The King County trail network is on the precipice of next-level greatness. Our regional trails are already backbones for recreation and bicycle transportation, but major sections and connections along the EasTrail are just now coming online with more coming in the next couple years. The East Lake Sammamish Trail also opened last year, closing a long and difficult chapter in the county’s trail-building history. With each completed section, the region’s trails grow closer and closer to becoming a fully functional network that can bring together communities that for so long have felt far apart due to a lack of safe biking and walking routes.

A lot of the funding for all this amazing work has come from the King County Parks Levy, which typically goes to voters every six years. The current levy expires at the end of 2025, so the county is beginning their outreach to craft the next version for a vote in the summer or fall of 2025.

Take the county’s survey by April 29 to show support for increasing their excellent trail-building and community-connecting work. There is also a virtual community meeting 6 p.m. April 23 (tomorrow).

The existing $810 million levy passed on an August 2019 primary ballot with more than 70% in favor, an overwhelming landslide. The 2013 $396 million levy also received 70% support. The county was able to double the levy without losing any voter support. King County residents love their parks and trails and are eager to continue supporting this work.

The next levy will be a remarkable chance to connect trail investments the county, state and individual municipalities have been making for decades. For example, the Lake to Sound Trail from Des Moines to Renton could connect to the EasTrail, the Cedar River Trail and bike routes into Seattle. This would make Renton a hub of regional bike routes, the jumping off point for all kinds of adventures across the county. How amazing would that be? But it’s going to take a lot of work and funding to get there.