It’s been over a year since I first walked through Lake Sammamish State Park, my shoes thick with mud, trying to understand why people had stopped attending a place Issaquah had declared one of its biggest gems.

I found myself meeting with two councilmembers who were passionate about Lake Sammamish, Stacy Goodman and Eileen Barber. A couple months after our series on the park, Goodman and Barber stayed true to their commitments. They got the park as part of the council goals for this year.

Monday they took the next big step. Not only did they get unanimous support for, again, trying to help the state park, a rare thing at a council goal setting retreat, but they also pushed forward a memorandum of understanding.

The memorandum is a legal document that sets the ground rules for Issaquah and the state parks department to look at ways to help fund and generate community interest at Lake Sammamish. Part of the discussion is to look at whether the city could take over the park, but that’s not necessarily the goal.

I want to applaud the two for their hard work bringing this forward and for the work they’ll undoubtedly put in over the next couple of years. Our state parks certainly can use a partner.

State lawmakers showed interest this year in helping the park, including putting $3.1 million for repairs in their budget, but Gov. Chris Gregoire axed the money at the last minute.

However, before we make the lawmakers out to be heroes, consider that Lake Sammamish needed help years ago. The state has been sitting on plans for six years to rehabilitate the beach, which was once a regional summer hub.

The park has the potential to redefine Issaquah. It has two of the biggest swimming beaches on the Eastside.

It’s time for this community to claim the park for its own. We can do that by creating a presence. Try picnicking there this summer. Tibbett Beach has some beautiful spots. The city wants to host a fireworks display next year; encourage officials to put it at the park. It certainly has the parking.

Buy a $30 Discover Pass. The more passes sold at Lake Sammamish, the better the odds the state will invest money there.

Finally, start a project at the park or join someone who has. It will send a message that the park is something more than a few muddy soccer fields. It’s an opportunity for community to thrive.