Today, a coalition of 280 businesses, nonprofits and community organizations announced their endorsement of a new Seattle Parks District.
The August ballot measure, Proposition 1, is intended to serve as a replacement for the existing 2008 Parks Levy that is expiring at the end of 2014. Seattle Parks face a more than $260 million maintenance backlog.
“We are lucky in Seattle to have access to hundreds of parks, but we need to act as responsible stewards to ensure everyone can enjoy these special places in the future,” said Joanna Grist, executive director of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition. “The Parks Department needs voters to approve this measure so they can continue to provide high quality recreation close to home.”
Since 1989, the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) has provided funding for 1,200 projects across the state, including 37 Seattle park projects like South Lake Union and the wetlands at Magnuson Park. As the creator and primary advocate for the WWRP grant program, the Coalition supports continued funding for local parks.
Seattle Proposition 1 will address a wide variety of parks system needs including maintenance like replacing leaky roofs and critical electrical upgrades; ongoing maintenance that keeps parks clean and safe; restoring staffing and community programs; creating new parks to meet increased demand; funding for major maintenance at Woodland Park Zoo and the Seattle Aquarium; and funding to protect urban wildlife habitat.
The measure has also been endorsed by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, the Seattle City Council, Cascade Bicycle Club, Forterra, Trust for Public Land, Washington Trails Association, and many others.
About the Coalition
The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition is a non-profit citizens group founded in a historic bipartisan effort by former Governors Dan Evans and Mike Lowry. The Coalition promotes public funding for Washington’s outdoors through the state Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. Members consist of a diverse group of over 280 organizations representing conservation, business, recreation, hunting, fishing, farming and community interests. The breadth and diversity of the Coalition is the key to its success — no one member could secure such a high level of funding for parks and habitat on its own.