Category Overview
State Parks grants help preserve and develop our state’s best outdoor recreation areas by funding new campgrounds and amenities to increase the capacity of our parks, creating new parks, improving park resources, and protecting historical areas. These grants help our state continue to develop our world-class parks system to share our cultural heritage and natural treasures with all of its visitors.
Project Highlights
This project is the second phase of an acquisition of 16 parcels, totaling approximately 105 acres, in King County near Black Diamond. The number of parcels acquired will depend on appraised value, but it is likely that this phase can purchase 7 parcels totaling approximately 52 acres. The Washington State Legislature established the Green River Gorge Conservation Area in 1969 (RCW 79A.05.705) and directed the State Parks and Recreation Commission to begin acquiring property along the river. The State Parks plans for the Conservation Area include a trail along the south rim of the gorge, from Kanaskat-Palmer State Park to Flaming Geyser State Park. The parcels in Icy Creek Ridge are some of the last needed before trail development will be possible. The current landowner has platted the area into 14 building sites and has already developed roads for future residential development. Purchase of these parcels will prevent this development, and the existing road will provide good access for a future trailhead for the South Rim Trail. This acquisition will also protect habitat corridors between the Green River and properties in King County’s Bass Lake Complex to the south. These parcels are within the designated long-term park boundary, and the landowner is a willing seller. This acquisition will make significant progress toward realizing the vision State Parks has been pursuing for over 50 years.