Finn Hill Park and Recreation District and O.O.Denny Park October 11, 2011
Park Overview 46 acres located on Holmes Pt. Dr. Owned by City of Seattle, cannot be sold Really two parks Semi-urban, picnic area w/ extensive waterfront, including wetlands Hot summer weekend sees 800+ patrons, mid-winter days see handful of neighbors Heavily wooded hills, creek valley w/ trails, minimal impact, wilderness feel Flavor: wild and natural rather than developed and manicured Reflects preferences of neighborhood around it Covered picnic shelter (reservable) + scattered picnic tables No formal athletic fields, no lighting except restrooms Denny Creek flows through entire park Part of wonderful green necklace of interconnected parks on Finn Hill Big Finn Hill Park (King Co) Juanita Woodlands (King Co) St. Edwards (State of Washington)
e e e c R h h o o g g M i i , t P i n r r r e e r o h h 2 n n n i c a i b n b g 0 R g 1 r h y n n K a K a o o 1 e Kirkland Annexation Area 0 k a g g i i r r O S S p 1 E E L r b r b r h h c F c c M M F x . x P d e k i k i o t o i o i o o o N p p t e l l l l o o n n n t t n l C e l t r a a l l d d 1 n n t t i o w o e m H n i i n 0 O O n s r r r o i d d o o E E H M c M c H l a d a l t M n n - - i i o t o t y e t t r l o P P B B r l l r t o o n o e a a s s u u l r 1 1 r l t r r : m t r r t l l i 0 i 0 e y y o O k k a a l l P s P s r c e n s s r r M e e M a a K C C K s t , s s o o t t r r a a o o R t R F F i n n i k k r m r m E E R a 1 u u n n i i m m : i t : 0 n n O O C C i i e t d d ( c c ( o M o M P P t t O O a f f i i c c t t m o m o O.O. Denny Park part of unique green necklace of beautiful eastside parks a a t t . o . a n a n u u m n m n g g e e O f O r E g r g E W r W 1 1 r i i e A A e e e a v v a h 0 0 h
O.O. Denny Park
Semi-urban picnic area and heavily wooded, hilly backcountry
History of FHPRD O.O. Denny park owned by City of Seattle, cannot be sold Willed to city by Helen V. Denny in 1922, to be used as park in perpetuity If ceases to be used as park, property reverts to Children’s Home Society Operated as Camp Denny for underprivileged Seattle youth King Co. operated as park from 1968 to 2001 Funding shortfall caused King Co. to close park Children’s Home Society stated they would sell it for development Neighbors, led by DCNA, organized to pass levy for park maintenance Levy passed Nov 5, 2002, responsibility started Jan 1, 2003 Formed Finn Hill Park and Recreation District (FHPRD) FHPRD operates park under contract to City of Seattle Levy funding not available until Jan 1, 2004! Borrowed 1 st year’s operating expenses from King Co.
O.O. Denny Park operated for many years as Camp Denny Day camp for disadvantaged youth
Current Commission Five elected, unpaid commissioners Official, public commission meetings once a month Day-to-day operations handled by sub-contractors Day-to-day maintenance & cleanup Security (opening and closing) Tree trimming and removal Plumbing Animal control Commissioners divvy up responsibilities for contractor oversight Commissioners also handle numerous incidental responsibilities Insurance Accounting, paying invoices, tracking tax receipts Special events (e.g. Christmas Ships bonfire) Interface with various municipalities Special projects Major NUD sewer project this entire winter season KC Shoreline Improvement Project scheduled this winter Volunteer activities Commission have operated park under budget every year
Park Levy Details Finn Hill Park and Recreation District boundaries coincide with those of the newly-annexed Finn Hill Neighborhood of Kirkland Original levy passed in Nov, 2002 $0.072 per $1000 valuation $28.80/yr for $400K house “One latte per month to save your beautiful park” Passed with nearly 70% approval Current levy passed in Nov, 2008 $0.060 per $1000 valuation $24/yr for $400K house Reduction due to budget history noted in voters’ pamphlet Commission elected to place on ballot 1 yr early in presidential year Barely passed with 60.1% approval Current budget ~ $180K/yr Includes tax receipts + modest income from shelter rentals As in past years, substantial projected under run in 2011
Park Levy Details (cont’d) For financial reasons, upon annexation City of Kirkland elected not to take over maintenance of O.O. Denny Park After annexation, residents of FHPRD are now taxed twice for parks! FHPRD levy supports O.O. Denny for use by all of Kirkland Kirkland taxes support parks for use by all of Kirkland Current levy expires in 2014
Park Levy Options (there may be others) Kirkland agrees to support O.O. Denny Park 1. Prior to park bond levy Levy has higher probability of passage in Finn Hill neighborhood Financial & operational handoff from FHPRD manageable Included only in park bond levy Levy has higher probability of passage in Finn Hill neighborhood Kirkland again declines to support O.O. Denny Park 2. Double taxation of Finn Hill neighborhood continues Passage of levy in Finn Hill Neighborhood less likely FHPRD forced to put levy renewal on ballot in 2013 or 2014 Kirkland park bond levy includes O.O. Denny but fails in 2012 3. Double taxation issue highlighted in campaign, increased awareness FHPRD forced to put levy renewal on ballot in 2013 or 2014 Effect on FHPRD levy passage uncertain
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