Park Donations

 Sharing Program Guide

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The City of Kirkland’s Sharing Program (also known as the Donation Program) is a wonderful way to donate a park bench or table or Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC) bench to:

  • commemorate a loved one
  • celebrate an event
  • provide for someone else in need
  • or simply as a way to give back to the community

The information in this Guide covers bench and table donations only. Thank you for your generosity and for considering a donation to the City of Kirkland!

How much does it cost and what would my donation include?

  • Bench prices range from $3,100 to $4,800. Picnic table prices range from $4,200 to $6,100. See Table and Bench Pricing.
  • Your donation includes:
  • The purchase of a new bench/table or the refurbishment of an existing bench/table. The price of a new bench/table or a refurbished bench/table is the same.
  • One personalized 2" x 7" bronze plaque
  • Installation
  • Fifteen years of routine maintenance and repairs of bench/table. 

Donated benches and tables are property of the City of Kirkland. The City retains the right to remove, relocate and shall other wise have sole control over item.  If relocating and within the fifteen year period, staff will attempt to contact the donor to select the new location, but City staff will make the final decision.

Where can I donate a bench or table? (Confirm item availability)

  • The City of Kirkland has more than fifty beautiful parks, open spaces, and the Cross Kirkland Corridor Trail to chose from. A complete list of all Kirkland's parks is available at the Online Parks Guide. The Cross Kirkland Corridor Trail map is available here.
  • Bench and table styles are predetermined and specific for each park/trail. Please refer to the Bench and Table Pricing if you have a budget you’d like to work with.
  • Many popular Kirkland Parks have reached their limit of benches and tables. Due to the generosity of donors, the following parks are unavailable to receive additional bench or table donations:
    • Doris Cooper Houghton Beach
    • David Brink Park
    • Heritage Park
    • Juanita Bay
    • Juanita Beach Park
    • Lake Ave West Park
    • Marina Park
    • Marsh Park
    • Settler’s Landing
    • Street End Park
    • Waverly Beach
  • If your interest is in the CKC, please email Public Works Program Coordinator, Blair Daly at bdaly@kirklandwa.gov.
  • Once you’ve determined your park(s) of interest, please send an email to eparks@kirklandwa.gov with a list of up to three parks with your initial availability inquiry. Personal site visits to your parks of interest are strongly recommended.

Bronze plaque and its design

  • One bronze plaque, 2” in height by 7” in length, is included in the price of a donation for a bench or table.
  • The plaque will be mounted on the backrest of the bench or in the middle of the table.
  • Plaques are furnished by the City, with the content proposed by the donor.
  • Plaques can contain up to five lines of text, however three or less lines are recommended for easier reading.
  • Plaque font style is SMALL CAPS and TIMES NEW ROMAN.
  • A standard line border surrounding the plaque is included in the design.
  • Plaque content is encouraged to be positive and is subject to review and approval by City staff.
  • Only one 2" x 7" bronze plaque is allowed on each bench or table.
  • Donor can provide plaque content at the time of submitting donation form by filling the appropriate section on the form.
  • Spelling and content accuracy are the responsibility of the donor.
  • The plaque process includes opportunity for proof reading by the donor. 
  • Upon request by the original donor, an existing plaque can be removed (by the City) and a new replacement plaque can be purchased by the donor through the City (and installed by the City). The cost of a new plaque would be at the current cost of a plaque. 

Is the donation tax-deductible?

The City of Kirkland is a municipal organization. Donations may be tax-deductible. Contact the IRS or a tax adviser for confirmation.

I've confirmed item availability, what are the next steps?

  • Complete and submit the Sharing Program Application. Online method below preferred.
  • Mail or drop off donation payment.
  • The donation process formally begins once the Application and the entire donation amount is received.
  • Bench/table locations are not held without receipt of completed Application and full payment.
  • Checks are accepted. Cash and credit cards are not accepted at this time.
    • Checks can be made payable to the City of Kirkland and be attached to the Sharing Program Donation Application.

Timeline and Duration

  • The entire donation process can take approximately three to six months.
  • Upon the completion of the donated item, the donor is notified, and a receipt is sent by mail.  
  • Initial installation or refurbishment , routine maintenance and park placement of the bench or table is guaranteed for a fifteen year period.
  • After the fifteen year period, existence and/or maintenance is not guaranteed and the disposition of the gift is at the sole discretion of the City of Kirkland. The bench or table will not be resold and the plaque will not be removed by the City (unless requested by the donor).

Recognizing our Donors

The City of Kirkland and our Park Board wish to thank all the people and organizations that donate to us. Our Park Board receives a list of completed donations monthly. A list of the previous year’s donors is also compiled and published yearly.

Online

Step 1.Are you ready to complete and submit a Sharing Donation Application? 

If you can answer yes to the four questions below, you're ready to proceed with the Sharing Donation Application.

  1. Have you reviewed the Sharing Program Guide above?
  2. Has City Staff confirmed availability of your item (bench/table) at your preferred park location? If not, email eparks@kirklandwa.gov to confirm park bench/table availability or bdaly@kirklandwa.gov to confirm Cross Kirkland Corridor bench availability.
  3. Do you have a check? Payment in full is required with your Sharing Donation Form. We accept checks only at this time.
  4. Do you know what you want printed on the personalized bronze plaque? Review Bronze plaque and its design for more details.

Step 2.Complete the Sharing Donation Application and submit payment

Sharing Donation Application

Make check payable to the City of Kirkland and mail or hand-deliver within 2 business days' of submitting online application to:

For Park Site Donations

Attn: Nicci Osborn
City of Kirkland - Parks and Community Service
123 5th Ave
Kirkland, WA 98033

For Cross Kirkland Corridor Locations

Attn: Blair Daly
City of Kirkland - Public Works
123 5th Ave
Kirkland, WA 98033

Step 3.We will contact you

The City will contact you within ten business days or less from receipt of the application and donated funds. The entire donation process can take approximately three to six months. We'll contact you again once your plaque and item are ready.

 

Phone

We are unable to accept a Sharing Donation Application by phone. To receive a paper application by mail, call our office at 425-587-3330. Please click on Online or In Person for different ways to submit your completed Application.

In Person

Step 1.Are you ready to complete and submit a Sharing Donation Application? 

If you can answer yes to the four questions below, you're ready to proceed with completing the Sharing Donation Form. 

  1. Have you reviewed the Sharing Program Guide above?
  2. Has City Staff confirmed availability of your item (bench/table) at your preferred park location? If not, email eparks@kirklandwa.gov to confirm park bench/table availability or bdaly@kirklandwa.gov to confirm Cross Kirkland Corridor bench availability.
  3. Do you have a check? Payment in full is required with your Sharing Donation Form. We accept checks only at this time.
  4. Do you know what you want printed on the personalized bronze plaque? Review Bronze plaque and its design for more details.

Step 2.Stop by a City Hall Counter

If you'd like to fill out the Sharing Donation Application in person, please stop by the Parks and Community Services counter for bench/table donations within a park or the Public Works Department for donations within the Cross Kirkland Corridor.

City Hall is located at 123 5th Avenue, Kirkland, WA, 98033, and Parks & Community Services is located on the lower level. Public Works is located on the upper level. City Hall is open Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (except holidays). Please bring your checkbook with you.

Step 3.We will contact you

The City will contact you within ten business days or less from receipt of the application and donated funds. The entire donation process can take approximately three to six months. We'll contact you again once your plaque and item are ready.