Editing Lake Stevens, Washington (section)

==Culture==

The city's annual summer festival, Aquafest, is held at North Cove Park in downtown Lake Stevens over a three-day weekend in late July. It was founded in 1960 and includes a boat parade, [[carnival]] rides, a [[car show]], and a [[circus]]. The 2018 festival was attended by 30,000 people.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Andrea |date=July 27, 2019 |title=Aquafest is three-day party on the Lake Stevens waterfront |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/aquafest-is-three-day-party-on-the-lake-stevens-waterfront/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> An annual [[Ironman 70.3]] [[triathlon]] was added to Aquafest in the 2000s and features a {{convert|70.3|mi|km|adj=mid}} course with swimming, cycling, and running segments.<ref name="Fiege">{{cite news |last=Fiege |first=Gale |date=August 15, 2014 |title=Lake is just the jumping off point for fun in Lake Stevens |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/lake-is-just-the-jumping-off-point-for-fun-in-lake-stevens/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 25, 2019}}</ref> The triathlon also serves as a qualifier for the [[Ironman World Championship]].<ref>{{cite news |date=July 7, 2008 |title=Aussies duel at Lake Stevens Ironman triathlon |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/aussies-duel-at-lake-stevens-ironman-triathlon/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cane |first=Mike |date=July 21, 2006 |title=Committed to the triathlon challenge |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/committed-to-the-triathlon-challenge/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref>

===Parks and recreation===
[[File:Lake Stevens WA panorama from Wyatt Park.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cascade Mountains]] seen from Davies Beach]]

Lake Stevens has {{convert|195|acre|ha}} of parks and open space managed by the city government, Snohomish County, and the [[Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Mattingly-Arthur |first=Megan |date=February 10, 2016 |title=Natural beauty of Lake Stevens |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/advertising/natural-beauty-of-lake-stevens/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> The city government owns {{convert|158|acre|ha}} and has nine parks that are categorized as community parks, neighborhood parks, mini-parks, and other facilities.<ref name="Comp-Parks">{{cite web |date=September 2015 |title=Chapter 5: Parks, Recreation and Open Space Element |pages=4–5 |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5986/2017-CHAP-5_PARKS_Clean_1-24-18 |work=City of Lake Stevens 2015–2035 Comprehensive Plan |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> In addition to public facilities, the Lake Stevens area has {{convert|139|acre|ha}} of private parks and open spaces that are owned by [[homeowner association]]s and other entities.<ref name="Comp-Parks"/>

The largest city-owned park is Eagle Ridge Community Park, located on {{convert|28|acre|ha}} near the northwest shore of the lake, but largely undeveloped.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 2018 |title=Eagle Ridge Park |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5787/EagleRidge20180417 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019115310/https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5787/EagleRidge20180417 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=May 12, 2020 }}</ref> The county government owns three community parks in the Lake Stevens area. Cavalero Community Park opened in 2009 and consists of two fenced [[dog park]]s, an open field, and a planned [[skate park]] on {{convert|32|acre|ha}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=December 9, 2016 |title='Worth the wait': Lake Stevens skate park could open by August |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/plans-for-skate-park-in-lake-stevens-finalized/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> Lake Stevens Community Park is located east of downtown and includes several [[soccer]] and [[baseball]] fields on {{convert|43|acre|ha}} of former timber land.<ref name="Comp-Parks"/>{{rp|7–8}}<ref>{{cite web |date=April 2018 |title=Lake Stevens Community Park |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5788/Lake-Stevens-Community-Park20180417 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019123930/https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5788/Lake-Stevens-Community-Park20180417 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=May 12, 2020 }}</ref> Davies Beach (formerly Willard Wyatt Park) lies at the foot of Chapel Hill on the western lakeshore and includes a beach, [[boat launch]], and a [[boathouse]] for rowing teams.<ref>{{cite news |last=Banel |first=Feliks |date=February 21, 2020 |title=All Over The Map: Family responds to name being removed from Lake Stevens park |url=https://mynorthwest.com/1728103/all-over-the-map-wyatt-park-lake-stevens-renaming/? |work=MyNorthwest.com |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Julia-Grace |date=May 2, 2019 |title=New Lake Stevens boathouse honors one of the 'Boys' of 1936 |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-boathouse-honors-joe-rantzs-enterprising-legacy/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref>

