King County Parks announced Friday (July 16) that a damaged pedestrian footbridge at White Center Heights Park will be closed for at least one month while crews inspect the structure and engineers develop a plan for repairs.
According to the release:
The bridge, which was constructed across a small bog in September 2009 as part of a series of improvements to the park, lost several bolts that connect elements of the structure together.
King County Parks crews have closed access to the footbridge and have placed signs alerting pedestrians of the closure.
The bridge was built by Sahale LLC in a project led by the Cascade Land Conservancy, with funding provided by the Washington State Community Trade and Economic Development Grant Program and assistance from the White Center Community Development Association.
White Center Heights Park received the “Ultimate Parks Makeover” in 2007, thanks to generous donations by the Starbucks Coffee Company. More than 1,500 volunteers donated their time and sweat to turn what had been 5 ½ acres of overgrown and underused land into a popular community gathering space that features a picnicking area, pig roasting pit, community garden area, open play field and walking trails.
On Monday (March 29), the King County Council unanimously agreed to adopt a 30-year maintenance agreement with Seattle Prep High School for the use and maintenance of Mel Olson Stadium at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center.
Despite being located on Capitol Hill, for the past 18 years, Mel Olsen Stadium has been the home field for Seattle Prep’s baseball team. In 2008, volunteers from the school donated over 1,000 hours of physical labor and helped coordinate fundraising efforts to rehabilitate the stadium and the park. The rehabilitation project was followed by the April, 2008 renaming of the park in honor of Steve Cox, a King County Sheriff’s Deputy killed in the line of duty in December 2006.
“Steve Cox Park is a tremendous asset for the community that is assured of remaining well-used and taken care of for many years to come thanks to this partnership with Seattle Prep,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, chair of the Council’s Environment and Transportation Committee. “This is a win-win-win for the people of White Center, the students at Seattle Prep, and the taxpayers of King County.”
In the agreement, Seattle Prep will pay fees for the use of the stadium, as well as provide supplemental maintenance of the facility, and assist with major maintenance by providing volunteer labor, project coordination and fundraising assistance. In exchange, while other organizations and the public will continue to have access to the stadium and park, Prep receives priority use of the stadium for baseball games and related events.
“This is a prime example of the kind of public-private partnerships that are a critical ingredient in building better communities,” said Councilmember Jan Drago, whose district includes Steve Cox Park. “Seattle Prep played a big part in refurbishing the park, and this agreement will allow the entire White Center community to enjoy the park for years to come and honor the memory of Deputy Steve Cox.”
In the agreement, Seattle Prep will pay fees for the use of the stadium, as well as provide supplemental maintenance of the facility, and assist with major maintenance by providing volunteer labor, project coordination and fundraising assistance. In exchange, while other organizations and the public will continue to have access to the stadium and park, Prep receives priority use of the stadium for baseball games and related events.
In 2002, the County redefined its role regarding regional parks, adopting a business plan for parks that cultivates strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners in order to enhance park amenities while reducing costs.
PHOTO CREDIT:
King County Parks has officially unveiled what they consider a “very groovy” new playground at White Center’s Steve Cox Memorial Park, which is located at 1321 SW 102nd Street.
Here’s the verbiage taken directly from the county’s website:
The new playground at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center is now officially OPEN!
Featuring some very groovy Scandinavian-designed equipment for kids aged 2-5 and 5-12, there are slides, swings, and lots of spinny things.
And of course, safety surfacing so you don’t get hurt when you fall down and go boom.
Enjoy!
As you may recall, Steve Cox was the King County Sheriff’s officer who was was killed in White Center in the line of duty in December of 2006. Formerly White Center Park, the park was re-opened in Cox’ honor in 2007.
Here’s a pic of the “very groovy” playground, courtesy King County Parks:
King County will cede the previously-contested Puget Sound Park to Burien when the city annexes much of the North Highline unincorporated area, county Executive Dow Constantine and Mayor Joan McGilton announced Wednesday (Jan. 6).
The joint announcement ends a seven-week impasse between the city and county over the fate of the five-acre park at 1st Ave. S and SW 126th St, and clears the way for Burien to proceed with the final annexation process.
McGilton said annexation probably will take effect on April 1. The city council is expected to vote on that date at their Jan. 11 meeting.
