Parks and playfields are a key ingredient to creating communities where people want to live, put down roots, and raise their families. They are the kinds of basic investments that when done well, and with a commitment to access and equity, can turn a good place to live into a great one.
It is this vision for our region – of cities and communities featuring great local parks, connected by trails and green spaces – that is shared by the broad coalition supporting King County Proposition 1, the county’s Parks Levy. As leaders in the business community and advocates for play equity and access, we are proud to support this important measure alongside elected leaders, conservation advocates, regional science education destinations, and organizations representing recreational sports, hiking, biking, swimming, and other healthy activities.
This levy is a renewal of a successful existing funding stream that has been paying dividends for more than two decades. The current levy distributed needed and overdue resources into previously underinvested parts of our county to address long-standing inequities. This levy builds on this commitment, and includes countywide improvements to park safety, maintenance, and upgrades – from playgrounds in neighborhood pocket parks to trail maintenance in the Cascade foothills.
Proposition 1 also expands the funding available to cities throughout King County to improve their park systems, earning the support of mayors and leaders from communities large and small. It demonstrates the kind of county-wide partnership we support and lets communities access resources without having to put together a levy proposal or investment strategy of their own – a lift too heavy for some cities.
Levy investments are also critical to the connectivity of our county. Several key multi-use trails, including Eastrail and Lake to Sound Trail, are set to be expanded or completed in the near future using funds from the Parks Levy. This investment provides safe, reliable access to non-motorized transportation for recreationists and commuters alike, providing another tool in the region’s transportation toolbox and strengthening our commitment to addressing climate change.
We are especially excited for the continued and growing support for hands-on science education in the levy – providing opportunities for free and low-cost activities for kids and families to experience the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, Pacific Science Center, and other regional treasures. These places provide inspiration and learning for our next generation of employees for our region’s many small and large employers – and must be available to all.
Finally, as our region continues to grow – adding population and jobs – we must secure the forests, watersheds, farmlands and open spaces that make this place special, and protect our air, water, and climate.
What makes King County such a great place – a place for starting or growing a business, for creating jobs, and for growing our economy – is our natural environment and the world-class recreational activities, diverse communities, and shared values of equity, access, and opportunity. And we cannot take any of that for granted; we need to continue to improve our parks and trails, upgrade playfields and facilities, expand education and learning, and invest in historically underrepresented communities.
We urge your support for the King County Parks Levy on the August 5 primary election ballot. You can learn more about the levy, and the coalition supporting it, at YesKCProp1.com.
The Urbanist Elections Committee endorsed the King County Prop 1 Park Levy in its Primary Endorsements.
Rachel Smith (Guest Contributor)
Rachel Smith serves as the President and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, representing 2,500 businesses and 750,000 employees. She is recognized by regional leaders for building effective coalitions, synthesizing and analyzing complex information, making systems work for the people they are intended to serve, and working collaboratively to secure significant policy achievements that enrich and foster the growth of the regional business community.
Tracy Myers (Guest Contributor)
Tracy Myers is the executive director of King County Play Equity Coalition, a network of organizations dedicated to challenging and changing systems to shift power and center physical activity as a key part of health and youth development. Through nonprofit, government, and education, she has worked to address the social ills of America through serving communities experiencing homelessness, poverty, abuse, mental illness, and chemical dependency for over 19 years.