Chainline Brewing opens taproom at Google’s Kirkland Park Campus
Chainline Station by Chainline Brewing
As reported back in December, Washington’s Chainline Brewing has now opened the Chainline Station inside a historic Pacific Northwest Railway Caboose in Feriton Spur Park, located just east of Seattle across Lake Washington. The new taproom, coffee shop, and beer garden is situated along the Cross Kirkland Corridor next to pickleball court, splash pad, and amphitheater, all part of the new Google 6th street campus at Feriton Spur Park.
Google and partners Kirkland Downtown Association, SRM Development and City of Kirkland commemorated the occasion with an event on July 13 at Feriton Spur Park (509 6th St. S, Kirkland). The event featured live music from The Warren G. Hardings, food trucks, pickleball, lawn games and refreshments. Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet, King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci and others provided remarks.
Locals enjoying the water feature at Feriton Spur Park. Photo by Mike Nakamura Photography LLC
The 2.8-acre park is more than double the size before renovations started in spring 2021. Recent updates include a charming and historic Pacific Northwest Railway Caboose, occupied by local favorite Chainline Brewing. Chainline’s newest location, Chainline Station, will serve coffee, beer, wine and snacks. Also new is a large vegetable and fruit garden managed by Seattle Urban Farm Company, which will donate harvests to local nonprofit Hopelink. The park now has a splash pad, a 44-foot pickleball court, a 16 foot-wide paved trail and an amphitheater. Thanks to the park’s practices that protect ecosystems, the park is pursuing SITES certification and is targeting SITES Gold.
The amphitheater, known as the Kalakala Amphitheater, features pieces of the Kalakala ferry that debuted in 1935. The art deco ferry has a fascinating history. William Thorniley, advertising manager for the Puget Sound Navigation Company, chose to name the vessel Kalakala (Chinook for flying bird). This began a tradition for Puget Sound ferries to be given Native American names. She was once used as a passenger ferry between Seattle and Bremerton, and later in life, she became a fish cannery in Alaska. You can learn more about her history in this City of Kirkland video. In addition to the amphitheater, pieces of the ferry are also used in the Kalaka Entry Sculpture. Amber Mikluscak, Lead Landscape Architect with The Watershed Company, designed the pieces.
“An important part of investing in Kirkland is making sure we’re providing community benefits and opportunities as we grow,” said Google Site Lead for Kirkland Paco Galanes. “We are proud of our partnership with the City of Kirkland to bring this new park to the people of Kirkland.”
“This segment of the Cross Kirkland Corridor is but the latest of a series of enhancements that have been made to build upon and fulfill a bold vision that was embraced a little more than a decade ago,” said Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet. “This extension of Feriton Spur Park is a delightful addition and increasingly activates this portion of the CKC.”
“This beautiful park along the Eastrail represents another part of a longstanding dream made reality for the people of Kirkland and all of King County,” said King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci. “Once again, we are proving that Eastrail/Cross-Kirkland Corridor is so much more than a trail. It is a place to gather, celebrate, create, exercise, and build community. I am deeply grateful for the vision and persistence of leaders from city and county government and the private sector who all came together to make this amazing space possible.”
The park renovation is the latest upgrade along the Cross Kirkland Corridor, which runs through Kirkland and connects to the larger Eastrail system. Google originally enhanced the section of the CKC running through its 6th Street campus in 2015 with public recreation areas including a sand volleyball court, children’s play structure, basketball court, Crossfit/TRX fitness section and zip line.
Google celebrated the opening of its second Kirkland campus, Kirkland Urban, in April. In 2021, Google helped provide $32.88 billion of economic activity for tens of thousands of Washington businesses, nonprofits, publishers, creators and developers.
About Google in Washington
Google has called Washington state home since 2004, and currently has over 7,200 employees in the state. Since 2009, Google.org has awarded over $26 million in grants to nonprofits and organizations based in Washington. This funding has helped organizations like Code.org drive equitable education for underrepresented student populations. Learn more about Google in Washington at: g.co/economicimpact/washington.
About Kirkland Downtown Association
The Kirkland Downtown Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization representing the common interest of Kirkland's Downtown business community. KDA partners include business owners, property owners, and members of the community who are dedicated to the vibrancy of Downtown Kirkland. The KDA hosts a variety of events to bring the community and visitors together.
About the City of Kirkland
Located on the shores of Lake Washington, Kirkland is the thirteenth largest city in the State of Washington and the sixth largest in King County. The City government offers a full range of municipal services which are provided by eleven operating departments with over 630 full-time employees. Kirkland has long been a regional commerce center as well as a popular destination for recreation, entertainment, and the arts. For more information, please visit kirklandwa.gov