Residents in the southern half of the North Highline unincorporated area voted by a sizeable margin last August to be annexed by Burien. The merger includes transfer of county property in the annexation area to Burien, which the city now will maintain, including streets and parks.
But city officials learned on Nov. 20 that former county Executive Kurt Triplett, in one of his final actions before leaving office, offered to sell Puget Sound Park to the King County Library System.
The library system, which was interested in building a new facility at that site and consolidating the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries there, signed a letter of intent to purchase the land for $600,000.
Burien lawmakers, however, were adamant that the park rightfully should go to the city as part of annexation. On Nov. 23, they postponed a vote to approve March 2 as the effective date and delayed annexation until this issue was resolved.
Constantine, who as a county councilman represented Burien, North Highline and West Seattle, inherited the conflict when he took office on Nov. 24. Before taking office, he asked Triplett not to proceed with the sale, and Triplett complied.
Earlier last year, Constantine twice wrote letters supporting Burien’s claim to Puget Sound Park if the city annexed part of the North Highline area.
“A deal’s a deal, and it was the city’s understanding of the annexation process that it would receive six parks from the County, including Puget Sound Park,” Constantine said in the joint announcement.
“After detailed discussions, I agree that transfer of the park to the city is the right thing to do and should occur as part of that larger annexation.”
McGilton told our sister site The B-Town Blog, “I am very pleased that King County understood what Burien was saying, that we needed to be a part of the process in order to acquire Puget Sound Park.
“We are very happy that our new King County executive listened to the concerns of Burien and ultimately agreed that this was the best possible outcome for the city of Burien, for our soon-to-be new residents in North Highline, and for King County as a whole.
She added, “This part of our community has been underserved by parks. We look forward to bringing Puget Sound Park up to Burien standards for the residents who use this facility.”
In the joint statement, McGilton noted the transfer of the park, which still needs to be approved by the King County Council, “sets the right tone for this new era in King County government. I thank the County Executive for his leadership to reach a fair agreement on the parks transfer.”
City lawmakers had made it clear they considered the attempt by King County to sell the park, which was in the works before Constantine took office, a breach of trust. City Manager Mike Martin declared at that time that annexation would not happen until Burien got Puget Sound Park as part of the deal.
The city council also delayed adopting budget amendments for 2010 that account for additional revenue and expenses due to annexation until the park issue was resolved.
by Ralph Nichols
Burien City Council members had their first face-to-face discussion with a representative of the King County Executive’s office on the divisive issue of Puget Sound Park at their Dec. 7 meeting – and they didn’t blink.
Following a lengthy – and amicable – exchange of views with new Deputy Executive Fred Jarrett, the council agreed to delay once again setting March 2 as the formal date for annexing the south half of the North Highline unincorporated area.
City lawmakers made it clear to Jarrett that they consider the latest attempt by King County to sell the park – which was in the works before Executive Dow Constantine took office on Nov. 24 – a breach of trust.
And they remained equally adamant that Puget Sound Park, located at 1st Ave. S and SW 126th St. in the unincorporated area, is a county asset that rightfully should be transferred to Burien with annexation.
Jarrett appeared before the Burien council at the request of Constantine, who sent his regrets at not being able to attend the meeting. Prior to his election as county executive last month, Constantine represented Burien, North Highline and West Seattle on the King County Council and served as council chairman this year.
“We’re all in a place that we would really choose not to be,” Jarrett told the Burien council. “Our goal in all this is to be good partners and to reach an accommodation that meets the needs of both” the city and county.
Puget Sound Park is located on the land that once housed Puget Sound Jr. High, near the intersection of 1st Ave South and SW 126th.
Constantine, who in the past has strongly opposed efforts to sell Puget Sound Park, “is constrained by prior action of the [county] council,” he continued.
Before leaving office, former Executive Kurt Triplett included in his 2010 county budget an anticipated $600,000 from a planned sale of the five-acre park to the King County Library System. This one-time revenue is expected to pay for maintenance of county parks in unincorporated areas next year, Jarrett said.
Constantine had nothing to do with putting revenue from the sale of Puget Sound Park into the new budget and, Jarrett noted, “Dow did slow the [sale] process down” by asking Triplett not to act on a letter of intent with the library system.
Triplett complied with that request and, Jarrett said, the time to exercise the letter of intent has now elapsed.
However, Constantine presided over the county council meeting on Nov. 23 – the day before he was sworn in as executive – when it unanimously approved a $5 billion county budget for 2010.
