Opening of Sammamish P-Patch at Beaver Lake on Hold

The Community Garden at Beaver Lake has been delayed, likely until 2013, the city of Sammamish said yesterday. Originally, the city hoped to open the garden for planting later this summer.

The city of Sammamish notified residents yesterday that a problem has come up due to the location of a PSE gas line constructed within the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) easement. This means the city must wait for guidance from BPA to finalize permits for the garden.

Residents and the city for over a year. The city has budgeted $200,000 for the garden, which will be located at Beaver Lake, along SE 24th Street across from 246th Ave SE. The cost stems from bringing water from .

The garden will be open to all residents and two goals are to encourage healthy eating and better community ties. Some volunteers hope for a partnership between the garden and farmers market or a donation program to food banks. The city is planning an .

Sammamish Volunteer Coordinator Dawn Sanders said in an e-mail sent out March 14: "Apparently the gas line was constructed in the wrong location. While the gas line does not directly impact our project, BPA is evaluating whether or not they will require PSE to remedy the problem. For obvious reasons, this issue needs to be resolved before BPA will issue our permits.

"We anticipate having direction from BPA in the next two months, which means we should hear something by early May. We are checking in with them regularly and will keep you posted on this progress. At this time we are anticipating a garden opening in 2013."