Issaquah voters could decide parks funds in November
April 17, 2012
Issaquah voters could decide as early as November on a multimillion dollar package to fund expansions and upgrades to city parks.
The proposed park bond could generate dollars to add amenities to existing parks, create additional parkland and purchase undeveloped land for conservation. The package could infuse funds into the parks system as lean municipal budgets limit the number of projects the city can undertake.
The municipal Parks & Recreation Department is in the initial stage to prepare for such a bond package, although the timeline is not yet firm. The decision to put a bond measure on the ballot is left to the City Council.
The city is considering offers from firms to conduct a public opinion survey to gauge residents’ interest in parks amenities. The survey should reach residents by late spring or early summer.
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.
Issaquah is a Tree City USA for the 19th year
April 17, 2012
The state Department of Natural Resources recognized Issaquah and 82 other Washington cities April 10 for efforts to protect and expand urban forests.
Issaquah is a 19-year Tree City USA. The honor from the Arbor Day Foundation is bestowed on cities dedicated to urban forestry. Washington celebrated Arbor Day on April 11.
The city is required to observe Arbor Day in order continue as a Tree City USA. Officials must also designate staff to care for trees, appoint a citizen tree board to advocate for community forestry, establish a tree ordinance and spend at least $2 per capita on tree care.
In Issaquah, the municipal Park Board handles tree-related issues.
The city Parks & Recreation Department is holding a community tree planting from 11 a.m. to noon April 21 at the Pickering Trail entrance, near 1730 10th Ave. N.W. Participants should check in from 9-11 a.m. at a community information booth near the trail entrance.
Organizers collected more than 150 trees for participants to plant.
Press Editorial
April 17, 2012
Give a nod to planet Earth
Arbor Day is April 21, followed by Earth Day on April 22. Both are an equal opportunity to show appreciation for the third rock from the sun.
The city Parks & Recreation Department will plant 150 trees along Issaquah Creek on Saturday in honor of Arbor Day. Just last week, the city earned Tree City USA status for the 19th year.
Earth Day gets a jumpstart in Issaquah on Thursday when Lake Sammamish kokanee salmon fry are released into Laughing Jacobs Creek. Public tours are available this weekend to see what happens to unrecycled garbage at the Cedar Hills Landfill in south Issaquah. Also south of the city limits, volunteers will mulch and weed the Log Cabin Natural Area along Issaquah Creek. Volunteers will do back-country trail work on Cougar Mountain.
Issaquah earns recognition as Tree City USA for 19th year
April 10, 2012
NEW — 3:45 p.m. April 10, 2012
The state Department of Natural Resources recognized Issaquah and 82 other Washington cities Tuesday for efforts to protect and expand urban forests.
Issaquah is a 19-year Tree City USA — the honor from the Arbor Day Foundation for cities dedicated to urban forestry.
Washington celebrates Arbor Day on April 11.
The city Parks & Recreation Department is holding a community tree planting event April 21 along Issaquah Creek and the Pickering Trail. Organizers collected more than 150 trees for participants to plant.
The city is required to observe Arbor Day in order continue as a Tree City USA. Officials must also designate staff to care for trees, appoint a citizen tree board to advocate for community forestry, establish a tree ordinance and spend at least $2 per capita on tree care.
In Issaquah, the municipal Park Board handles tree-related issues.
Bond package includes artificial turf for middle schools
March 27, 2012
There are a couple of themes that come up over and over as backers and school officials talk about the prospect of placing artificial turf on the fields of each of the five Issaquah School District middle schools.
The upcoming bond package also would provide the middle schools with rubberized outdoor running tracks if voters decide to approve the $219 million capital improvement plan.
District officials hope to install the turf and tracks at a cost of $1.5 million per school, not counting fields that could go in at a transplanted Issaquah Middle School.
The IMS fields would be added after the school is rebuilt; associated costs are not specifically spelled out in the district’s bond package.
Historic oaks receive Heritage Trees designation
March 6, 2012
Mayor Ava Frisinger designated a trio of historic oaks as Heritage Trees — a distinction meant to reflect the plants’ age, size, historic significance and ecological importance, officials announced Feb. 24.
Early residents planted the Bur oak trees — believed to be the largest and oldest in Issaquah — more than 75 years ago near modern-day 495 Sycamore Lane.
City Park Board members developed the Heritage Tree Program to promote identification and recognition of trees that reflect the character of Issaquah. Each Heritage Tree is identified and recorded in a register maintained by the city Parks & Recreation Department.
“I urge all citizens to enjoy and protect our Heritage Trees and to appreciate the value that these and other trees give our community,” Frisinger said.
The mayor did not designate any Heritage Trees last year. The most recent round — announced in 2010 — included thee giant sequoia at Tibbetts Valley Park, the Empress Tree at Cornick Park and the Oregon white oak at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery.
Mayor Ava Frisinger designates historic oaks as Heritage Trees
February 27, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. Feb. 27, 2012
Mayor Ava Frisinger designated a trio of historic oaks as Heritage Trees — a distinction meant to reflect the plants’ age, size, historic significance and ecological importance.
Early residents planted the Bur oak trees — believed to be the largest and oldest in Issaquah — more than 75 years ago near modern-day 495 Sycamore Lane.
City Park Board members developed the Heritage Tree Program to promote identification and recognition of trees that reflect the character of Issaquah. Each Heritage Tree is identified and recorded in a register maintained by the city Parks & Recreation Department.
“I urge all citizens to enjoy and protect our Heritage Trees and to appreciate the value that these and other trees give our community,” Frisinger said.
The mayor did not designate any Heritage Trees last year.
The most recent round — announced in 2010 — included the giant sequoia at Tibbetts Valley Park, the Empress Tree at Cornick Park and the Oregon white oak at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery.
Pickering Barn garden gets $19,000 grant for upgrade
February 14, 2012
The city has received a $19,000 grant from the King Conservation District to improve the Pickering Barn Demonstration Garden — a showcase for organic gardening and a source for the local food bank.
In addition to garden upgrades, officials intend to use grant dollars to improve the site and add more educational components. Seattle Tilth, a regional leader in sustainable organic gardening and public education in natural yard care practices, oversees the garden’s education component.
Plans call for the expanded education component to operate alongside the Issaquah School District and the municipal Parks & Recreation Department. The school district program aims to provide in-classroom teaching, teacher training and transportation for schoolchildren from campuses to the garden. The program through the parks department calls for classes in the garden for after-school community programs. The grant is meant to help transport children to the garden for the program.
Issaquah and Sammamish Health & Safety Fair features free services
January 17, 2012
The eighth annual Issaquah and Sammamish Health & Safety Fair returns Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave. N.W.
There is no admission fee and all ages are welcome.
More than 40 local vendors will discuss their services and wares, including Balance Physical Therapy, Banic Chiropractic and Dr. Troy Schmedding.