“The Council has crafted a budget that protects public safety [and] keeps parks open in the unincorporated areas,” Constantine said following that vote.
Earlier this year, he wrote then-Executive Ron Sims, strongly objecting to any sale of Puget Sound Park for low-income housing, which was under consideration at that time.
Constantine also told the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council that the property should remain a park and should go to Burien if annexation took place.
King County Library Director Bill Ptacek has expressed interest in the library system acquiring Puget Sound Park and consolidating the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries, which would be closed, in a new facility at that location.
City Councilwoman Rose Clark told Jarrett it is “really reprehensible that at the 11th hour [before annexation] – 11:30 almost – the county says, “Oh, by the way, we’re going to sell the park and use the money for parks in other areas … and not tell you about it until the [county] council has voted” on it.
City Manager Mike Martin says that annexation won’t happen until Burien gets this park as part of the deal.
“To do that is a disservice to the Highline area,” Clark said. She then asked if the only way to keep other county parks open “is to take this park from Burien?”
Jarrett said that since anticipated revenue from selling the park is already in the new county budget, if the park is not sold cuts would have to be made or a source of replacement revenue would have to be found.
Nevertheless, he added, “We want to work with you. We want to be partners. We want to stop unilaterally actions by the county.”
“We would welcome that,” Clark replied.
Later, Jarrett said he and Constantine want to settle the park issue “in a different way. We just want to do this in a way that meets the needs of both sides.”
Clark insisted that as city and county officials discuss this matter, all meetings should be public, involve the city council and not just staff, and be held in Burien, which is a more convenient location than downtown Seattle for local citizens with a direct interest in the park.
Mayor Joan McGilton emphasized the important of parks in bringing the diverse cultures in Burien together. “We have [no parks] on the city’s east side,” she said.
And Councilman Gordon Shaw observed that the pending action by King County “proves the old adage that ‘no good deed goes unpunished’ … the whole thing doesn’t feel right.”
Burien officials learned about Triplett’s attempt to sell Puget Sound Park just days before the city council was scheduled to set March 2 as the formal date for annexing much of the North Highline unincorporated area – and just days before Triplett left office.
The city council then put the setting of an effective date for annexation on hold – and City Manager Mike Martin has declared that annexation won’t happen until Burien gets this park as part of the deal.
During public comment prior to the council’s discussion with Jarrett, North Highline Unincorporated Area Council President Russ Pritchard noted that the council has twice voted unanimously to oppose the sale of Puget Sound Park.
Yet, Prichard said, the county is now attempting to sell the park without first receiving public comment.
Will this be the site for another new library?
Burien resident Ed Dacey said “a park is a jewel, and that “sale of a park, even for a library, should not happen without an extensive public hearing. What else are they [the county] trying to sell in the back room?”
Dacey also said City Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak, who also is a member of the King County Library System board of trustees, “must recuse herself” from voting on this park-or-library issue “due to a conflict of interest.”
Krakowiak later said while she wears two hats, she represents the city first and as a library system trustee recuses herself from votes involving Burien.
Rachel Levine, a member of the White Center Library Guild, said the pending sale of Puget Sound Park and possible closure of that library took them by surprise.
White Center was promised a new or expanded library through the library bond issue that was approved in 2004, Levine said. And the library, which “gets lots of use” with many patrons arriving on foot or bicycles, remains essential to the academic success of many Evergreen High School students.
“We can’t let go of the social network of our community,” she added. “We’ve already lost the Evergreen Pool – for the moment.”
Pat Price of Boulevard Park said residents there from students to the elderly “really need their library … we can’t find this acceptable to close two libraries to build one.”
North Highline resident Liz Giba said “to take away libraries from two communities that need them … is an ugly, ugly approach. We need libraries that are accessible … [and] the county told us this park would be saved.
“It’s time for King County, please, to treat us with a little bit of respect. We’ve been working for annexation for a long time. This is the latest step by the county to make it more difficult.”
City council members also agreed to delay adoption at Monday’s meeting of an amended budget for 2010 that would reflect both revenue and expenses associated with annexation. Instead, they will vote on Dec. 14 on a revised budget that does not include annexation unless the park issue is resolved before then.
