Legislators preserve dollars for trail projects
May 31, 2011
Plans to acquire land for a Cougar Mountain trail and upgrade trail bridges in the Tiger Mountain State Forest received a last-minute boost from state lawmakers before a special legislative session ended late May 25.
Before sending the $32 billion state budget to Gov. Chris Gregoire, legislators allocated $42 million to the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. The slice for the Issaquah area amounts to more than $1.5 million.
In addition to the Issaquah Alps projects, lawmakers directed funds to Duthie Hill Park and the East Lake Sammamish Trail.
The proposed budget recommends $500,000 for King County to acquire land for Precipice Trail near Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park and $247,870 to upgrade Tiger Mountain trail bridges. In addition, the proposal recommends $500,000 for the East Lake Sammamish Trail project and $317,477 for Duthie Hill Park.
Legislators preserve dollars for Issaquah outdoor recreation projects
May 26, 2011
NEW — 10:30 a.m. May 26, 2011
Plans to acquire land for a Cougar Mountain trail and upgrade trail bridges in Tiger Mountain State Forest received a last-minute boost from state lawmakers before a special legislative session ended Wednesday night.
Before sending the $32 billion budget to Gov. Chris Gregoire, legislators allocated $42 million to the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program for more than 50 projects statewide. In addition to the Issaquah Alps projects, lawmakers directed funds to Duthie Hill Park and the East Lake Sammamish Trail.
The proposed budget recommends $500,000 for King County to acquire land for Precipice Trail near Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park and $247,870 to upgrade Tiger Mountain trail bridges. In addition, the proposal recommends $500,000 for the county’s East Lake Sammamish Trail project and $317,477 for county-run Duthie Hill Park.
Cougar Mountain trail running series kicks off May 14
May 10, 2011
The eighth annual Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series gets going May 14 with a 5-mile run at King County’s Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
The race, which starts at the Sky Country Trailhead, begins at 9 a.m. The Sky Country Trailhead is on 166th Way Southeast, just off Cougar Mountain Way.
The series, sponsored by the Seattle Running Club, has four races in all during the season. Other races are scheduled for June 12 (7 miles), July 10 (10 miles) and Aug. 14 (13 miles).
Volunteer work groups from the trail-running community spend an average of 120 hours each year doing trail restoration work, including improving trail surface conditions and picking up trash.
State Senate recommends leaner budget for trails
April 19, 2011
The state Senate proposed a less-generous budget last week for Issaquah-area outdoor recreation projects than the state House of Representatives.
Senators released a budget proposal April 12, a week after legislators from the other chamber recommended $2.18 million to upgrade trails and recreation areas.
Senators proposed reductions of more than $600,000 for local projects, trimming a Cougar Mountain trail project to $127,000 from the $500,000 recommended by the House and reducing Duthie Hill Park trailhead development to $55,000 from the $317,000 recommended by the House.
Lawmakers from both chambers agreed on Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program funding for the other Issaquah-area projects.
Senators also recommended $247,870 to build bridges on Tiger Mountain State Forest trails, plus $500,000 to pave East Lake Sammamish Trail from Redmond to Issaquah.
Both proposals include dollars for Covington and Snoqualmie Valley projects.
State budget proposal outlines upgrades for Issaquah trails
April 12, 2011
Outdoor recreation and wildlife-protection projects in the Issaquah area received a boost in the proposed budget from the state House of Representatives, but hurdles remain before crews can break ground.
The proposed House budget includes a $500,000 Cougar Mountain Park-Precipice Trail grant, for King County to expand Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, create a buffer and create a gateway from Issaquah to the park. (King County acquired additional land for the park late last year.)
Funds from the $500,000 East Lake Sammamish Trail grant could help King County expand and pave the trail along the lake from Redmond to Issaquah.
The proposal includes a $317,000 Duthie Hill Park trailhead development grant to enable the county to expand the trailhead at the popular mountain-biking destination.
Bridges along Tiger Mountain State Forest trails could also be replaced using the $247,870 proposed for trail upgrades in the forest.
State proposal outlines upgrades for Issaquah trails
April 7, 2011
NEW — 10 a.m. April 7, 2011
Outdoor recreation and wildlife-protection projects in the Issaquah area received a boost in the proposed budget from the state House of Representatives.
The proposed budget includes a $500,000 Cougar Mountain Park-Precipice Trail grant, for King County to expand Cougar Mountain Park and to create a buffer to prevent pending development and create a gateway from Issaquah to the park.
(King County acquired additional land for the park late last year.)
Funds from the $500,000 East Lake Sammamish Trail grant could help King County expand and pave the trail along the lake from Redmond to Issaquah.
Issaquah students serve as legislative pages
March 8, 2011
Iman Baghai, an Issaquah High School 10th-grader, and Issaquah Middle School eighth-grader Justine Connelly recently served as a legislative pages in January, seen here on the floor of the state House of Representatives with Rep. Marcie Maxwell, D-Renton.
Students ages 14-17 are eligible to serve as a legislative page in the state House or Senate, where for one week, they deliver messages for lawmakers and learn first hand about the democratic process
County seeks volunteers to upgrade habitat along regional trails
January 18, 2011
King County boasts more than 180 parks, 175 miles of regional trails and 130 miles of backcountry trails — and leaders need citizens’ help soon to maintain the system.
The county Department of Parks and Natural Resources needs volunteers to pitch in to plant native vegetation to enhance stream corridors, forests and wetlands. The process improves wildlife habitat, because the plants provide shade, help keep water cool, and control runoff and erosion.
The agency has numerous projects planned in the Issaquah area — including in 3,115-acre Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park — and in the Issaquah Creek basin. Read more
Opportunities abound to enhance wildlife habitat along regional trails
January 17, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. Jan. 17, 2011
King County boasts more than 180 parks, 175 miles of regional trails and 130 miles of backcountry trails — and leaders need citizens’ help to maintain the system.
The county Department of Natural Resources and Parks needs volunteers to pitch in to plant native vegetation to enhance stream corridors, forests and wetlands. The process improves wildlife habitat, because the plants by provide shade, help keep water cool, and control runoff and erosion.
The agency has numerous projects planned in the Issaquah area — including 3,115-acre Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park — and in the Issaquah Creek basin.
County acquires Cougar Mountain land for park
December 21, 2010
King County has acquired 41 acres near Issaquah to be added someday to Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
Officials and open space groups considered the land — west of Newport Way Northwest and south of Northwest Oakcrest Drive — as a high priority for conservation.
County planners aim to purchase additional land in the area to connect Newport Way Northwest to the 3,115-acre park. The parcel is located in the northeast corner of the preserve.
The county used $1.55 million from the King County Parks expansion levy and the Conservation Futures open space program levy to purchase the forested site near the Summerhill neighborhood. The deal closed Dec. 3. Read more
