King County task force to examine future funding for parks
June 27, 2012
NEW — 10 a.m. June 27, 2012
King County Executive Dow Constantine appointed 20 business and community leaders Tuesday to devise future funding plans for King County Parks before the levies supporting the parks system expire next year.
In 2007, voters overwhelmingly approved a pair of six-year levies to support county-run parks and trails. The measures expire Dec. 31, 2013.
Constantine asked the King County Parks Levy Task Force to recommend a funding plan for 2014 and beyond. The group is expected to submit a plan by late September.
“Parks, trails and open space are part of what make King County a great place to live,” Constantine said in a statement. “I have asked the task force to map a course that keeps our parks open and continues to build the system for future generations.”
Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series returns
April 24, 2012
Annual event benefits King County parks
The series gets under way May 12 with a 5-mile run – the first of five races on various stretches of Cougar Mountain’s scenic, 36-mile trail network. Runs of eight, 10, 13.1 and a final race of 31 miles (with an option to run a 20-mile race instead) are scheduled in the following months.
Produced by Northwest Trail Runs and the Seattle Running Club, the race series not only introduces hundreds of people to Cougar Mountain’s 36 miles of fantastic trails, but it also benefits King County Parks.
Volunteer work groups from the trail-running community spend an average of 150 hours each year doing trail restoration work, including improving trail surface conditions, invasive weed removal and picking up trash.
Such work has contributed to Cougar Mountain’s status as one of the nation’s best trail-running locations, according to Runners World magazine.
King County could outlaw smoking in public park areas
April 17, 2012
King County could join almost 600 local governments across the United States in creating no-smoking zones in county parks.
Legislation before the County Council aims to prohibit tobacco use in parks’ busiest areas, such as athletics fields, picnic shelters, playgrounds and trailheads.
The proposal calls for voluntary compliance, so, just like littering, failing to keep a dog on a leash or using alcohol in a park, enforcement occurs only if a problem is reported. Officials plan to use a federal grant to pay for signs denoting tobacco-free areas.
USA Today spotlights Issaquah Alps trails
February 28, 2012
Issaquah Alps peaks and trails garnered national attention Feb. 21 after USA Today featured the Eastside mountains in a travel piece.
The feature outlines trails and points of interest on Cougar, Squak and Tiger mountains — including the long-defunct Nike Ajax missile installation on Cougar Mountain and the paraglider launch site on Tiger Mountain.
“Hiking through Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, on to Squak Mountain State Park Natural Area and into Tiger Mountain State Forest adds mileage but provides a scenic route,” the guide notes.
USA Today spotlights Issaquah Alps hiking trails
February 22, 2012
NEW — 9 a.m. Feb. 22, 2012
Issaquah Alps peaks and trails garnered some national attention Tuesday after USA Today featured the Eastside mountains in a travel piece.
The piece outlines trails and points of interest on Cougar, Squak and Tiger mountains — including the long-defunct Nike Ajax missile installation on Cougar Mountain and the paraglider launch site on Tiger Mountain.
“Hiking through Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, on to Squak Mountain State Park Natural Area and into Tiger Mountain State Forest adds mileage but provides a scenic route,” the guide notes.
The piece is the latest national recognition for the Issaquah Alps and the mountains’ namesake city.
Holiday gifts can benefit King County Parks
December 20, 2011
King County Parks leaders encouraged people to consider holiday gifts to support the county parks system.
Shoppers can browse King County Parks’ online store to create custom holiday cards, purchase parks-themed stamps or donate to the King County Parks Legacy Fund.
Sales benefit King County Parks’ 26,000 acres of public land, including Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park and Duthie Hill Park near Issaquah, plus hundreds of miles of regional and backcountry trails systems.
The online retailer Zazzle donates up to 27 percent of net sales from purchased items back to King County Parks.
The agency has also joined www.41pounds.org, a nonprofit organization formed to reduce waste and pollution by helping people to limit the amount of junk mail they receive, to raise dollars for parks and programs.
The organization has pledged to donate to King County Parks for every subscriber referred through the King County Parks page, www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks.aspx.
Join Issaquah Alps Trails Club to help clean, prepare Cougar Mountain
November 15, 2011
Cougar Mountain is due for a cleaning.
King County purchased 41 acres on Cougar Mountain almost a year ago, and to prepare the site for addition to a regional park, Issaquah Alps Trails Club members plan to clean up the land Nov. 19.
The effort is a rare cleanup event for the trails club. Members usually focus on trail maintenance projects.
“This property is really important and we figure it’s a good start,” said David Kappler, Issaquah Alps Trails Club president and a former Issaquah councilman. “We’ll build some more awareness of the actual potential for this property.”
Cougar Mountain ranks among United States’ top trail-running locations
October 25, 2011
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park is among the 25 best places for trail running in the United States.
Runner’s World magazine named the Issaquah Alps peak to the list in a recent issue.
“Every urban area should be blessed with a trail running sanctuary as sublime as Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park,” the magazine noted.
Who’s News
October 11, 2011
Connor Lee earns Eagle Scout award
Connor Lee
Connor Lee, an Issaquah High School senior in Troop 709, received his Eagle Scout award at his Court of Honor Ceremony Oct. 2, 2011.
He joins his brother, Chris, and his father in receiving the award.
For his Eagle project, Connor researched and built an informative sign about coal mining in Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
Cougar Mountain ranks among nation’s top 25 trail running destinations
October 5, 2011
NEW — 2 p.m. Oct. 5, 2011
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park is among the 25 best places for trail running in the United States.
Runner’s World magazine named the Issaquah Alps peak to the list.
“Every urban area should be blessed with a trail running sanctuary as sublime as Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park,” the magazine notes.
The mountain boasts a 36-mile trail system. King County Parks and the Seattle Running Club produce a popular trail running series on the mountain each year.
Cougar Mountain is the only Washington destination on the list.
