UPPER VALLEY – A new park that is to be developed by the King County Park System drew criticism from local residents who say it will bring too much of the city into their wilderness.
At a presentation Oct. 23 at Snoqualmie Middle School, citizens sounded off about the project they say will increase traffic and kill wildlife in the Three Forks Natural Area between Snoqualmie and North Bend.
The park, which lies at the southwest corner of the intersection of Reinig Road and 428th Avenue Southeast, would contain a 20-car parking lot and gravel trails that run close to a small wetland.
Park planners also hope to use a stone slab at the site, which was once the foundation for an old school house and Moose Lodge, as a foundation for an interpretive center that highlights the natural aspects of the area.
Because the proposed park is part of the 418-acre Three Forks Natural Area, nearby residents are concerned that the natural area could become too urban. They say they already have problems with people coming to the area, and if it becomes more conducive to traffic and people, both residents and wildlife will be the losers.
Art Skolnik, whose house sits across Reinig Road from the Three Forks Natural Area, said he routinely replaces a part of a fence that surrounds his property because of damaged caused by drivers who turn too fast, allowing his animals to escape. To solve the problem, he built a second fence farther back from the road.
“That road is too fast and we have been saying that for years,” Skolnik said. “And the county has done nothing about it.”
Reinig Road currently has a speed limit of 45 mph. Skolnik said the road’s speed limit should be the same as 428th Avenue, which is 35 mph.
Residents also raised concerns that area wildlife is already competing with people who come for boating and fishing.
“I have lived in Washington all my life, and I will tell you that if you build that park, all the animals in there will die,” said Eleanor Gilmore, who lives on 428th Avenue.
Despite the concerns of local residents, the park’s planners said they have done all they can to balance preservation with the Park System’s objective of creating new parks. Although complete preservation was not an option because the land was purchased with real estate excise tax money designated specifically for parks, planners have opted for the most passive of development proposals.
Kelly Donahue, a project manager for the King County Department of Construction and Facilities Management, said the civil engineering company the county hired for the project, SvR Design Co., is renowned for addressing environmental concerns in their plans and designs.
“I think its a win/win situation,” said Tom von Schrader of SvR. “I don’t think they (wildlife) are all going to leave.”
The park’s planners also told residents there will be more enforcement from county and park officials to ward off illegal camping and activities.
“If you don’t see the sheriff out there, I’ll personally go get him for you,” said King County Councilman David Irons.
Construction of the first phase of the Three Forks Natural Area park is expected to begin next October and be completed by February 2003.
You can reach Ben Cape at (425) 888-2311, or e-mail him at ben.cape@valleyrecord.com.
