On Sept. 5, the King County Council approved King County Parks Levy Grants, including a total of $1,704,440 in grants for parks projects in Renton.
More than $900,000 in Aquatic Facilities grant funding was awarded to the City of Renton to complete critical capital improvements at the Henry Moses Aquatic Center, including renovation of the leisure activity pool.
According to King County Council staff, the pool tile and liner are failing, which would result in a closure of the pool if not replaced, but these funded improvements will allow the Aquatic Center to continue to operate for many years to come. In addition, these funds will be used to improve accessibility of the Henry Moses Aquatic Center main entrance.
“Henry Moses Aquatic Center is a one-of-a-kind facility that can only be found in Renton. It is an excellent space for families to enjoy their summer with their kids, along with opportunities for rehabilitation through our lap swim/water walking classes,” said Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone in a written statement. “This funding will impact the functionality and longevity of the center.”
Another $800,000 Parks Capital & Open Space grant was awarded to the City of Renton to construct a new soft-surface pedestrian trail and bridge crossing along a segment of the May Creek Greenway near where it meets with Lake Washington.
According to county council staff, the trail alignment will pass through conserved riparian habitat, include interpretive signage and seating, and create opportunities for localized and regional connections with existing and planned trails. This project works toward the multi-agency goal of conserving lands and providing public trail access along the May Creek Greenway corridor between Lake Washington and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
These competitive grant programs are part of the 2020-2025 Parks Levy and seek to assist public aquatic facilities through capital funding at any stage from feasibility studies through renovation and repair, as well as with open space acquisition, active recreation, passive recreation, and local trails.
On Aug. 6, 2019, King County voters approved a measure to renew the property tax levy supporting parks, trails, and open space in King County. The measure replaced the levy that expired at the end of 2019 and will generate an estimated $810 million over six years, costing approximately $7.60 per month for the owner of a home with an assessed property value of $500,000.
