“The Burke Gilman Trail and Discovery Park are two of the most-treasured public assets in Seattle,” said Council Chair Larry Phillips. “Investing in these assets along with a new park in Capitol Hill’s urban 12th Avenue neighborhood are wise investments of our Conservation Future Tax dollars. Smart management of growth is one of King County government’s core missions, and setting aside green spaces in urban neighborhoods is one of the nuts and bolts of what makes growth management work and keeps our neighborhoods vibrant and livable.”

The Burke Gilman Trail project provides $150,000 to purchase a missing link in the Burke Gilman Trail in Ballard south of Market Street between 26th Avenue NW and 28th Avenue NW. Discovery Park will receive $2,700,000 for acquisition 23.9 acres of Navy-owned Capehart Housing property that would otherwise have been developed as private housing. Instead, this funding will help purchase the property for incorporation into Discovery Park and preservation historically-significant buildings. $500,000 will be allocated to help fill a deficit of green space and park land in the 12th Avenue neighborhood of Seattle.

The Conservation Futures Fund is supported by a countywide property tax, which by state law can only be used to purchase open space or resource lands. While county government and incorporated city governments are the primary applicants for these funds, citizen groups and individual citizens have received Conservation Futures Funding after demonstrating the local jurisdiction is committed to helping acquire the open space. Recommendations on parcels for purchase are made by a Citizen Oversight Committee in a competitive application process.

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system and type in “2006-0143”