Issaquah seeking $6.25 million bond for parks

A $6.25 million park bond, the first to go before Issaquah voters in nearly 20 years, will be on the Nov. 7 general-election ballot.

The bond would be used to purchase open space and natural areas near creeks and streams, as well as renovate parks and build more trails. If approved, the bond would cost homeowners 10.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. That works out to about $47 a year for a home assessed at $450,000.

"I think we've put together a very good proposal to get maximum benefit for the money, and it reflects what people told us their interests were," said Mayor Ava Frisinger.

The $6.25 million would be split into six uses:

• $3.5 million to acquire natural areas along creeksides and hillsides.

• $1.1 million to improve sports fields in city parks, including an artificial-turf field.

• $467,000 to build a neighborhood park in the Talus urban village.

• $986,000 to develop Cybil-Madeline Park, a 5.5-acre parcel off Northwest Holly Street.

• $67,000 for playground improvements at Memorial Park.

• $70,000 for the cost of issuing and selling the bonds.

Frisinger added that the bond would help preserve a wildlife corridor — extending from Cougar Mountain to Squak Mountain and Tiger Mountain — for animals such as deer, cougars and bears.

In order to pass, the measure must receive at least a 60 percent "yes" vote, and voter turnout has to equal or exceed 40 percent of those who cast ballots in last November's general election, according to the King County Elections Office.

Earlier this year, the city hired a California firm to survey 400 registered voters to gauge their "tax tolerance" for funding parks revitalization and acquiring more open space.

The results showed that "voters are broadly supportive of making additional investments in Issaquah's parks and natural areas, but are sensitive to the cost impacts of doing so," according to the report. The firm recommended that the average household be asked to pay about $50 a year.

This would be the city's first park bond in 18 years. The last one, for $600,000, was approved in 1988.

That money was used, in part, to purchase Tibbetts Creek Manor, which is used to host weddings and other events.

Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com