn Hill for 27 years, with the last nine on the Juanita side of the hill. When her daughters were younger, she spent countless hours at the old train-themed playground of North Kirkland Community Center Park. Now that her kids have grown, her favorite park is Juanita Bay Park with its boardwalks and abundant wildlife. Kathy comes from a finance background and in addition to the Park Board, serves on the boards of two local nonprofit organizations that focus on children and families.

Roshan Parikh moved to Kirkland in 1967 and graduated from Lake Washington High School, earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Washington, a Master's Degree from Seattle University, and is a CPA as well as a Chartered Financial Analyst. Professionally most of his career he served as the treasurer of a not-for-profit healthcare system.  Roshan’s children also grew up in Kirkland and graduated from Lake Washington High School and from the University of Washington, and someday they hope a third generation will love Kirkland as much as them.

An outstanding feature of, and central to Kirkland’s character, is its system of parks and the city personnel who over generations develop, enhance, and maintain these crown jewels of our community. Integrating the philosophy of conversation, health and wellness and social equity to all of Kirkland and applying these goals to other city decisions related to development, population growth, transportation, and human services is essential to keep this city a desirable place to live for our generation and for those yet to come.

Roshan’s favorite string of parks runs from Waverly Beach Park through Heritage to Marina, David E. Brink, Marsh and Houghton Beach Park.

Crystal Thimsen has lived in Kirkland for twelve years. Professionally she has worked in the environmental industry for many years and started a position with Seattle Parks and Recreation as an Environmental Analyst in 2020. When asked to pick her favorite Kirkland park she had many including 132nd Square Park, Marsh Park, Terrace Park and enjoys taking walks through Edith Moulton Park.