The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will be meeting with contractors this month as the agency takes steps towards building a fence around the perimeter of Echo Glen Children’s Center in Snoqualmie.
The construction bid, published April 1, calls for a 16-foot fence that would enclose the 32-acre campus, as well as an updated control room at the facility’s entrance.
Construction could start as soon as mid-June and the project could be completed as early as Spring 2026.
“This is a big step towards improving security on campus,” said Jeffrey Wallace, Superintendent at Echo Glen. “We look forward to improving perimeter security, as part of our commitment to keep young people, staff, and the community safe.”
Last month, DCYF obtained the necessary permits to build on wetlands, a milestone that had been underway since 2023.
Construction of a perimeter is part of DCYF’s ongoing efforts to improve safety at JR facilities. In addition to the fence, Echo Glen has made several security improvements since 2021 including perimeter lights, adding contract security services at the front gate, roving patrols of the facility’s perimeter, portable technology policies, and other updates.