September 30, 2002

For information contact: Larry Phillips (206) 296-1004
                                   Carolyn Edmonds (206) 296-1001

With an eye towards the future, the Metropolitan King County Council is working with the city of Seattle and suburban cities to ensure the protection of open space through the use of King County’s Conservation Futures Fund (CFF).

The Council today approved the distribution of $6.5 million in grants to 35 projects as part of the CFF program, which is dedicated to the purchase of open space, agricultural and timberlands. The funds will be use to acquire over 1,700 acres of property.

“Partnerships with Seattle, Shoreline, Bellevue, Issaquah and other suburban cities enable us to provide open space for our citizens to enjoy,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, Chair of the Budget & Fiscal Management Committee. “King County is helping to purchase these open-space sites and, in most cases, cities will maintain the land. Voter-approved funding for these projects does not come from the County’s general fund, where we are facing unprecedented shortfalls, but from dedicated open-space funding that cannot be spent for any other purpose.”

The Conservation Futures Fund is supported by a countywide property tax. The annual allocation is based on the recommendation of a citizen oversight committee. King County government and incorporated city governments are the primary applicants for these funds, but citizen groups and individual citizens can apply after demonstrating the local jurisdiction is committed to helping acquire the open space.

“The action today will preserve salmon and wildlife habitat in rural King County,” said Councilmember Carolyn Edmonds, Chair of the Council’s Natural Resources, Parks and Open Space Committee. “It also provides passive recreation and outdoor education opportunities in our suburban areas. This is a significant effort to protect undeveloped shoreline in Puget Sound, and reclaim green spaces in Seattle. I would like to commend the Conservation Futures Citizens Committee, of which all members are volunteers, who have contributed much of their time working with local jurisdictions around the county, visiting all of the project sites.”

“Working together, we can provide open space and protection for wildlife habitat,” said Phillips.