Deputy King County Executive Fred Jarrett
Deputy King County Executive Fred Jarrett spoke to the Burien City Council Monday night (Dec. 7th) about the Puget Sound Park issue, expressing Executive Dow Constantine’s hope that an agreement can be reached that will meet the needs of all parties.
Jarrett said it is his understanding that this will include the King County Library System, which wants to buy the park – located at 1st Ave. S. and SW 126th St. in the North Highline unincorporated area that will be annexed by Burien next year – for a library site.
Such a library would consolidate the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries at the park location.
However, Burien wants the park to become part of the city’s park system once annexation occurs.
Following Jarrett’s presentation, council members agreed to continue a discussion about the park with county officials.
They also delayed adoption of the city’s amended budget for 2010 and the setting of a date for formal annexation to take place. Council members have said they won’t set a date for annexation until the park issue is resolved, and the timing of annexation will affect the budget.
A full report will appear on The White Center Blog on Tuesday, Dec. 8th.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
by A letter written on April 3 by then-King County Councilman Dow Constantine – this one sent to Ron Sims, who was still county executive at the time – affirms Constantine’s apparent support for preserving Puget Sound Park.
Constantine, now the new King County Executive, informed Sims that he could not “support the Sustainable Communities and Affordable Housing proposal until Puget Sound Park is removed from further consideration” for conversion to housing.
Located at 1st Ave. S and SW 126th St., the park is in the unincorporated area of North Highline that is to be annexed by Burien early next year.
“I was dismayed to see this parcel listed along with several other non-park properties being prepared for conversion to housing use,” Constantine wrote Sims.
“I have previously stated in writing that I would not support any conversion proposal for any portion of this park that did not have the support of both the North Highline community and the city of Burien, which is pursuing the annexation of the surrounding neighborhood.
“As the city of Burien has registered its formal opposition and the community appears adamantly opposed to selling all or part of the park, it should be removed from the proposed ordinance.
“Parks have immense value to their surrounding communities, and replacement of this park property in this immediate neighborhood would be difficult at best,” he continued. “Replacement at a site elsewhere in King County is, of course, wholly inadequate….
“I do not feel that the conversion of public parks to housing sites is appropriate … and, if this legislation is introduced, I will take immediate action to amend it to protect this neighborhood park.”
Before becoming county executive, Constantine represented Burien, North Highline and West Seattle on the county council.
On April 13, Puget Sound Park was removed from consideration as a project site for the Sustainable Communities and Affordable Housing program.
Noting he was “pleased to learn” of this action, Constantine added, “our public parks – both active and passive – are valuable assets to their surrounding neighborhoods and King County that must be preserved and enhanced whenever possible.”
When the King County Council adopted the Sustainable Communities and Affordable Housing ordinance on Sept. 14, Puget Sound Park was not included as one of the properties for conversion.
Nevertheless, Constantine’s immediate predecessor, former county Executive Kurt Triplett, attempted to negotiate a backroom deal for the sale of Puget Sound Park to the King County Library System (read our previous coverage here).
Burien city officials learned about Triplett’s attempt to sell Puget Sound Park just days before the city council was scheduled to set March 2 as the formal date for annexing much of the North Highline unincorporated area – and just days before Triplett left office.
The city council subsequently put the setting of an effective date for annexation on hold – and city Manager Mike Martin declared in the wake of that revelation that annexation won’t happen until Burien gets this park as part of the deal.
In his monthly report to the King County Library System board of trustees prior to their regular meeting on Nov. 24, library system director Bill Ptacek said, “As reported earlier this year, the County reached out to KCLS with an offer to sell various parks to KCLS so that they could be maintained and kept open.
“One of the parks, Puget Sound Park, is in the area that recently voted to annex to Burien. The Park … would be a good location for a new Library in the area. KCLS has agreed (in principal) to purchase the developable portion of that property. The County still hopes to turn over the Park portion to the City of Burien if and when it completes the annexation process in March 2010.”
One unconfirmed rumor suggests that if the library system took ownership of the park, it might consolidate the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries in a new facility at that location.
Frank Abe, Constantine’s director of communications, told The B-Town Blog earlier this week that before taking office, Constantine asked Triplett not to take action on selling Puget Sound Park.
One of Constantine’s first actions as executive will be to sit down with all parties to discuss the future of the park to “figure out what’s best – especially for the people of Burien,” Abe said.
