Maple Valley City council members and city staff continue to move forward on finalizing the city’s contribution to the Ravensdale Park Foundation.
A draft of the interlocal agreement between the city and King County, which owns the park property, was put before council members Monday night.
The city’s contribution of $2 million will be matched by King County in addition to funding from the state, which combined will allow the Ravensdale Park Foundation to commence phase two of the development and improvement of the park.
Maple Valley Parks and Recreation Director Greg Brown said the agreement is for a 30 year term and calls for a dollar-for-dollar match from King County. Over the course of the agreement 6,000 hours of priority scheduled field time are guaranteed, with 5,000 of them for Ravensdale Park Foundation programs and 1,000 available to the city.
“We’re not on the hook for having to pay for those thousand,” Brown told council on Monday. “(They’re) only paid if used.”
For the first 10 years of the agreement the city will be able to use the fields at a rate of $16 per hour, with the fee for the last 20 years to be negotiated at a later date. In addition to the $16 per hour rate, use of field lights will be an additional $23 per hour.
Brown also explained that the city is not responsible for maintenance costs.
In October the council voted unanimously to support the park at the full $2 million the Foundation requested, after initially committing $500,000 earlier in the year.
The first $500,000 of the city’s contribution will come from existing sources including REET and park development funds. The additional $1.5 million will be financed through the issuance of councilmanic bonds by the city.
Members of the Ravensdale Park Foundation approached the Maple Valley City Council about helping to fund the park project about a year ago and the city created a parks commission to vet the idea and offer its recommendation. The commission recommended the city give $2 million to the park project as a near term fix to the city’s lack of parks and ballfields.
The plans for Ravensdale Park, which is located outside the city limits of Maple Valley, are laid out in the Ravensdale Park Master Plan and are overseen by the Ravensdale Park Foundation. The master plan was adopted in 2009 and includes a community meadow, six fields designated for baseball, soccer and all purpose uses. Phase one of the master plan was completed in January 2012 which included renovating an existing field.
Phase two of the project — for which the foundation is currently preparing and plans to break ground in January with estimated completion next fall — has an estimated price tag of $6 million. It includes adding two multi-use fields, parking, restrooms, a concessions stand, play structures, an open area, trails, and maintenance facility. The Foundation is receiving funding at the county and state level, as well as funds from the city and multiple private donors.
More information about Ravensdale Park can be found at www.ravensdalepark.org.
