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King County Executive Ron Sims today joined with the residents of Preston to celebrate several dreamed-of projects that together comprise the Preston Vision that, when complete, will create a regional gateway to the Snoqualmie Valley.
Fearing the impacts of encroaching growth, the citizens of this small rural timber town 22 miles east of Seattle along Interstate 90 banded together to develop a plan for their future. They created a partnership with King County to articulate a future vision that emphasizes the critical role this city plays in linking the past, present and future of King County.
“Preston is in a unique location,” said Sims. “It sits at the gateway to the Snoqualmie Valley and on the edge of urban/suburban growth. The community realized growth posed a threat to the character of the community and its rural lifestyle. Together, we mapped out a vision to retain the historical, natural and cultural resources to benefit not only people who lived there, but all of us in King County.”
The “vision” is to protect the natural beauty of the area while enhancing it with new educational and interpretive facilities, keeping Preston the livable, small scale community it is, added Doug McClelland, Preston Community Club president.
“To ensure the rural character of the area, critical natural resources and recreation will be preserved and enhanced under the plan. These areas will be preserved, retaining the unique quality of the Northwest surroundings for generations to come,” said Jim Ellis, with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, an important partner in making the vision a reality.
“Nearly $6 million has been invested over the last three years to make the Preston vision a reality,” said Sims. He anticipates additional expenses to develop the Preston ballfields and historic mill site. Sims added he expects to identify state, federal and private additional funds to ensure the full Preston Vision is realized.
Included in the Preston Vision are projects that tie together five physically distinct areas in and around Preston that, when complete, will ensure active recreation, cultural heritage, education and permanent open spaces. The projects are:
- Preston Mill Park - An integrated system of educational and recreational opportunities is proposed, combining the 22-acre site’s unrivaled access to the Raging River with its noteworthy past as a timber mill. This historic site, which is the birthplace of Preston, was purchased for $1.3 million. It had been slated to become a rock crushing plant when, with the help of the Trust for Public Lands, King County acquired it.
- Preston Arboretum and Botanical Gardens - An indoor and outdoor learning center was acquired for $1.7 million for 22 acres which will include 20 interconnecting forest rooms an 3,000 species of trees, shrubs, herbs and fungi.
- Mitchell Hill Connector/Transfer of Development Credits (TDC) - A recently completed letter of intent has been signed between Issaquah, Port Blakely, the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and King County that will transfer development rights of 313 acres of the McCormick Woods to the Issaquah Highlands, ensuring the McCormick lands stay undeveloped with provisions for rural forestry. It is a critical link in a 475-acres unprotected forest corridor linking 1,700 acres of King County Parks System land on Grand Ridge and Duthie Hill to over 1,000 acres of state DNR forest trust lands on Mitchell Hill.
- Preston-Snoqualmie Trail - A 6.3-mile trail linking the two communities.
- Preston Ballfield Park - A 15-acre $2.1 million recreational /play area including a children’s play area, a picnic/family area, and ballfields. This is part of Sims 101 Ballfields Initiative to add athletic fields to communities throughout King County.
- Preston Vision 2000 - A master planning process that will focus on four key elements of the vision; the Preston Community Center; the mill; ballfield park, and the trail. The planning process will begin with its first public meeting Monday, September 13 at 7 p.m. at the Preston Community Center, Sims announced today.
Sims joined with the Preston Community Club leaders in thanking King County Councilmembers Larry Phillips, Louise Miller, Brian Derdowski and Jane Hague for their ongoing support for the Preston Vision.
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”We are here today to keep a promise I made to Jacob McClelland (pictured with Sims),” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “He told me that he and his friends need a place to play. We have acquired land for the future Preston Ballfields Park - 15 acres of recreational areas. This is part of Jacob’s dream.”
--King County Executive Ron Sims
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Doug McClelland, Preston Community Club President, presents Executive Sims with a bat and ball to commemorate this day. (Also pictured are Ava Frisinger, Mayor of the City of Issaquah and King County Councilmember Brian Derdowski). McClelland thanked Executive Sims, King County Councilmembers Brian Derdowski, Larry Phillips, Louise Miller and Jane Hague for their ongoing support of the Preston Vision.
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Jacob McClelland prepares to throw out the first pitch as his fellow “Smashing Pumpkins” teammates take to the field.
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