Parks 2023 Ballot Measure Initiative

The Parks Funding Exploratory Committee (PFEC) was re-established by City Council at their Special August 3, 2022 meeting to lead the community input process and provide recommendations for a potential ballot measure(s) to Kirkland City Council by 2023 including:

• Recommended capital investments
• Recommended operating investments
• Recommended funding mechanism(s) to cover increased costs

PFEC will meet twice a month from September 2022 through February 2023. The Committee will compile and make recommendations to City Council in the spring of 2023 regarding what potential ballot measure(s) should include and what funding mechanisms to use. Based on community input, City Council will make a final decision on ballot measure(s) in late spring or early summer of 2023.

PFEC is chaired by Councilmember Kelli Curtis and is comprised of over 43 diverse stakeholders that have an interest in Kirkland’s parks and recreation services. As much as possible, PFEC members reflect the diversity of Kirkland, including with respect to race; ethnicity; gender; sexual orientation; gender identity; the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; status as a homeowner or renter; neighborhood; family composition; languages spoken; policy perspective; and age. 

Exploring potential Parks 2023 Ballot Measure(s) are part of the City's 2021-2022 Work Program.

This project will consist of many phases and include opportunities for community engagement.

• Summer 2022: Feasibility study and costing analysis for potential ballot measure investments
• Summer 2022: City Council to establish a Parks Funding Exploratory Committee made up of representatives from community groups and at-large community members
• September 2022 - February 2023: Parks Funding Exploratory Committee to gather community input and review information about potential investments
• Spring 2023: Parks Funding Exploratory Committee to make recommendation for potential ballot measure investments and funding mechanisms to City Council
• Summer 2023: City Council to decide what ballot measure options to bring to voters and to pass a resolution to initiate the public voting process
• Fall 2023: City to provide educational information about the ballot measure(s)
• November 2023: General election

The Kirkland community will be pivotal in determining what to include in the Parks 2023 Ballot Measure(s).  

A Parks Funding Exploratory Committee (PFEC), made up of 30-50 members from across Kirkland, will meet from September 2022 through February 2023 to review investment options and funding mechanisms. PFEC will be comprised of members that reflect the diversity of Kirkland, including with respect to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, economic status, neighborhood, family composition, languages spoken, neurodiversity, and physical, mental or sensory ability.

The Committee will make recommendations to City Council in the spring of 2023 regarding what the ballot measure(s) should include. Then based on input from the Committee and other community feedback, City Council will make a final decision regarding ballot measure options in the summer of 2023 to be placed on the November 2023 ballot.

Community feedback over the past few years, including over 4,700 Kirkland community members who provided input as part of the 2022 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan update, has shown a strong desire to add an aquatic center and additional indoor recreation space in Kirkland. Community and aquatic centers contain different types of amenities and features. Here are some inspirational images. Photos are credited as listed.

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We are still in the early stages of exploring potential Parks 2023 Ballot Measure options.  

• One of the first ways to get involved is to sign up for our mailing list to learn about project updates and opportunities.
• Attend Park Board public meetings and provide public comment about park-related issues that are important to you.
• You can also email feedback and input to playitforward@kirklandwa.gov.
• Or you can call to leave feedback and input at 425-587-3315

• August 3, 2022: Resolution 5551, Establishing a Parks Funding Exploratory Committee
• May - August 2022: Final draft PROS Plan 
• May 17, 2022: Parks Facilities Feasibility Study Scope of Work
• May 17, 2022: ADA Title II Transition Plan for Parks and Community Services(PDF, 2MB) 
• March 1, 2022: Resolution 5514, Amending the 2021-22 City Work Program

• May - December 2021: Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan kickoff and outreach including focus groups, community conversations, statistically valid survey and more. 

  
  

• March 2019: Dog Off-leash Area Outreach Findings Report(PDF, 931KB)

• October 2018 - January 2019: Dog Off-leash Area Outreach

• November 17, 2015: 2015 PROS Plan(PDF, 15MB) adopted by City Council

• March 2015: ARC Center Project Public Engagement Findings Report(PDF, 5MB)

• October 2014: Aquatics, Recreation & Community Center (ARC) Concept Plan Report(PDF, 8MB) 
• September 2014: Aquatics, Recreation & Community Center (ARC) Concept Plan Technical Report(PDF, 8MB)

• 2001 - 2013: Kirkland Aquatic, Recreation, and Community Center Background(PDF, 39KB)