REI Boat Facilities In Bellevue To Hold Grand Openings

From The City of Bellevue: Through its partnership with the City of Bellevue, REI Co-op now operates boathouses at Enatai Beach Park and historic Meydenbauer Bay Park with classes, outings and rentals for exploring Lake Washington by standup paddle board, canoe, kayak or pedal boat. Grand opening celebrations are scheduled at each location for Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26 featuring food, music and fun activities for the whole family.

As the country’s largest provider of outdoor experiences and education, REI is well known for its classes, tours and events for experienced adventurers and those new to the outdoors. The boathouses will offer a range of paddling fun such as Sunrise over the Cascades Tour, Sunset SUP Yoga, Mercer Slough Kayak Tour, Introduction to Kayak Touring, Learn to Stand Up Paddleboard, and more. For those wishing to explore the lake and slough on their own, rentals are available by the hour, half and full day, or for the entire weekend. REI members receive discounts on all experiences and rentals.

Visit REI.com/enatai and REI.com/meydenbauer for location address and hours, programming information, class and tour registration, and rental prices. “We look forward to hosting locals and visitors at these beautiful locations and serving as a resource and gathering place for friends and loved ones for their water adventures,” said Erica Elder, manager of REI’s Bellevue boathouse activity centers. “We also hope to grow the outdoor watersports community. Whether someone wishes to rent for a few hours, hone their skills to build confidence for an open water trip, or experience the water in a fully guided tour during the early morning or evening hours, there is something for everyone.”

“We’re excited to team up with REI to increase the public’s access to the water,” said Patrick Simmons, recreation supervisor for Bellevue’s Parks & Community Services Department. “Like REI, we’re in the business of providing opportunities for Bellevue visitors, workers and residents to get outside.” REI and the City of Bellevue invite the public to the grand opening celebration on Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26. From 1-4 p.m., the REI boathouse at Enatai Beach Park will host food, live music, outdoor partners, product demonstrations, swag and more. During the same time, the Meydenbauer boathouse will have snacks and swag. Into the early evening hours, 5-8 p.m., the festivities continue at Enatai with outdoor games, gourmet s’mores bar, gas fire pits and lounge area. The boathouses will be open on Memorial Day, May 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

With the opening of the Bellevue boathouses, REI now operates seven activity centers in Atlanta; Chicago; Denver; and Lincoln Woods, Rhode Island. All locations offer guided water-based outings and classes, plus rentals of stand up paddleboards and kayaks. Select locations will also have bike rentals, allowing guests multisport opportunities. Across the country, the co-op is increasing its paddling field programs and tours, with classes such as Learn to Kayak (150+ classes nationwide) and exploration- focused tours. Bellevue’s Parks & Community Services is dedicated to building a healthy community through an integrated system of exceptional parks, open space, recreation, cultural arts and human services. With over 2,700 acres of parks and open space and more than 80 miles of trails, Bellevue offers countless options to get outside. The department also provides recreation programs for over 10,000 participants each year.

In addition to the new boathouses and a retail store at 410 116th Ave NE that opened in 2016, Bellevue’s Spring District will be home to REI’s headquarters in mid-2020. When REI joins any community, the co-op takes actions to positively contribute to outdoor lifestyles. On the Eastside, this includes advocating for transit and bike infrastructure with the Eastside Rail Corridor and supporting local nonprofit partners.