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Washington Unified declares Bridal Park exempt surplus; public raises appraisal and process concerns
Summary
The board adopted Resolution No. 2526‑50 declaring Bridal Park exempt surplus for parks and recreation, enabling targeted notices to other public park agencies. Members of the public questioned acreage inconsistencies, whether fair market value will be sought, and whether the 7‑11 committee considered district‑wide enrollment data.
The Washington Unified School District Board of Education voted July 24 to adopt Resolution No. 2526‑50 declaring the Bridal Park parcel exempt surplus property limited to park and recreation use.
Chief Business Officer Monique Stovall said the 7‑11 committee reviewed the property, held public hearings and recommended the designation. Stovall told the board the exempt surplus designation would let the district issue the statutorily required notices only to public agencies interested in parks and recreation use and that a deed restriction and an easement would "run with the property" to preserve the district's priority use.
Several members of the public urged caution. Pat Flint asked why the facilities master plan still referenced Golden State (a site name) and why reported acreages in the transmittal and the resolution differed. Flint also questioned whether the 7‑11 committee had been given district‑wide enrollment data and whether the committee's scope properly covered underutilized sites, saying the committee appeared to have focused on a single parcel.
Danny Langford told the board he feared the district might effectively transfer the land without receiving fair market value. He said the city has secured a $15,000,000 grant but that the total estimated cost for the project was far higher; he urged the district to seek full valuation and asked whether the city still owed the district money related to a prior recreation center deal.
In response, trustees and counsel said the legislature had temporarily modified the statutory 7‑11 process during the COVID era but that the district followed its committee process regardless. Counsel and staff said the designation as exempt surplus narrows the notice recipients to park and recreation agencies and does not preclude seeking fair market value. The district said it will obtain independent appraisals, the city is obtaining one as well, and the district will commission a survey to determine precise legal descriptions and acreage before returning with final documents.
Trustee Hunt moved to adopt the resolution; Vice President Coffey seconded. The board approved the resolution by roll‑call vote. Board members emphasized that further steps (appraisal, survey, deed restriction language and final negotiations) will come back to the board for public review and approval.
