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About Bellevue City Profile

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Park Planning and Development

Park Planning Introduction
	2008 Parks & Natural Areas Levy Fact Sheet

Aquatics Feasibility Study

Bellevue Botanical Garden Master Plan Update
	BBG Visitor Center
	Ravine Experience

Bellevue Youth Theatre Expansion

Bridle Trails Levy Project

Eastgate Area Properties Park Master Plan

Forest Drive Streetscape

Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center Construction
	Background
	Partnerships

Meydenbauer Bay Park and Marina Projects

Meydenbauer Bay Park Plan

Newport Hills Neighborhood Park Planning

Off-Leash Area Study

Parks & Open Space System Plan

Robinswood Park Off-Leash Area Study

Sports Field Improvements
	Newport Hills Park
	Wilburton Hill Park

Surrey Downs Park Master Planning

Bellevue Youth Theatre Expansion

To accommodate demand and address other problems with the current Bellevue Youth Theatre, the city is proposing to build a new facility. To be located at Crossroads Park, the $8 million theater will offer versatility and environmentally friendly features. Video of planned theater

Background
Founded in 1990, the Bellevue Youth Theatre (BYT) has grown into one of the Parks & Community Services Department's most popular programs. The theater presents 10 productions each year, entertaining thousands, and provides summer and school-break day camps and theater classes.

In 2001, under an agreement with the Bellevue School District, the theater was relocated from Crossroads Community Center to a portion of the former Ivanhoe Elementary School. BYT soon outgrew the Ivanhoe facility, and in 2005 plans were developed to renovate the school for the Youth Theatre’s needs.

However, renovation was estimated to cost approximately $2 million, with roughly half the costs needed to address building code upgrades. Escalating construction costs since 2005, together with changes to the building code, combined to increase the estimated cost of expansion at Ivanhoe to nearly $3.5 million.

The high cost, coupled with limited expansion capabilities at Ivanhoe, and the fact that the city does not own the Ivanhoe site, prompted staff to explore other expansion alternatives through a site and building feasibility study. Multiple options and locations were examined at the Ivanhoe site, Crossroads Community Park and in the Bel-Red area.

Summary - Proposed Project

The city is proposing to add a black-box theater and supporting facilities (+/-12,000 square feet) near the existing Crossroads Community Center (+/-23,000 square feet).
Essential program elements include:
- Performance space
- Lobby space
- Additional dressing rooms and restrooms
- Rehearsal and classroom space
- Secured staff and volunteer offices
- Storage
The project is estimated to cost approximately $8 million. A combination of existing city funds, grants and fundraising efforts by the Bellevue Youth Theatre Foundation will provide project funding.
Architectural work is complete, with construction beginning as early as first quarter 2012.
See the video of the planned theater and project illustrations for additional project details.
Project fact sheet and location map (updated November 2011)

The BYT Foundation supports this project in order to create capacity to continue growth of this successful program, to protect the theater’s mission of inclusiveness, to bring the theater up to standards expected of Bellevue Parks’ facilities, to fulfill the BYT business plan strategy for expansion, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of city/community partnership in the long-range vision for Bellevue. The expansion will allow the BYT to continue to serve the community for many years to come.

Cast of Bellevue Youth Theatre production

Contact Information

Parks & Community Services
PO Box 90012
Bellevue, WA 98009
Contact: Brian Krause
Phone: 425-452-6992
E-mail: bjkrause@bellevuewa.gov