$51 million boost for county parks

By Pat Jenkins

The Dispatch

Pierce County will start collecting higher impact fees from builders and developers to apply toward the county parks system.

The County Council this month authorized a three-step increase of the one-time impact fee the county collects when new homes or apartments are built. The change means developers will pay for a larger share of the cost of new or improved parks and facilities to keep up with a growing population’s demand for recreation.

Officials estimated $51 million in revenue will be generated over the next 15 years. The money is supposed to be divided almost equally three ways: 30 percent for acquiring land for new parks, 32 percent for improvements at existing parks, including Frontier Park in Graham and Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway, and 38 percent for more multi-use trails.

The increased fee per housing unit will be phased in over a 16-month period, starting next year. Effective May 1, 2017, it will be $1,107.46. It will rise again on Jan. 1, 2018 to $1,829.92 and on July 1, 2018 to $2,552.39.

Those rates are more in line with what other jurisdictions charge. Pierce County’s current fee of $385 has been the same since 1996 and is 85 percent lower than the national average of $2,774. It’s also one of the lowest among cities and counties in the Puget Sound region, including Issaquah ($5,660), Olympia ($5,334), University Place ($3,644), Bonney Lake ($2,974) and Snohomish County ($1,361).

Representatives of the housing industry, the general community and parks and recreation supporters provided input on Pierce County’s new fee structure. County officials said it’s acceptable to all affected parties.

The approval of the new fee on Nov. 8 by a 6-1 vote of council members drew applause from supporters in the council’s meeting room. The lone vote against it came from Councilman Jim McCune, whose district includes Graham, Eatonville and other parts of south Pierce County. McCune said the higher fee, coupled with other rising costs for development, would be a burden for builders.

Among those welcoming the increase is Tony Tipton, director of the county Parks and Recreation Deparmtent. He said the funding “will help provide the capital investment needed to ensure our parks and recreation facilities” keep up with public demand.

Money from impact fees doesn’t pay for the normal operation or maintenance of parks, only for the costs related to new facilities and construction.

The county’s list of improvements for existing parks include projects at Frontier Park and Sprinker Recreation Center. Thirteen other projects in the county parks system also are in line for a boost from the impact fee revenue.

Among proposed improvements for Frontier Park, which doubles as the site of the annual Pierce County Fair, are more parking, an off-leash dog area, a campground and trails, a new community building, and street improvements.

At Sprinker, a sprawling complex of sports fields and in indoor ice rink, improvements on the drawing board include a spray park, trails on the park’s perimeter, and enhanced parking.

The parks system's combined 5,100 acres at 30 sites includes three recreation centers, a skateboard park, two boat launches, three golf courses, trails, two disc golf courses, and undeveloped open space. The Parks and Recreation Department also organizes or sponsors special events, programs and activities for the public.