$22.5 million park bond on April 26 ballot | Maple Valley

Maple Valley residents will have the chance to vote for a park bond measure on the April 26 special election ballot.

The bond was approved for ballot by the City Council Oct. 12, 2015.

The bond is for $22.5 million. The funds will be going toward four projects according to Maple Valley Parks and Recreation Director Greg Brown.

If the bond is passed by voters, Maple Valley residents should expect to pay approximately $18 a month for a $385,000 home, which comes out to be $216 a year.

The four projects include: improving Lake Wilderness Park, Summit Park, Lake Wilderness Golf Course and acquiring land and making improvements to land currently owned by the city.

The Lake Wilderness Park project includes the construction and improvement of parking areas, picnic shelters, playgrounds, trails, shoreline enhancements, landscaping, sport courts and a spray park, among other park improvements.

When Sean P. Kelly became mayor, one of the things he was interested in was the possible construction of ball fields. He had heard from the public that they wanted more ball fields. Getting more ball fields would be part of the bond, it is one of the projects for Summit Park. Along with a dog park, skate park, playground equipment and parking facilities.

The Lake Wilderness Golf Course has been in dire need of some improvements, Brown said. One being paving the golf cart paths. Right now, they are mostly gravel and paved paths would be a nice improvement, Brown said. They would also make improvements and upgrades to the clubhouse and grounds.

The last project is the Legacy Site Community Park Development. In 2001, the city of Maple Valley purchased 54 acres of land, most of which is not being used. This project would be to use some of that land to make parks and trails.

How the parks and recreation came up with the $22.5 million amount is broken down by how much money each project requires. The Lake Wilderness Park project needs $5 million, the Summit Park project needs $10.5 million, The Lake Wilderness Golf Course project needs $1.5 million and the acquirement of land already owned needs $5 million to construct new parks and trails. As for the leftover $500,000, that money is going toward bond fees.

Brown wants the residents of Maple Valley to understand how big this project will be and will benefit the community in the long run.

Two informational public meetings will be held before the residents can vote on April 26. The first will take place at 7 p.m. on March 23 at the Lake Wilderness Lodge. The second will be held at the same time and place on April 18.