Exec's home | News | Site map | E-mail
	Nov. 1, 2002 Seasonal closure of parks begins today Budget constraints and I-747 will force seasonal closure of some parks King County Executive Ron Sims announced today. Twenty-four parks are scheduled to close today adding to the 20 parks that have been closed since Jan. 1, 2002. If the budget passes as proposed, all 44 parks will remain closed until March 1, 2003, at which time all but five will reopen. The five are within city boundaries and will be mothballed Jan. 1, 2003 unless they are transferred to their respective cities. “Although we are making positive changes in how we do business in our parks, like innovative new partnerships and entrepreneurial ventures to keep them going, we still face the very real challenge of a general revenue fund strained by an antiquated tax system, annexations and incorporations and initiatives,” said Sims. “Parks do not have a dedicated revenue source, so in order to fund mandated services like criminal justice and public health we are forced to make difficult decisions like closing and transferring parks,” Sims added. This is not the first time these parks have been closed during winter months. Of the 44 parks scheduled for seasonal closure, 24 were closed January and February of this year in order to adjust to revenue shortfalls caused by I-747 and 20 have been closed since the beginning of the year in order to meet 2002 budget reduction targets. All but the five local parks within city boundaries are scheduled to reopen March 1, 2003. Two of these local, in-city parks are expected to transfer, which would keep them open. Seasonal closure means all facilities at the parks will be closed, including restrooms, and some amenities, such as swings, picnic tables, and garbage cans, will be removed. Most maintenance activities, such as mowing and trimming, will not occur during the closure, while others, like garbage collection, will be dramatically reduced. The gates will be closed at parks that have them, as well as parking lots. These closures are expected to save $194,000. The 20 parks already closed and set to reopen March 1, 2003 are: Auburndale II Bryn Mawr Camelot Cascade Cecil Moses Memorial Edith Moulton Green Tree Hazel Valley Hilltop Honey Dew (Darnell II) Juanita Heights Kingsgate Lakewood Maplewood Meerwood OO Denny Puget Sound Sierra Heights Southern Heights Windsor Vista The 19 parks set to close Nov. 1, 2002 and reopen March 1, 2003 are: 132nd Square Arbor Lake Big Finn Hill East Borway Hill Eastgate Evergreen Athletic Fields Five Mile Lake Juanita Triangle Klahanie Lake Geneva Lea Hill Maplewood Heights North Meridian North Shorewood Park Orchard Skyway South County Athletic Complex Timberlake White Center Heights The 5 parks set to close Nov. 1, 2002 and be mothballed Jan. 1, 2003 if they are not transferred are: Beaver Lake Park Fort Dent Park Juanita Beach Park Luther Burbank Park Sammamish Cove Park The transfer of Juanita Beach Park has been approved by King County and Kirkland City Councils and is contingent on the successful passage Nov. 5 of a parks bond and levy in the City of Kirkland. The transfer of Beaver Lake Park has been approved by the Sammamish City Council and is awaiting approval by the King County Council. Negotiations for transfer of Sammamish Cove, Luther Burbank, and Fort Dent parks are underway. All five cities have been notified of the planned winter closures. Related links: » Parks Transition Plan » King County Parks and Recreation Contact: Brooke Bascom, Executive's Office, 206.296.4056; Logan Harris, Parks, 206.263.6550. Updated: Nov. 1, 2002 Executive's home Executive's news Executive's site map | E-mail the Executive King County | Executive | News | Services | Comments | Search Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by King County. By visiting this and other King County web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by terms and conditions of the site. The details.