Parks 2023 Ballot Measure Initiative

Collage of parks and recreation programs - trails, lifeguards, pickleball, restrooms in parks, teen programs and KTUB

Accelerating the Future of Our Parks and Recreation

Kirkland community members love their parks, open spaces and community centers and have told the City during the 2022 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan update that they desire more facilities and recreational opportunities.

The City is exploring potential Parks and Recreation ballot measure options to accelerate the delivery of new facilities, extension of beach lifeguarding, enhancement of teen programs, new sport courts, more restrooms in parks, and trail improvements.

Parks Funding Exploratory Committee (PFEC)

About PFEC

Parks Funding Exploratory Committee Group Photo - January 12, 2023

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 met approximately twice a month from September 2022 through February 2023. The committee's results were present to City Council in March 2023. Based on community input, City Council will make a final decision on ballot measure(s) by the summer of 2023.

PFEC is chaired by Councilmember Kelli Curtis and comprised of over 44 diverse stakeholders that have an interest in Kirkland’s parks and recreation services. PFEC members come from all walks of life and 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.

Watch the PFEC Recommendations Video

PFEC Updates

Date Meeting Highlights
May 16, 2023

PFEC Addendum Report
Staff presented the PFEC Addendum Report at City Council’s Study Session on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

 May 1, 2023 PFEC Meeting Topic: Community Survey Results, Feasibility Study Updates

PFEC reconvened to receive an update on the community survey, the facility feasibility study and discuss potential additional recommendations to City Council.

March 21, 2023 PFEC Report

Staff presented the PFEC results at City Council’s Study Session on Tuesday, March 21.

March 2, 2023 FINAL PFEC Meeting

PFEC members held several votes regarding ballot elements and funding mechanisms. Staff will share PFEC results with Council in a report at their March 21 Study Session.

February 23, 2023 TOPIC: Collaborative Discussion toward Recommendation

At their 12th meeting, committee members participated in group discussions regarding ballot measure sizing, scope and funding mechanisms. PFEC members continued to evaluate what they want to recommend to City Council.  

February 13, 2023 

TOPIC: Collaborative Discussion toward Recommendation
At their 11th meeting, committee members participated in group discussions regarding ballot measure sizing, scope and funding mechanisms. PFEC members continued to evaluate what they want to recommend to City Council.  

February 9, 2023 TOPIC: Collaborative Deep Dive into Major Components

At their 10th meeting, the committee participated in a World Café style exercise. All PFEC members visited topic tables to ask questions and have conversations with one another as a step toward decision making. There were plenty of thoughtful questions related to equity and economics.

January 26, 2023 TOPIC: Investment Element Options

At their ninth meeting, the committee received the results of the recreation facility feasibility study and continued its discussion of potential parks ballot measure elements. 

January 12, 2023 TOPIC: Investment Element Options

At their eighth meeting, the committee reviewed potential ballot elements including related capital and operating cost information. These elements build on priorities identified in the PROS Plan and significant community input.

January 9 or January 21, 2023

TOPIC: Facility Tour

Rescheduled from December 1, 2022.

Committee members will tour the Sammamish Community and Aquatic Center on either January 9 or January 21, 2023.

December 8, 2022

TOPIC: WA State Property Taxes, Ballot Funding Mechanisms, Kirkland Budget, & Ballot Measure History

At their seventh meeting, the committee learned about the City of Kirkland budget, ballot measures history, and funding mechanism options.

November 10, 2022

TOPIC: Parks & Rec 101: Current Operations & Future Possibilities: Recreation and Administrative Focus 

At their fifth meeting, the committee learned about what goes into the City’s recreation programs, classes, and community events. They dug deeper into recommendations from the 2022 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan. The committee also received an overview of population projecting and city planning. 

October 27, 2022

TOPIC: Facility Feasibility Study Update  

At the fourth meeting, PFEC received an update from Opsis Architecture on the facilities feasibility study.

