The city of Bonney Lake and the Cascade Water Alliance are in discussion for the city to take over the dike that runs along the southern end of the lake adjacent to Allan Yorke Park.

Though not officially a part of the park, the dike is often used by park-goers during summer months as additional space for bathers.

Cascade’s Elaine Kraft said the water purveyor has been looking for partners in patrolling and protecting the dikes that contain the lake and the one near the park, known as Dike 13, makes a “natural adjunct” to Allan Yorke.

She also said a recent survey by Cascade showed people want more public access to the lake and Dike 13 seemed a good fit for that. Cascade is presently working with Bonney Lake to determine the best use of the dike for passive recreation.

“As long as the integrity of the dike is maintained … and there’s no water quality issues … we feel it’s a good use of that,” Kraft said. “We’re confident the dike will be taken care of.”

City Public Works Director Dan Grigsby said the city hopes to fill in some of the large gravel area, presently blocked off from the road by ecology blocks, creating a larger, flat area for citizens.

The city would lease the land and get a right-of-way agreement to eventually put in a sidewalk.

“We increase the amount of recreation area,” Grigsby said, adding that the city should have an agreement for the property because it is used by citizens anyway.

“This agreement would formalize that arrangement,” he said.

Both sides said there is no official date for an agreement to be struck, but expect it to be completed soon.

Grigsby said the project to fill in the additional space would probably be part of the city’s capital improvement plan next year.