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Planning Commission recommends adoption of Kenmore’s 2026 PROS plan to retain grant eligibility
Summary
The city’s updated Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan emphasizes habitat restoration, trail connections and expanded indoor recreation capacity; the Planning Commission recommended council adoption to preserve state and federal grant eligibility, with staff noting the final adoption deadline is Feb. 23, 2026.
City planning staff and the Planning Commission presented the draft 2026 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan and recommended that the City Council adopt the update to preserve eligibility for state and federal grants.
Principal planner Todd Hall and Community Development Director Debbie Bent said the document is primarily a compliance and inventory resource required every six years to maintain eligibility for state grants administered by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and to comply with the Growth Management Act. Planning Commission Chair (presenting the recommendation) called the plan strategic rather than an itemized capital program: specific projects and budgets will be prioritized later through capital planning processes.
Key priorities in the draft PROS plan include continued habitat restoration and stewardship, expanded trail connectivity between neighborhoods and schools, increased capacity for athletic and multiuse fields, and a greater emphasis on indoor recreation, aquatic and cultural facilities to serve an evolving population. Staff and commissioners highlighted equity, walkability and climate resilience as cross‑cutting priorities and noted that the city controls roughly 153 acres of parkland while regional and partner holdings expand the total to more than 1,100 acres in the area.
The commission stressed community engagement in plan development and recommended council adoption on a timely track; staff asked that the plan be placed on the consent agenda at the next meeting so the document can be submitted by March 2 in time to remain eligible for 2026 parks grants (the staff‑preferred calendar requires Council adoption no later than Feb. 23).
Council members praised the community input and the plan's attention to indoor recreation needs, equity and connectivity; staff agreed to provide follow‑up detail on maintenance costs and lease arrangements for assets such as Logboom Pier.
If adopted on the schedule requested by staff, the city will keep access to competitive grant funding that supports future park projects and planning.
