The Snoqualmie Tribe has backed away from a bid to gain ownership of Fall City Park.

Members of the Snoqualmie Tribal Council met Thursday, Feb. 12, and decided to pull back from a proposed transfer of control of the park from King County to the tribe.

“The Snoqualmie Tribe is no longer interested in being a party to that proposed tranfer,” Tribal Administrator Matt Mattson stated in a letter sent to County Council chairman Dow Constantine on Friday, Feb. 13.

The tribe’s announcement followed voter approval of Fall City Park District. Supporters of the park district touted that organization as an alternative to tribal management of Fall City Park in the run-up to the Feb. 3 election.

The tribe’s letter relates how the proposed park transfer originated six years ago. In early 2003, King County Parks was working on transferring parks to other jurisdictions due to a bleak financial picture. The tribe was approached by some Valley residents, who suggested the Snoqualmies take ownership of Fall City Park to better maintain it and keep it from being sold for non-park uses.

The park site remains of cultural value to the tribe.

“We will closely monitor the possible transfer of the park and any future developments at the site,” Mattson stated.

The first meeting of the new park district is planned for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, at Fall City Library.