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Issaquah council places $18 million park‑bond renewal on November ballot after months of planning
Summary
Council voted 6–1 to place an $18 million park‑bond renewal on the Nov. 3 ballot, a replacement levy that the administration says would leverage grants and fees into roughly $25 million of projects including trails, park restorations and three elementary‑school sports fields.
The Issaquah City Council voted 6–1 on June 29 to place a park‑bond renewal on the Nov. 3 general election ballot that would authorize up to $18 million in general obligation bonds for parks and open‑space capital projects.
Parks Director Jeff Watling framed the package as a replacement of retiring debt at the same levy rate (8 cents per $10,000 of assessed value) and said the bond would be leveraged with grants and other revenues to support about $25 million of projects. The proposed package includes ten investments: three elementary school community sports fields (to be the subject of addenda to the joint‑use agreement), two new trail corridors on Cougar Mountain and Squak Mountain, trailhead improvements at the Senator Bill Ramos Memorial Trailhead, restoration of the E‑House at Confluence Park, two projects at Tibbetts Valley Park (an inclusive playground and a neighborhood off‑leash dog area), and eight new pickleball courts at Central Park.
Watling emphasized the projects were drawn from the 2024 park system plan and followed months of engagement with the park board, council, and the public. The park board recommended moving forward at the renewal rate and asked that the city reactivate a pool advisory committee to continue discussion about potential Julius Bone pool expansion.
Council deliberations included praise for the geographic spread of projects, questions about specific elements (for example landscape preservation at the E‑House and scheduling for school‑adjacent fields), and one dissenting vote. Council Member Walsh said she supported parks but opposed using voter action for capital when she viewed operational services (public safety, human services) as higher near‑term budget priorities; she voted no.
The motion to adopt ordinance 3142 was moved and seconded; the council recorded a 6–1 vote in favor (Council Member Walsh opposed). The ordinance will place the bond question on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot, with additional procedural steps to appoint a pro/con committee and finalize ballot materials in early August.
What happens next: If the council files the ballot ordinance, the city will submit names of a pro/con committee to King County elections by early August and complete required ballot statements and pro/con submissions. Should voters approve the bond, staff would negotiate addenda with the school district and begin project implementation.
