Levy provides essential funds for maintenance and operation costs of local parks
SEATTLE- The board of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition endorses the 2013 King County Parks Levy that will appear on the August 6 primary ballot. This ballot measure would allow the County’s 26,000 acre park system and 175 miles of trails to remain open, safe and clean while investing in the system’s infrastructure.
The current parks levy is set to expire at the end of the year.
“Maintaining local parks not only provides our kids with a safe place to play, but also protects our property values and supports economic development,” said Joanna Grist, executive director of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition. “The King County parks system is a gem. The Coalition fully supports funding for taking care of our parks so we can provide the best outdoor experiences for all Puget Sound families.”
Since 1990, the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) has provided funding for 200 projects in King County, including many neighborhood parks such as trails at Cougar Mountain Park, Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park, and the East Lake Sammamish Trail. As the creator and primary advocate for the WWRP grant program, the Coalition supports continued funding for local parks because maintenance is essential to ensuring these community spaces are safe and accessible. State-funded WWRP grants must be matched by community funds. King County Parks levies have provided these funds in the past, enabling communities to expand and refurbish local parks and playgrounds.
The levy is also supported by the King County Council, the King County Executive, and a broad range of stakeholders that includes parks-goers, cyclists, local business leaders, and non-profits.
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’s members consist of a diverse group of over 275 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 their own.