October 13, 2022

TOPIC: Parks & Rec 101: Current Operations & Future Possibilities: Maintenance Focus 

At the third PFEC meeting, the Committee received an overview of the 2022 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan and an introduction to what it takes to maintain parks in Kirkland. The committee dove into the findings and recommendations of the PROS Plan related to park operations and maintenance. 

September 29, 2022

TOPIC: Peter Kirk Park and Community Center Tour, PFEC Roadmap, Benefits of Parks & Rec, and Aquatics in Kirkland

At the second meeting on September 29, 2022, the committee reviewed the PFEC Roadmap and toured the Peter Kirk Community Center, Peter Kirk Pool, and Peter Kirk Park in small groups. They also received a high level overview of the Parks and Community Services department structure and funding, learn about existing aquatics in Kirkland and consider future aquatics possibilities.

September 15, 2022

TOPIC: Welcome, Overview and Park Tour

The Parks Funding Exploratory Committee held its first meeting on September 15, 2022 at Juanita Beach Park. At this first meeting the committee received an overview of the process including why City Council established the group. The group also toured Juanita Beach Park which was recently renovated in 2020.

                     

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Parks 2023 Ballot Measure Initiative?

During the 2022 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan update, thousands of Kirkland community members told the City how much they love Kirkland’s parks system, trails and recreation programs and that they desire more park facilities and recreational opportunities. Kirkland's 2022 PROS Plan together with the City's capital improvement plan, outlines a path for the City’s continued investment in parks and recreation.

However, City Council has heard that many in our community want the City to accelerate the timeline on delivering on what the community is asking for. Therefore on March 1, 2022, Council adopted Resolution 5514 at its March 1, 2022 meeting directing staff to explore potential comprehensive Parks ballot measure options to be placed before Kirkland voters in 2023. In August 2022, City Council re-stablished a Parks Funding Exploratory Committee (PFEC), made up of representatives from across Kirkland, to lead the community input process and provide recommendations to the City Council in March 2023 on whether and how to best proceed with ballot measure(s) in 2023.

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

  • Summer 2022: Staff and consultants kicked off facility feasibility study and costing analysis for potential ballot measure investments
  • Summer 2022: City Council established a Parks Funding Exploratory Committee made up of representatives from community groups and at-large community members
  • September 2022 - March 2023: Parks Funding Exploratory Committee met twice a month to learn and review information about potential investments
  • March 21, 2023: Parks Funding Exploratory Committee final report presented 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

What might a measure include?

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 over 40 Kirkland community members, met from September 2022 through March 2023 to review investment options and funding mechanisms. The Committee's final report was presented to City Council at their March 21, 2023 meeting. Following additional outreach and community input, 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.

Below are inspirational images of the type of things that could be considered by the Parks Funding Exploratory Committee. Photos are credited as listed.

How can I get involved?

How can I request a speaker?

 
Thank you for contacting us to request a City of Kirkland staff speaker to talk about potential 2023 Parks Ballot Measure(s). Use this form to request a staff speaker at least 4 weeks prior to the event date. Please provide as much detail as possible so we can do our best to meet your needs.


         

Background & Milestones

2021-present

2015 and before

Kirkland Aquatic, Recreation, and Community Center Background(PDF, 39KB)

  • 2015: The ballot measure for a Metropolitan Park District and Aquatics, Recreation and Community Center (ARC) failed in November.     
  • 2014: The Lake Washington School District Capital Facilities Bond Measure failed, leaving no options to repair or replace the Juanita Aquatic Center.
  • 2013: Lake Washington School District announced potential to close the Juanita Aquatic Center. City Council approved pursuit of an indoor recreation facility on the work plan and potential sites were identified.
  • 2012: Community approved the 2012 Parks Levy to provide for parks maintenance and capital investment.
  • 2011: Parks Funding Exploratory Committee recommended investments in park maintenance and capital improvements. An indoor recreation and aquatics facility was tabled.
  • 2007: Indoor Recreation Feasibility Study recommended a 93,000 square foot indoor recreation and aquatics center
  • 2001: Indoor Recreation Needs Survey indicated community need for an indoor recreation and aquatics facility.