Marymoor Park To Get Climbing Rock

REDMOND - Construction started this week on a rock.

A man-made climbing rock at Marymoor Park, that is. When finished at a cost of $350,000, it will be one of the largest free-standing climbing structures in the country.

The concrete rock will be 35 feet high and 40 feet wide at the base, and have intersecting walls with fixed handholds. There also will be a route for the disabled.

The climbing rock is being built south of the Velodrome and will be ready for climbing in March. A fence will be posted around the site during construction, and practice soccer field No. 4 will be closed temporarily.

Public rock climbing in Puget Sound country is limited to bouldering at Seattle's Camp Long and indoor wall climbing at REI stores. The University of Washington's climbing rock is open only to students, employees and faculty members.