Here are links to download and read PDFs of Constantine’s letters regarding Puget Sound Park:
by King County Executive Dow Constantine, whose first full day on the job was Monday (Nov. 30), reportedly plans to meet with all interested parties before deciding the future of Puget Sound Park.
The King County Library System recently entered into a preliminary agreement with former Executive Kurt Triplett to purchase the park from the county in a deal brokered through county executive’s office.
But Puget Sound Park is located at 1st Ave South and SW 126th Street in the unincorporated area of North Highline that is to be annexed by Burien early next year. And City Manager Mike Martin said last week that annexation won’t happen until Burien gets this park as part of the deal.
Burien and North Highline officials knew nothing about the pending sale of the park to the library system until Nov. 20th (read our previous coverage here).
Frank Abe, Constantine’s director of communications, told The B-Town Blog on Nov. 30 that “one of the executive’s first action items will be to sit down with all the parties involved and to understand their concerns….
“Before taking office, Executive Constantine asked the previous executive (Triplett) not to take action until he could talk to everyone, and no action was taken” on a possible sale of the park, which is now on hold.
Constantine likely will meet with Burien Mayor Joan McGilton and Martin, King County Library System Director Bill Ptacek, and North Highline Unincorporated Area Council President Greg Duff, among others.
Abe said Constantine wants to “figure out what’s best – especially for the people of Burien.” Constantine represented Burien, North Highline and West Seattle on the King County Council until his election as county executive in November.
He added that Deputy County Executive Fred Jarrett has emphasized “we want to be certain the county doesn’t do something that’s arrogant or one-sided” where Burien is concerned.
Click image to download PDF of Dow's letter.
Triplett’s stealth attempt to sell the park – initiated by the county and discussed with library system officials without informing the city or, apparently, library system trustees – prompted Burien council members at their meeting on Nov. 23 to postpone official annexation of North Highline, which tentatively was set for March 2.
Burien officials and North Highline residents hope that Constantine will intervene to block the sale, thus allowing Puget Sound Park to go to the city as part of annexation. And a Jan. 28, 2009, letter from Constantine to the North Highline Council, following a meeting he had with Triplett, may give them reason for optimism (download a PDF of the letter here).
At that time, while Burien lawmakers continued to deliberate the annexation issue, Triplett had identified Puget Sound Park as a county property that might be used for affordable workforce housing.
“Park property is hard to come by and especially dear to any community,” Constantine wrote the North Highline Council. “Any proposal to sell park property must receive the highest level of scrutiny and public discussion….
“Any specific proposal for Puget Sound Park would also need to be similarly presented for community review.
“Given that Puget Sound Park is located in the city of Buren’s Potential Annexation Area, I urged the Executive’s representatives to include Burien officials in any future discussions.”
“We expect to have that park,” Martin said following the Burien council’s postponement of setting a date for formal annexation. “No annexation deal will be done until we get that asset.”
King County Executive Dow Constantine
And McGilton sent a letter to Constantine requesting his “direct intervention in this matter.”
Burien City Councilwoman Rose Clark, in remarks during the Nov. 23 meeting, called Triplett’s “eleventh-hour” attempt to sell Puget Sound Park “reprehensible.”
Councilman Gordon Shaw called the move “very, very bad government…. I’m very disappointed with King County. The (North Highline) residents have said before they don’t want the park sold.
Shaw added that the timing of the revelation of the proposed park sale “gives (the city) a really good opportunity to work with Dow in a new collaboration and to get away from the dictatorial attitude the county has had toward Burien in the past.”
Shortly after the August election, when residents of the southern part of North Highline approved annexation by Burien, Triplett proposed mothballing King County parks to reduce county general fund expenses by $4.6 million.
Constantine quickly responded, opposing Triplett’s plan to cut funding for the parks in unincorporated areas.
“Parks are important to the health and quality of life of everyone in the communities,” and closing them would be “short sighted,” he said.
by For the second time in three years, King County is attempting to renege at the 11th hour on a deal with the City of Burien.
The King County Library System reportedly has entered into a preliminary agreement to purchase Puget Sound Park at 1st Ave. S. and SW 126th St. from the county in a deal brokered by through the county executive’s office.
Puget Sound Park is located in the unincorporated area of North Highline that is to be annexed by Burien early next year.
But the stealth attempt to sell the park – initiated and discussed by the county without informing the city of its intent – prompted Burien council members at their meeting on Nov. 23 that they will postpone official annexation of North Highline, which tentatively was set for March 2nd (read previous coverage on The B-Town Blog here).
