Conservation Funds, Park Levy to support Covington area trails projects

February 23, 2016

Summary

Council gives unanimous support to regional projects

Story

Two projects aimed at improving natural areas in and around the City of Covington received the unanimous support of the Metropolitan King County Council at the Council’s Feb. 22 meeting.

Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn, who represents the City of Covington on the Council, announced the approved at funds will come from the King County Conservation Futures Trust and the King County Parks Levy. The funds will go toward trail additions along Jenkins creek and improving the Soos Creek Trail natural area.

“These funds will support making these two areas, both beautiful local gems, more accessible for recreation,” said Dunn. “Not only do these trails allow residents the chance to get outside for recreation but they also provide the chance to appreciate and actively protect the surrounding the natural environment.”

"The City of Covington is proud to partner with King County Conservations Futures grant program. Because of this great partnership, we are able to continue with our development of our SoCo Park and our Jenkins Creek trail project,” said Covington Mayor Jeffery Wagner. “These two projects are instrumental in our Towne Center project that we are moving forward on. It is with the assistance of Councilmember Reagan Dunn that we are able to continue to provide much needed public places for our families and youth to enjoy. It is a pleasure to work with Reagan on these city projects.”

$150,000 from the King County Conservation Futures Trust will go to the City of Covington for the expansion for the Jenkins Creek Trail Project. The expansion will build on the current trail system in order to serve a greater part of the city. Funds will also go to improving surrounding wildlife habitat in the surrounding natural area.

$200,000 from the King County Parks Levy will go to improving the Soos Creek Park and Trail, which is part of a 10-mile natural corridor and currently serves as 7.5- mile long paved multiuse trail extending from the city of Renton to Covington. The funds will extend the natural area of the corridor, protecting wildlife by enhancing the natural habitat, and creating a community “‘green belt”’ to buffer urban areas from the Soos Creek watershed.

The Conservation Futures Fund is supported by a countywide property tax, which by state law can only be used to purchase open space or resource lands. Counties and cities are usually the primary applicants for these funds, but citizen groups and individual citizens also receive CFT funding through partnerships with local jurisdictions.

A Citizen Oversight Committee makes recommendations on parcels for purchase through a competitive application process.