DES MOINES—Seatac and Des Moines trail users will celebrate a milestone at the Des Moines Creek Trail next week, thanks to a $579,000 grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. The Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department will formally open the 2.5-mile stretch of trail that will connect three parks: The 70-acre Des Moines Creek Park, the 22.5-acre Des Moines Beach Park Historic District and Tidelands, and the 14-acre Des Moines Marina. The public is welcome.
Details:
Date and time: Oct. 6, 1:30 p.m.
Location: Promontory at the entrance of Des Moines Beach Park, 22030 Cliff Ave. S. Parking: Available in the Marina’s north parking lot
The Des Moines Creek Trail travels through old growth forest and salmon spawning grounds, by two historic landmarks and a mountain bike facility, before ending at the waterfront. It connects Des Moines neighborhoods, recreation facilities and schools, SeaTac, SeaTac Airport, a future light rail station, and the South King County Regional Trail System to the Puget Sound in downtown Des Moines. A Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant provided $579,038. The city of Des Moines contributed $589,960 in federal funding, cash, donations, and a voter-approved levy.
The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition announced recently it will ask the state Legislature to allocate $100 million from the 2011 state capital construction budget to continue funding projects like the Des Moines Creek Trail waterfront connection. Projects funded out of the capital construction budget do not compete with teachers or social services, which are paid for out of the state operating budget.
“The Des Moines Creek Trail is a South King County treasure,” said Rep. Dave Upthegrove, D-Des Moines. “Programs like the WWRP provide critical funding for neighborhood parks and trails across Washington. Keeping this valuable program strong will give more communities the chance to complete vital projects that benefit everyone.”
Contact: Erica Doctor, 206-748-0082, Erica@WildlifeRecreation.org
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The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition is a non-profit citizens group founded in 1989 by Govs. Dan Evans and Mike Lowry. In 1990, the Coalition convinced the Legislature to create the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to provide a source of grant funding to protect parks, wildlife and fish habitat, forest lands, working farms, and open space areas across the state. Today, the Coalition includes more than 270 businesses and environmental, recreational, and community groups in Washington. Since 1990, the Program has provided more than $615 million for more than 1,000 neighborhood and state parks, ball fields, trails, beaches, farms and wildlife habitat areas. To learn more, visit the Coalition’s website at www.WildlifeRecreation.org.