Parks Levy Task Force to recommend funding for King County Parks

Current levies for operations and for new open space and trails expire next year; Meetings set for this summer, with recommendations to executive this fall.

July 1, 2012 10:39 pm

King County Executive Dow Constantine has appointed 20 local business and civic leaders to a task force charged with developing and recommending a funding strategy for King County Parks, once two levies that currently support parks operations and new acquisitions expire at the end of 2013.

“Parks, trails and open space are part of what make King County a great place to live,” said Executive Constantine. “I have asked the task force to map a course that keeps our parks open and continues to build the system for future generations.”

The Task Force meets for the first time tonight, Tuesday, June 26 from 4-6 p.m., at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 SE 24th St., Mercer Island. Additional meetings are being scheduled for July and August.

The Executive has asked members of the new King County Parks Levy Task Force to recommend a funding strategy that will ensure the vitality and sustainability of King County’s parks and trails in 2014 and beyond. The Task Force is expected to submit its recommendations to the County Executive by the end of September.

Voters in 2007 approved two six-year levies to support King County parks and trails.

  • Approved by 63 percent, the 2008-2013 Parks Operating Levy funds maintenance of the County’s parks and trails, including Marymoor Park, the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center and the Sammamish River Trail.
  • The 2008-2013 Open Space and Trails Levy, which was approved by 59 percent, provides funds for the County to acquire open space and develop the regional trails system, as well as funds for open space and trails projects in King County’s 39 cities, and for programs and capital improvements at the Woodland Park Zoo.

All Task Force meetings will be held at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center from 4-6 p.m. and are open to the public.

The 20 members of King County Parks Levy Task Force are:

 

  • Shiv Batra, Tetra Tech
  • David Burger, Stewardship Partners
  • Julie Colehour, Colehour + Cohen
  • Karen Daubert, Washington Trails Association
  • Gene Duvernoy, Forterra
  • Hillary Franz, Futurewise
  • Terry Higashiyama, City of Renton
  • Roger Hoesterey, The Trust for Public Land
  • Al Isaac, Des Moines Legacy Foundation Board Member
  • Terry Lavender, King County Conservation Futures Citizen Advisory Committee Member
  • Joey Martinez, Burien Planning Commission
  • Gordon McHenry, Jr., Mountains to Sound Greenway Board of Trustees
  • Louise Miller, former State Legislator and King County Council Member
  • Mathew Pruitt, Finn Hill Parks and Recreation District
  • Charles Ruthford, Cascade Bicycle Club Board of Directors
  • Chukundi Salisbury, City of Seattle, Parks and Recreation Department
  • Sili Savusa, White Center Community Development Association
  • Kathy Surace-Smith, Lockleven Consulting, PLLC
  • Jim Todd, SeaTac resident
  • Justin Vanderpol, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance and Parks Levy Citizen Oversight Board Member

 

King County’s parks, trails and open spaces are managed by the Parks and Recreation Division of the County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks.