May 2012

Dear Neighbor,

With the great weather during these spring and summer months, now is an ideal time to get outside and visit King County’s wonderful parks and trails. 

Our parks and trails improve our quality of life by providing many social and health benefits, including exposure to nature and space for exercise. Parks also offer a chance for you to access events, social gatherings, and meet with your community. And accessible regional trails – such as the Interurban and Burke Gilman – decrease our need to use cars and make it easier to travel throughout the county. 

Below I’ve shared information about King County parks and trails, as well as a list of some recreational areas in your South King County neighborhood. For more information and a full list, please visit www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/
parks. 

I look forward to seeing you out there as we enjoy our King County parks and trails!

Sincerely,

Julia Patterson, King County Councilmember - District 5

Parks and Trails

King County Councilmember
Julia Patterson
www.kingcounty.gov/patterson
julia.patterson@kingcounty.gov

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Parks and Trails

King County parks and trails are managed by the King County Parks and Recreation Division and are separate from city, state, and national parks. King County alone manages 200 public parks, 175 miles of trail, and 26,000 acres of open space. The Parks Division is doing a great job increasing accessibility to parks and trails and keeping these public spaces maintained and clean.

Funding for King County parks and trails comes from two parks levies that voters approved in 2007. In 2011, the Parks Department administered a customer satisfaction survey and found that 90% of parks and trails users reported being satisfied or very satisfied with parks and trails services. Because of their efficient and effective efforts, the Parks Department has become a nationally-recognized leader, earning five awards from national organizations over the past decade.

Our parks and trails greatly contribute to the quality of life in our communities, and listed below are some of my favorites in South King County. I hope you will join me in enjoying these and other parks and trails throughout the county during these months of wonderful weather.

• Boulevard Lane Park (30.2 acres) – 127th Pl SE and SE 188th Pl Kent WA 98058 – This park boasts a multi-purpose court, play field, and play equipment.

• North Green River Park (134.4 acres) – Green River Rd S and SE 268th Kent WA 98031 – This large park offers space to roam, community gardens, and a soccer field.

• Cedar River Trail (17.3 miles long) – This trail follows the Cedar River along a historic railroad route between the river and State Route 169.

• Soos Creek Trail (5.8 miles long) – Stretching through parts of Renton and Kent, this trail offers serene views through a natural setting.

• Green River Trail (19.6 miles long) – This trail stretches from industrial areas near the Duwamish to the Green River Valley. I’m pleased to report that the large sandbags along the trail will soon be removed due to successful repairs to the Howard Hanson Dam.