Burien officials and North Highline residents now hope that new King County Executive Dow Constantine, who was sworn in Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 24), will intervene to block the sale, thus allowing Puget Sound Park to go to the city as part of annexation.
Constantine represented Burien, North Highline and West Seattle on the King County Council until his election as county executive in November. Because of his swearing in, he was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Burien City Manager Mike Martin informed council members about the pending sale of the park – which he learned about only late last week – at Monday night’s meeting and recommended that they not vote, as scheduled, on an ordinance setting March 2 as the effective date of annexation. They agreed unanimously to postpone action at this time.
“We expect to have that park,” Martin told The B-Town Blog today. “No annexation deal will be done until we get that asset.”
Mayor Joan McGilton sent a letter to Constantine on Nov. 20, requesting his “direct intervention in this matter.” She noted that city attempts to contact county staff had not produced “satisfactory results.”
“I think we can agree that such a delay is not in the best interest of our residents, and comes at significant additional cost to the County’s general fund,” McGilton told Constantine.
Martin said he only learned about the county’s interest in selling Puget Sound Park – initiated when Kurt Triplett was county executive – during a recent conversation on another matter with Fire District 2 officials, who said the property had been offered to them.
After they declined, King County reportedly contacted the King County Library System, which said yes to the offer and subsequently signed a letter of intent.
“We didn’t know what was going on until then,” said Martin. County officials had given the city no indication of their plans, despite the fact the park is in the area to be annexed by Burien.
Staff in the executive’s office under Triplett – who was chief of staff to former county executive Ron Sims until Sims resigned earlier this year to take a position in the administration of President Obama – apparently hope to make about $500,000 on the sale of the park to help plug the $56.4 million shortfall facing King County next year.
Greg Duff, president of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, said, “The people of North Highline want their parks. We want our open spaces. For them to do that now is a slap in the face…. The people of North Highline voted for annexation and want King County to stop messing around.”
Shortly after the August election, when residents of the southern part of North Highline approved annexation by Burien, Triplett proposed mothballing King County parks to reduce general fund expenses by $4.6 million.
Constantine quickly responded, opposing Triplett’s plan to cut funding for the parks in unincorporated areas. “Parks are important to the health and quality of life of everyone in the communities,” and closing them would be “short sighted,” he said.
In 2007, Sims pulled out of a deal signed years earlier with Burien and the Port of Seattle for the demolition of the Lora Lake Apartments, which were operated by King County Housing Authority, to pave the way for commercial development in the city’s Northeast Redevelopment Area.
Although the county successfully won control of the apartment complex, it later was demolished anyway because soil contamination made it unsuitable as a residential property.
Some of the supporters who came out for a "Save Our Pool" rally on Aug. 31st. Photo by Michael Brunk.
Courtesy Whitewater Aquatics Board of Directors President Ed Marrs comes this update on the status of Evergreen Pool, which closed Sept. 1st:
Negotiations between King County, Highline School District and Whitewater Aquatics Management, LLC (WWAM) continue regarding pending repairs and maintenance to the Evergreen pool, and takeover of the management of the pool by WWAM. King County has agreed to make renovations to the pool, but asked WWAM to have access to $100,000 in seed money to absorb the costs of re-opening the pool.
To date, WWAM has contributed $30,000 and last week they received contributions or pledges from WhiteWater families for another $8,000. Some families are pursuing corporate gifts or grants from their employers (they are a non-profit, so any contributions are tax-deductible).
Whitewater’s goal is to have the necessary funding in place so they can take over and re-open the pool on January 1st, 2010.
Aside from avoiding the problems of pool closures faced by other swim clubs (including Des Moines’ Mt. Rainier Pool), Whitewater has a unique opportunity to assume complete control of the operation, a position rarely afforded other clubs. As such, they’ll continue to offer the same family-friendly schedules and practice frequencies.