Several city parks are located along the shore of Lake Stevens, providing beaches with swimming areas and fishing docks.<ref name="Comp-Parks"/>{{rp|11–14}} Lundeen Park is the largest of the city's beaches and was developed out of a former resort that opened in 1908.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> It also offers [[paddleboard]] and [[kayak]] rentals, a [[visitors center]], and a [[concession stand]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=June 28, 2016 |title=Changes at Lake Stevens park include paddlesport rentals |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/changes-at-lake-stevens-park-include-paddlesport-rentals/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> At the northeast end of the lake is North Cove Park, a downtown park that is planned to be developed into an urban gathering space.<ref name="Herald-Downtown"/> A [[disc golf]] course was opened in 2000 at Catherine Creek Park, a small park with hiking trails and natural areas.<ref name="Fiege"/><ref name="Comp-Parks"/>{{rp|10}}

The county government also owns [[Snohomish County Centennial Trail|Centennial Trail]], an inter-city hiking, bicycling, and equestrian [[rail trail]]. It travels {{convert|30|mi|km}} between [[Arlington, Washington|Arlington]] and [[Snohomish, Washington|Snohomish]], passing through the east side of Lake Stevens.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fiege |first=Gale |date=August 9, 2013 |title=People traveling Centennial Trail, end to end, for 1st time |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/people-traveling-centennial-trail-end-to-end-for-1st-time/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> The city has several short trails that are owned by the Lake Stevens School District and private housing subdivisions, along with informal trails along a [[Electric power transmission|transmission line]] corridor.<ref name="Comp-Parks"/>{{rp|19}} Lake Stevens plans to develop and connect these routes into a full network, including the Bayview Trail on the transmission line in collaboration with the City of Marysville.<ref>{{cite news |last=Watanabe |first=Ben |date=February 14, 2022 |title=Transportation package could bring $600M to Snohomish County |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/transportation-package-could-bring-600m-to-snohomish-county/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=May 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Watanabe |first=Ben |date=April 30, 2023 |title=Lake Stevens, Marysville seek Bayview Trail design input |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-marysville-seek-bayview-trail-design-input/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=May 2, 2023}}</ref> The city government also manages a [[community center]] near the city hall and library. Several local [[rowing club]]s use Lake Stevens, including the in-city Lake Stevens Rowing Club that was founded in 1997.<ref name="Comp-Parks"/>{{rp|21–24}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=January 19, 2017 |title=Lake Stevens Rowing Club brings together people of all ages |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-rowing-club-brings-together-people-of-all-ages/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref>

===Historical preservation===
[[File:Lake Stevens,WA museum 01.jpg|thumb|right|The Lake Stevens Historical Museum, opened in 1989]]

The local [[historical society]] operated a [[museum]] adjacent to the city library that opened in 1989 and included exhibits with fixtures from historic buildings and a collection of documents and photographs.<ref name="Times-Museum"/> The museum grounds also included the Grimm House, a historic house that is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The house was constructed in 1903 for a mill worker and moved to the museum grounds in 1996, later undergoing extensive renovations before opening for public tours in 2004.<ref>{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Evan |date=October 6, 2019 |title=This Lake Stevens house is a relic of a time long gone |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/this-lake-stevens-house-is-a-relic-of-a-time-long-gone/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> The museum was closed and demolished in June 2017 as part of the North Cove Park redevelopment, which also included moving the Grimm House to a new location adjacent to a future museum site.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=February 9, 2018 |title=Vote on Tuesday could be crucial for Lake Stevens project |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/vote-on-tuesday-could-be-crucial-for-lake-stevens-project/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Herald-Transformed">{{cite news |last=Breda |first=Isabella |date=June 26, 2021 |title=History will live on in a transformed Lake Stevens downtown |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/history-will-live-on-in-a-transformed-lake-stevens-downtown/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=June 27, 2021}}</ref>