07-19-2022 - Scott ChaseMeeting Type:
Meeting Date:
Name:
Resident/
Business Owner
CITY OF
Federal Way
Centered on Opportunity
Public Comment - Written
City Council Regular Meeting
July 19, 2022
Scott Chase
Yes
Comment Topic: Please vote to save Steel Lake Park Annex
Written Comment:
Please vote to save the Steel Lake Park Annex. It's a massive chunk of Park property in a
critical area near our downtown that should not be lost to public use forever. And part of
the same park that Mayor Ferrell himself once called "The Crown Jewel" of Federal Way!
The demand for Park facilities and Open Space will significantly increase over time,
especially with the population growth downtown and the new ST Link Station. We need
more park land near our downtown, not less. Any perceived savings now will certainly be
a fraction of what it would cost to try to purchase park property in the future. And at no
point in the future will the city ever have the chance to purchase a massive plot of land
between our downtown and Steel Lake Park like the Annex. The total cost differential
between building the Maintenance Facility at 'Site 1' versus 'Site 2' is said to be just $7
million. So, for only $7 million more with this one-time city project, for a city with over
100,000 residents now, the public would have TWO huge properties for TWO permanent
city uses. That's called a 'twofer' (Two for the price of one). On the other hand, building
on 'Site 2' would destroy the Annex and result in the tragic net loss of precious public
park land so very near to our City Center Core, which would have otherwise had
unlimited future Park potential and possible Park facility uses. Just to save a one-time $7
million today. I truly believe that would be a "Penny wise and pound foolish" choice.
Removing the Annex from the Parks system would be a devastating loss to many
thousands of future downtown residents with children. Federal Way will be here long
after we've all died and gone. The 2022 City Council today are the stewards of the future
of our city. And parks and recreation is literally the health and well-being of our
community forever. The Maintenance Facility should be built on 'Site 1' near the dirty,
loud and busy 1-5 corridor. It should not be wedged between our downtown and "The
Crown Jewel" of Federal Way. This is only about spending a one-time incremental $7
million over the life of a Maintenance Facility for a 'twofer'. A well -run city finds ways to
make good things happen. Continuous improvement. Please vote to save the Steel Lake
Park Annex for its unlimited capacity for future public parks & recreation use and for the
health and well-being of this community.