According to Marrs, Whitewater has two issues that they need help from the public with:
- “The king county council has said that in the Executive budget to the rest of the council there is money for some capital improvement projects. It is imperative to us that this money is approved as is. In past pool transfers, capital improvement money has been passed along to the group that has taken over the pool. We need to get the public to e-mail the King County Council and let them know that this money in the budget needs to passed. Here’s a link to a page where people can give input to the council: http://www.kingcounty.gov/council/budget/Testify_Online.aspx
- WhiteWater Aquatics is in a unique position. We are the first group to take over operation of a pool without the backing of a city. The county is asking us to have approximately $100,000 in reserve to re-open the pool. This money will be used for advertising, payroll, and supplies to get us going until we get money coming in from our programming. To this end we are going to need financial support directly from the community. We are asking citizens and businesses to donate to our management group. We are a 501(c)(3) so all donations are tax deductible. If for some reason we are unable to reopen the pool we will return all donations. I have attached a letter we are sending out to the public:
Dear Friends of Evergreen Pool,
As you know, the Evergreen pool was closed on August 31st. Due to budgetary shortfalls, King County has decided to mothball the pool. We are very fortunate to have a second pool in Tukwila for the community’s use; however, it too is slated for closure in December, 2010.
A team of dedicated Whitewater Aquatics members have been working hard evaluating all of the possible solutions for keeping the Evergreen pool open and available to the community. When comparing the Evergreen Pool to successful pool management plans, it became apparent that there was unrealized potential with the Evergreen Pool. Our plan would be to operate it as a community pool with a more efficient business plan by:
- Utilizing streamlined swim lessons
- Efficient group usage and special groups’ access that maximizes staff time.
- And most importantly, an ongoing advertising and marketing outreach
Together, these operating strategies would generate a profitable revenue stream that other successful pool management plans have achieved.
We have formed a non-profit company Whitewater Aquatics Management, LLC (hereafter known as WWAM) to try and save Evergreen! We presented a detailed business plan to King County and the Highline School district where WWAM would assume management of the Evergreen Pool no later than January 1, 2010. The King County council is requiring WWAM to have access to $100,000 in seed money to ensure the long term viability of the pool.
We have secured a $30,000 loan but we need to raise $70,000 more to meet our goal. We are currently exploring several fundraising options including community fundraisers and grants but these things take time and will be utilized for ongoing operational costs in the future. We are faced with a short time line to get the pool up and running for January 1, 2010 so we are asking our membership and the community for donations to help achieve this goal. We ask that you share this letter with any other potentially interested parties.
We would ask that you donate as generously as you can and have the following giving levels:
- $100-$250-Friends of Evergreen
- $250-$500 -Patrons of Evergreen
- $500-$1,000 -The Evergreen Circle
- $1,000 and above – The Evergreen Gold Club
By giving at these levels, you will be acknowledged by name on a giving wall that will be on display at Evergreen. In addition you will be invited to a reception and re-opening event.
Clearly we understand that these are difficult times, but our hope is to encourage everyone to give at whatever level they are able. No donation is too small; if everyone can give even a small amount we will be able to reopen this pool. This donation is tax deductible as Whitewater Aquatics is a non-profit organization. Each person is encouraged to review our business plan which is available upon request. In the event the Evergreen Pool management transition does not occur, the money will be returned to you promptly.
Please make all checks payable to WWAM and mail all donations to:
WWAM
PO Box 46517
Seattle, WA 98146Please include your name, mailing address, phone number and an email address. If you would like your donation to remain anonymous please indicate that along with your donation.
You will promptly receive an email confirmation of your donation along with a receipt for tax purposes.
Any questions can be directed to Bryan Hastings at (206) 291-7141 or Head Coach Joel Schweiger at (951) 218-1790.
Sincerely,
WhiteWater Aquatics Management
by It’s déjà vu all over again. Closed parks and pools, on top of program and job cuts, have been proposed by the King County executive to balance next year’s operating budget. But that was then, when Ron Sims was county executive and the 2003 budget was on the table.
Seven years later, Kurt Triplett, Sims’ former chief of staff, is interim county executive. And the second verse is same as the first. (Actually the third verse when last year’s cuts in the sheriff’s and prosecutor’s offices and the court system are included.)
Triplett recently proposed “mothballing” 39 parks in unincorporated urban areas in King County – more than a third of them in the Highline area. But even if all parks on his hit list were to be closed, which some Highline officials and volunteers consider unlikely, five parks and maybe a sixth would remain open.
Those parks are in the “south” part of the North Highline unincorporated area, which residents there decided on Tuesday will be become part of the city of Burien. That transition is expected to occur early next year.
More than a third of the parks proposed to be "mothballed" by King County are in the Highline area.
