The city of Bellevue has recently cracked down on construction in the area, including the Capehart Road area intersecting 25th street, future plans for Capehart itself, new plans to implement more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and the upcoming Bellevue Bay Water Park.
Road repairs are currently being done on 25th Street, but it’s much more than just quick fixes. Director of Economic and Community Development Harrison Johnson said that things like these simple repairs are contributing to Bellevue’s long-term sustainability, which is being maximized in other, more apparent areas. Things such as adding more pedestrian-supported infrastructure can help to resist the physically deteriorating drawbacks of a car-centric nation, Johnson said.
“What can work on the other side is density, walkability,” Johnson said. “Streets don’t degrade nearly as much if you’re riding a 12-pound bicycle or a human versus a semi-truck trailer, right?”
In fact, Planning Director Tammi Palm said, the city is working on a long-term plan for implementing such things, which will be covered in an active-mobility plan in future works. Using the $200,000 grant the city got, included in the project are plans for a master trail to make neighborhoods more connective, bike lanes for ultimate accessibility, and more walking paths for areas that do not already have them.
“I think it’s really important to give people options,” Palm said. “I’m not the girl that rides my bike to work and I’m never going to be that girl that rides her bike to work, but I think it’s important to allow somebody to have that ability if they so choose.”
These investments into Bellevue’s future are also so economically important, which is a highly considered topic when discussing other projects like businesses, and vice versa. Johnson said that businesses are so important to pay attention to when making these considerations, because they generate a lot of the revenue they city depends on to make such repairs and investments.
“We’re big advocates for the business community,” Johnson said. “So our job is to go through and make sure that the business owners have the ability to get the development they need so they can provide the quality of life that we’re looking for.”
This advocacy is making itself known all throughout Bellevue, but currently takes part in one place in particular: the block where Capehart Road meets 25th Street. There, they recently finished the construction of a McDonald’s, and are now working on an AutoZone store. Palm hints at future construction, in that block, and others.
“Right now, there’s a couple new auto parts stores going in,” Palm said. “We have plans for new Starbucks, just some different retail opportunities, some new convenience stores.”
But it also expands economic opportunities on a smaller scale, for people that are directly assisting with the construction. Sophomore Mackenzie Hoskins’ father works at Home Depot, and this new construction is helping him out.
“My dad gets some more stuff from his work, gets more business,” Hoskins said, “because he gets to help order parts for the AutoZone and stuff that’s being built down there.”
Palm said they have future plans for widening Capehart Road itself, but what has elicited the most excitement by far is the Bellevue Bay Water Park. Palm said they are nearing the end of the infrastructure and dirt work, and will soon be moving to vertical rise. When finished, it will be the fourth largest water park in the country.
“That’s something very unique and something very different that not all communities have or get the opportunity to have,” Palm said.
According to American Resort Management, the park will be 100,000 square feet, and have a retractable roof. The project is set at $60 million.
Additionally, Bellevue Times writes that the project was declared in February 2024, it began in the spring of 2025, and it is estimated to be finished in the spring of 2027.
Johnson said that the water park is an important thing because it is something that will increase people’s quality of life, which he aims to do in his job. As waterparks are widely known as an outlet for familial enjoyment, this excitement extends to the kids as well.
“I’m very excited about it; I love water parks,” Hoskins said.
