Drafter
Clerk 07/24/2025
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AN ORDINANCE approving the grant funding allocation for projects funded through the 2020-2025 parks, recreation, trails, and open space levy grant program in accordance with Ordinance 18890, Motion 15378, Ordinance 19166, and the 2025 Annual Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 19861, Section 95.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. Ordinance 18890, which took effect May 13, 2019, called for a special election to authorize the King County parks, recreation trails, and open space levy. On August 6, 2019, King County voters approved the levy, which included funding for various grant programs, including parks capital and open space and aquatics facilities.
2. Ordinance 19166 established grant award criteria and the process for the King County parks, recreation, trails, and open space levy grant programs, as well as the proposed composition of advisory committees in accordance with Ordinance 18890, Section 6, Motion 15378, Section F.1., and Attachments A, B, D, and E to Motion 15378.
3. The parks capital and open space grant program under Attachment A to Ordinance 19166 will provide funding for a range of land improvements, including land acquisition, park and open space development, habitat conservation, community gardens, and construction of passive and active recreation facilities. The goal of the program is to acquire lands that might be lost to future development pressures and to construct new and improved facilities to address rapid growth in urban areas.
4. The targeted equity grant program under Attachment B to Ordinance 19166 will provide levy proceeds for a range of projects, including capacity building, such as community outreach and planning; land acquisition in opportunity areas or areas that serve a community of need; capital projects or programs in underserved areas; and projects providing access to parks, open spaces, or recreation opportunities for people with disabilities. The goal of the program is to increase access and use of parks, open spaces, recreational facilities, and related programming in underserved areas.
5. The aquatic facilities grant program under Attachment C to Ordinance 19166 will provide levy proceeds for a wide range of improvements to public aquatics facilities located in King County. The projects may include feasibility studies, design, permitting, and new construction or improvements to existing capital facilities. The grant program will assist communities as the region grows and existing facilities become obsolete or reach capacity.
6. The open space river corridors grant program under Attachment D to Ordinance 19166 will provide levy proceeds for flood risk reduction, habitat restoration, open space, and recreation in river corridors. The goal of the program is to incentivize projects that integrate multiple attributes of projects inside river corridors such as flood control, habitat, passive recreation, and trails.
7. The parks capital and open space/aquatic facilities advisory committee, targeted equity grant advisory committee, and open space-river corridors advisory committee all convened in the Spring of 2025 to review and score grant applications and have recommended funding for the projects listed in sections 1 through 4 of this ordinance, based upon the eligibility and additional criteria set forth in Attachments A, B, C, and D to Ordinance 19166.
8. The award recommendations are the third and final biennial processes for parks capital and open space grant, aquatic facilities grant, and open space river corridor grant.
9. The targeted equity grant award recommendations are the fourth and final annual grant processes in this levy.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. The King County Council authorizes the funding of parks capital and open space grant projects for 2025, totaling $6,703,796, as follows:
A. City of Algona: $250,000 for "Wetland Preserve Restoration & Interpretive Trail";
B. City of Covington: $1,000,000 for "Jenkins Creek Trail";
C. City of Federal Way: $705,796 for "Sacajawea Track and Turf Replacement";
D. City of Kent: $1,000,000 for "Uplands Playfield and Spray Park";
E. City of Maple Valley: $500,000 for "Henry's Switch Park Design";
F. City of Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation: $500,000 for "Be'er Sheva Playground & Shelter Improvements";
G. City of Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation: $1,000,000 for "Dr. Jose Rizal Park Play Area";
H. City of Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation: $1,000,000 for "Judkins Park Inclusive Playground and Spray Park"; and
I. Fall City Metropolitan Park District: $748,000 for "West Side Trail (Phase 2b)."
SECTION 2. The King County Council authorizes the funding of targeted equity grant projects for 2025, totaling $1,201,000, as follows:
A. After-School All-Stars Puget Sound: $225,000 for "ASAS Recreation & Wellness for Underserved Youth";
B. City of Federal Way: $28,000 for "Summer Experiences & Enrichment for Youth";
C. EarthCorps: $199,000 for "Green Stewards Program";
D. King County Play Equity Coalition: $225,000 for "Play Equity through Youth-Led Action";
E. Needs of the Community Society (NOCS): $91,000 for "Camp Without Borders Program";
F. Para Los Ninos de Highline: $113,000 for "Parks Summer Programs for Latino Children & Youth";
G. Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) of Greater Seattle: $178,000 for "BOLD & GOLD Outdoor Adventures"; and
H. Youth Experiential Training Institute (YETI): $142,000 for "All Youth in Nature Project."
SECTION 3. The King County Council authorizes the funding of aquatic facility grant projects for 2025, totaling $15,976,814, as follows:
A. City of Bellevue: $349,814 for "Bellevue Aquatic Center Renovation";
B. City of Covington: $724,000 for "Covington Aquatic Center Improvements";
C. City of Enumclaw: $400,000 for "Enumclaw Pool Mechanical/Electrical Upgrades";
D. City of Federal Way: $1,525,000 for "Federal Way Community Center Pool Renovation";
E. City of Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation: $5,000,000 for "Evans Pool Redevelopment Project";
F. Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District: $113,000 for "Mount Rainier Pool Electrical System Upgrade";
G. Highline Public Schools: $765,000 for "Evergreen Pool HVAC Replacement";
H. Lake Washington School District: $2,000,000 for "Juanita Aquatics Renovation Phase 3";
I. Tukwila Pool Metropolitan Park District: $5,000,000 for "Tukwila Pool Renovation & Expansion"; and
J. Vashon-Maury Island Park and Recreation District: $100,000 for "Vashon Pool Planning and Design."
SECTION 4. The King County council authorizes the funding of open space river corridor grant projects for 2025, totaling $7,542,936, as follows:
A. City of Kenmore: $1,000,000 for "ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis Park Property Acquisition";
B. City of Tukwila: $1,000,000 for "Chinook Wind Extension";
C. City of Tukwila: $1,000,000 for "TCC Riverside Campus Renewal & Canoe Launch";
D. EarthCorps: $752,000 for "Green and Duwamish River Restoration";
E. Forterra NW: $211,000 for "Duwamish Hill Preserve Community Restoration";
F. King County parks and recreation division: $390,000 for "Middle Fork Snoqualmie NA In-Holding Acquisition";
G. King County, water and land resources division (WLRD): $132,000 for "Old Growth Corridors Feasibility Study";
H. King County, WLRD: $1,000,000 for "Auburn Narrows Restoration and Trail Improvements";
I. King County, WLRD: $300,000 for "Cecil Moses Habitat Restoration Design";
J. King County, WLRD: $250,000 for "South Fork Skykomish Miller R Restoration Design";
K. King County WLRD: $270,000.00 for "Tolt-MacDonald Park Fish Passage Project";
L. Mid Puget Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group: $140,000.00 for "West Valley Depave Design";
M. Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust: $546,936 for "Middle Fork River Valley Stewardship";
N. Snoqualmie Indian Tribe: $251,000 for "Upper Snoqualmie River Prairie Restoration"; and
O. Whale Scout: $300,000 for "Community-Led Sammamish River Restoration."