North Highline parks that will be annexed by Burien are:
- Arbor Lake Park, So. 124th Street and 4th Ave So.
- Hazel Valley Park, SW 126th Street and 2nd Ave SW
- Hilltop Park, So. 128th Street and 26th Ave So.
- Puget Sound Park, 126th Street SW and 1st Ave So.
- Salmon Creek Park, SW 118th Street and 8th Ave SW
Southern Heights Park, So. 120th Street and 14th Avenue So., also in the annexation area, has been leased and maintained by the county but is owned by Water District 20. There is no immediate indication about the district’s plan for this park.
Triplett said mothballing the parks would reduce general fund expenses by $4.6 million. The county faces a $56.4 million shortfall in projected tax revenues and the executive and council are looking for ways to balance the budget to maintain 2009 service levels.
King County Councilman Dow Constantine of West Seattle, whose district includes North Highline and most of Burien, reacted swiftly with a statement opposing Triplett’s plan. Constantine, who finished second in the August 18 primary election contest for county executive – and will face former KIRO-TV anchor Susan Hutchison in November – currently serves as council chairman.
“I am opposed to Executive Triplett’s proposal to cut all funding for King County parks in the urban unincorporated areas,” Constantine said. “Parks are important to the health and quality of life of everyone in the communities in which King County provides basic services – especially to our young people. To eliminate these parks with the stroke of a pen when economic times get tough would be short-sighted.”
He said “all other possible cuts” – including reductions in administrative staff – and “innovative budget solutions” need to be explored “before we consider the elimination of direct services to King County residents. I have laid out a set of ideas to serve as a starting point for substantive discussions by the King County Council to create a balanced 2010 budget without raising taxes or cutting funding for urban unincorporated parks”
Hutchison could not be reached for comment.
Triplett’s proposal addresses only parks with maintenance financed through the general fund. They total approximately 610 acres and have a total assessed value of $57 million. It would not affect King County’s regional parks and trails, which are funded through the County Parks levy.
“Taxpayers have paid for these parks, and I am open to any proposal from the cities or others to transfer ownership for free,” said Triplett. “As part of the effort to encourage annexations, the state has given these cities tax options the county does not have.”
Closed parks would have fences installed around perfectly-good playground equipment.
The 39 targeted parks will remain open for use but will not be maintained. In December, if this plan goes into effect, crews will fence playground equipment, lock and secure restrooms, post signs and lock gates in the closed parks.
Triplett said his priority is to shield public health and criminal justice services as much as possible but that all county departments will see budget cuts in 2010.
The other parks in the general Highline area on Triplett’s mothball list are:
- Duwamish (River) Park – Site 1
- Evergreen Athletic Field (and Evergreen Pool), 606 SW 116 Street
- Hamm Creek Natural Area
- Lakewood Park, 11050 10th Ave SW
- North Shorewood Park, SW 102nd Street and 24th Ave SW
- Sunset Playfield, So. 136th Street and 18th Ave So.
- White Center Heights Park, SW 102nd Street and 7th Ave SW
- White Center Pond Natural Area, SW 102nd Street and 12th Ave SW
It was announced Monday that Puget Sound Park, located near SW 126th and First Ave South in White Center, is no longer under consideration as a housing site.
“I was pleased to learn today that Puget Sound Park has been removed from consideration as a demonstration project site for King County’s Sustainable Communities and Affordable Housing program,” King County Council Chair Dow Constantine said. “I support efforts to create needed additional workforce housing in our communities. At the same time, our public parks—both active and passive—are valuable assets to their surrounding neighborhoods and King County that must be preserved and enhanced whenever possible.”
Puget Sound Park is located in the North Highline district of unincorporated King County, and will be part of the annexation area for the city of Burien, should the annexation vote be approved this summer.
According to the King County Parks Dep., about 30 old and diseased poplar trees are being removed from Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center,with plans to replant new trees within the next few weeks.
King County is removing a long line of Lombardy Poplar trees along the southern edge of the park because the trees are in declining health. A local tree service company has been contracted to take the trees down, and Parks crews will re-plant the area with native spruce, fir and cedars.
The project is expected to be completed by mid-to late November with an estimated cost of $35,000.
More information on the tree removal project is available by contacting Jason Rich, capital project manager, at 206-263-7314, or via email at jason.rich@kingcounty.gov, or by visiting their website.
Loading ...
