County Council approves funding for key link to connect May Creek to Cougar Mountain trail

February 23, 2016

Summary

Unanimous support for King County Conservation Futures Trust

Story

Since the 1980’s, residents of the Cities of Renton and Newcastle have had a vision for a trail connecting lower Lake Washington to King County’s Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlife Park. That vision is a step closer to reality with the unanimous adoption by the Metropolitan King County Council at its Feb. 22 meeting to use King County Conservation Futures Trust (CFT) funds toward the purchase of the last key link in the May Creek Greenway system.

“This project is the result of a long time dream of local residents,” said Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn, who represents both cities. “A lot of hard work has gone into providing this recreational trail that not only helps to connect the City of Renton to Cougar Mountain but also provides the chance for residents to appreciate and actively protect the surrounding the natural environment.”

“This has been a long term project for the cities involved and we appreciate King County Councilman Reagan Dunn working with us and our neighboring city of Newcastle to help us with the necessary funding to connect the Cougar Mt. trail system and provide needed enhancements of May Creek,” said City of Renton Mayor Denis Law.

The $450,000 award to the City of Renton for the May Creek trail will go towards purchasing a 5.73-acre property along May Creek. The property is the last of a larger effort by the City of Renton, the City of Newcastle, and King County to purchase a continuous connection to the Cougar Mountain trail system. Funds from this award will go toward supporting habitat for local wildlife and improve the natural area to enhance the May Creek waterways.

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.