07-19-2022 - Melissa HamiltonMeeting Type:
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CITY OF
Federal Way
Centered on Opportunity
Public Comment - Written
City Council Regular Meeting
July 19, 2022
Melissa Hamilton
Resident/Business Yes
Owner
Comment Topic: Steel Lake Park Annex
Written Comment:
I am writing to express my opposition to the city council's plan to destroy public park
space in favor of building an ops and maintenance facility in its place. I understand the
need for a bigger space for this facility but destroying public park space is not the right
solution to this problem. Our parks are a valuable asset to the community, are heavily
used by the community, and provide an esthetically pleasing landscape showing that we
care about our community. I understand that there are alternative options for acquiring
property for this project. If we have the opportunity to acquire one of the problem
properties in the city, which fuels our drug and crime rates, then why isn't that being
looked at more seriously? Considering the long term vision of this city I'd much rather
have a known problem area converted to a maintenance facility than a public park or
single family houses. In 2020 at the height of the pandemic our mayor described Steel
Lake Park to the media as the "crown jewel" of Federal Way. Why in the world would we
want to destroy the crown jewel of our city by replacing it with steel buildings, dump
trucks, and huge sand and gravel piles? If money is the issue and the city can't afford to
make the right decision, then it cannot afford this project period. To quote one of my
favorite holiday movies I'll leave the council with this last thought "Sometimes things
look good on paper but lose their luster when you see how it affects real folks. I guess a
healthy bottom line doesn't mean much if to get it, you have to hurt the ones you
depend on. It's people that make the difference." Parks bring people and communities
together. Please make the right decision tonight for your community and vote no on
destroying our beautiful park property.