From today's inbox:

Ward Lake Park Master Plan Public Meeting - August 9

The Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation Department is hosting a public meeting to receive input on a draft master plan concept for Ward Lake Park.  The meeting is August 9, 2012, 6:30 – 8:30PM at The Olympia Center Room A, 222 Columbia St. NW, Olympia, WA  98501.
 
In 2007, the City of Olympia purchased a 9-acre park property on Ward Lake to be used for a future freshwater swim beach.  The park is located on the southeast corner of Ward Lake at 2008 Yelm Highway SE.  This will be the second of three public meetings as the City develops the master plan.
 
In 1985, Capitol Lake was closed to swimming.  Since then, every Olympia parks plan has had a goal of providing additional water access.

There's 351 feet of shoreline. The City has a webpage about the planning process, including the comments they have received so far - some from residents on the lake who don't want public swimming there at all, some from residents who support a park but are worried about various side effects (motorized boats, noise, pollution, bothering the birds, etc...), some from supporters with all sorts of visions ranging from a minimal chip trail down to the water to a dog park, some shoreline for retrievers to fetch sticks, a ball field...