April - Parks and Open Space

Are We Saving Enough Space For Our Kids?

Here's the question I keep coming back to:

As Snohomish County's population continues to grow, are we saving enough space for our kids to just be kids?

For families across our country, access to clean, safe parks and open space isn't just a luxury - it's part of our daily life, and it's something every family deserves.

For my family, the place has often been Willis Tucker Park. It's where I proposed to my wife, where our oldest child took his first steps, and where we spent countless days walking our dog before she passed. It's a place that holds real memories, the kind that shape who we are and how we connect with one another.

Every family should be able to have a place like that of their own. And as our county grows, preserving those spaces isn't an option. It's essential.

What's Happening

Snohomish County is growing fast. Over the next couple of decades, we're expected to add hundreds of thousands of new residents.

We're starting from a strong position. Today, the county manages more than 12,000 acres of parks and open space across 120+ properties, along with over 100 miles of regional trails.

But growth changes the equation.

When you look at park access per resident, and compare us to nearby places like King County and Pierce County, a clearer picture emerges.

King County has more park space per person - around 30 acres per 1,000 residents.

Pierce County has less - closer to 12.

Snohomish County sits in the middle, at about 17.

Why It Matters

As population increases, park access per resident doesn't stay the same, it shrinks, unless we act.

That means fewer places for kids to play.

More crowded parks and trails.

And longer drives for families just to find open space.

Over time, that changes the character of a community.

We've seen it happen in other fast-growing areas - open space gets chipped away, piece by piece, until it's gone.

Why We're Falling Short

Too often, parks and open space are treated as an afterthought, like something we figure out after development decisions have already been made.

That approach doesn't work in a county growing as quickly as ours.

Once open space is lost, it's almost impossible to get back. And the cost of acquiring land only goes up the longer we wait.

We need to be more proactive, not reactive.

What We Can Do

This is an area where county government can, and should, lead.

That starts with prioritizing the protection of key open spaces before they're under pressure.

A good example is Shelton View Forest.

This is a large, heavily forested property in the south county area that has been at risk of development. Over the past several years, I've worked with local partners, including the City of Bothell and advocates in the community and engaged at the state level of help keep this land intact.

We've also identified potential county funding to help secure it for permanent protection.

That's the kind of approach we need more of:

• Idenfity priority lands early

• Partner with citires, the state, and community groups

• Use county resources strategically to preserve them

Beyond that, we should be:

• Expanding our trail network to connect communities across the county

• Investing in parks alongside growth, not years after the fact

• Ensuring equitable access, so every part of the county has nearby open space

The Stakes

Growth is coming.

The question is whether we plan for the full picture or fall behind.

Because success isn't just measured by how many homes we build.

It's measured by whether the people who live here still have access to the things that make this county feel like home.

When the energy levels get high in our house (and with young kids they always are), we pack the family in the van and head to Willis Tucker Park.

For others, it might be a neighborhood park, and trail, a beach or a stretch of woods nearby.

Do have a favorite spot in Snohomish County?

Because those places matter and they're worth planning for.