Although the area still was burdened with a struggling economy, it was a good year for economic planning in Issaquah.

A vision was presented for Central Issaquah and a new park downtown. Negotiations simultaneously preserved Park Pointe and opened up development to Bellevue College in the Highlands.

The city took steps to improve the environment by banning polystyrene and non-recyclable containers.

And it was met with tragedy when a shootout at Lake Sammamish Park left two dead.

Combining the good, the bad and the bazaar, The Reporter puts together a year in review for Issaquah and Sammamish for 2010.

January

– The city approved plans to begin building an I-90 undercrossing project Jan. 19.

– Tent City moved from Bellevue to the Community Church of Issaquah, giving residents the opportunity to show their generosity Jan. 23.

– Issaquah and Sammamish residents rushed to raise money for help in the Haiti relief after a disastrous earthquake.

February

– Issaquah and Sammamish residents passed a school levy to provide more funding for schools in the February election.

March

– An out of control driver pointed a loaded pistol in a road-rage incident on I-90 – March 19.

April

– The city of Issaquah hailed the speed-camera program on Second Avenue South as a success, ranking in $360,000 in five months in 2009.

– Park Pointe was foreclosed, paving the way to a development agreement that eventually set the land aside for preservation.

– Construction began on the ZHomes project, which use zero energy to live in.

May

– Sammamish set the world record for having the most redheads in one place at Skyline High School.

– A second woman was randomly attacked by a naked man with a taser on Tiger Mountain.

June

– Costco began collecting signatures for an initiative that would have privatized state liquor sales. The initiative eventually failed in a narrow vote in the November General election.

July

– An unexpected shootout at Lake Sammamish State Park left two dead, and although there were several guns, there weren’t any suspects.

– The long-awaited U.S. Senior Open teed off at Sahalee Golf Course.

– A serious-injury pedestrian car crash spurred road safety changes in the Highlands.

August

– Fred Meyer gave the Issaquah Food Bank $15,000 for new computers.

– ArtEAST announced its decision to move to a larger space on Front Street, growing its gallery and increasing course offerings.

September

– Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus converted into a middle school with the start of a new school year in the Issaquah district.

– Unexpected rock and soil conditions ended up costing Sammamish another $650,000 to its $4.2 million East Lake Sammamish Parkway project.

– Bob Harrison was named the new city administrator.

October

– The city of Issaquah’s law banning polystyrene and non-recyclable containers, mostly used by restaurants packing up leftovers, went into affect.

– About 190,000 people visited downtown Issaquah for Salmon Days.

November

– Jay Anderson and Jay Rodne were re-elected for 2-year seats in the state house.

– After months of planning, a committee submitted a Central Issaquah Plan to the city, giving direction for future growth.

– Eastridge church donated over 2,000 frozen turkeys to those in need the weekend before Thanksgiving.

– Finalized plans were presented for Confluence Park downtown, promising interweaving paths and considerable green space for residents.

December

– The Park Pointe development agreement was finalized and signed, preserving over 140 acres of land on Tiger Mountain and opening up development to Bellevue College.

– Unprecedented mid-year state cuts cost the Issaquah School District $1 million.

– City council member Maureen McCarry announced her resignation. She was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in October.