The Bellevue City Council has reviewed plans for the development of new parks in the Surrey Downs and Eastgate neighborhoods and is expected to adopt a master plan for the Surrey Downs area March 16.

There is a Surrey Downs Park now, at 546 112th Ave. S.E., On March 9, council members looked at a plan for expansion that would include an area now occupied by a King County District Court.

Now including a play field, two small ball fields, a children’s play area and a basketball court, the expanded park would feature an open lawn, Little League baseball fields that could be converted to a soccer field, picnic spots and a skateboarding area, along with a small basketball court.

The park’s master plan was drafted over a couple of years, with public participation and an environmental review. The Surrey Downs Community Association and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue offered input to the council and the Parks & Community Services Board.

Design and permitting for the new Surrey Downs Park will take about 18 months. Construction can then begin when the District Court is relocated.

At Eastgate, the city is planning a new park that could include lighted sports fields, an indoor recreation building, off-leash dog area, picnic facilities and trails. The city has purchased properties from The Boeing Co. and the Bellevue School District that, along with an existing stormwater pond, total 28 acres.

The area, between Southeast 26th Street and Microsoft’s Advanta office campus, is now open space and woodland. The council this week looked at three plan alternatives for the new park:

A: The option calling for the least development, includes a major recreation building with a large turf area and a meadow, while retaining natural areas and a picnic area already on the site.

B: The option calling for the most development, including a lighted, multi-use sports complex that includes three baseball/softball fields and two soccer/lacrosse fields, a two-acre off-leash dog area and a picnic area with parking.

C: A combination of options A and B, with a single lighted baseball/soccer field, a tall grass meadow, recreation building and small off-leash dog area. Only trails and picnic tables are proposed in the northwest woods.

The plan alternatives for the Eastgate park were developed during a master planning process that began in May 2008 and included input from the community. Based on feedback from the council, the community and the Parks Board, planners will draw up a master plan with a single vision for the park.

The draft master plan will be presented to the public at a community meeting, probably in April. The plan will then be refined, if necessary, and presented to the Parks Board. After an environmental review is completed, a master plan, with a recommendation from the Parks Board, and a park name will be presented to council for adoption, possibly in the fall.