2018 King County community service areas town halls

The final three unincorporated community town hall meeting are being held in June.  They will be held in Fall City on June 4, Vashon Island on June 7 and Federal Way on June 26.  More than 3 hundred persons have attended Town Hall meetings to date.   Attendees learned about the proposed Department of Local Services and had the opportunity to ask questions of the Sheriff and other County staff about local issues and concerns.   You too can learn about the proposed Department of Local Services for residents of unincorporated King County, meet with King County officials including Councilmembers, representatives from the Sheriff’s office and other County officials at the remaining meetings. Take the time to learn and bring your questions and comments to King County officials.

Save the dates! Big Backyard Movies 2018

Bring your low-backed chairs, blankets, snacks and enjoy a relaxed evening in the park. King County Parks is hosting a variety of Big Backyard Movie Nights throughout the summer. The movies will be projected onto a 40-foot-tall inflatable movie screen so invite your friends, teammates and family--we've got space!  Stay tuned for announcements regarding pre-movie entertainment and activities. Movie starts after sunset. July 7 Ravensdale Park. Sunset: 9:08 p.m. July 28 Coalfield Park. Sunset: 8:49 p.m. August 3 Cottage Lake Park. Sunset: 8:41 p.m. August 4 Dick Thurnau Park. Sunset: 8:39 p.m. August 18 Tolt MacDonald Park. Sunset: 8:16 p.m. August 25 Petrovitsky Park. Sunset: 8:03 p.m.

Have fun and stay safe in King County rivers

Rivers are inherently dangerous places with high, swift and cold as mountain snowpack melts, making losing control and hypothermia real risks. Logs and rocks, both visible and hidden, pose navigation hazards. Rivers are dynamic systems that change constantly, but there are precautions you can take to make sure your summer on the water stays safe. Marta the River Otter is visiting King County schools this spring to teach kids about river safety. To learn how to speak to your children about water safety and learn more about Marta, visit our blog.

Summer is road construction season

Many scheduled road improvements will take place over the summer months, some are listed below, but details on all King County road construction projects can be found on the Road Services Division website.

Road resurfacing

Several road resurfacing projects are anticipated to take place in June near Kent, Federal Way, Black Diamond, Maple Valley and North Bend. 

Vashon Island paving

King County is repaving Vashon Islands’s busiest thoroughfare, which was last comprehensively overlaid about 25 years ago. With the exception of two portions of Vashon Highway Southwest that were paved less than a decade ago, nearly all of the 12-mile-long roadway will receive a new pavement surface, from the Fauntleroy/Southworth ferry terminal in the north, through the island’s main business area, down to the Tahlequah ferry terminal in the south. The work is expected to begin in June. 

Bridge Repairs

Starting Saturday, June 23 at 8 a.m., a section of Northeast Woodinville Duvall Road will close for bridge repair work. The work requires a 24/7 full closure with no emergency access from West Snoqualmie Valley Road Northeast to West Snoqualmie River Road Northeast. Detour signs will be posted. The work is expected to finish on Friday, June 29 at 6 p.m. 

Starting Friday, June 15 at 10 a.m., repair work will take place on Fifteen Mile Creek Bridge/Southeast May Valley Road near 233rd Avenue Southeast. The work requires a full closure of the bridge through Monday, June 18. Detour signs will be posted. 

Music in the Park 2018

This news is sure to be music to your ears: Music in the Park returns this summer! Plan on attending this year's Music in the Park concert series at Cottage Lake Park on Thursday evenings starting July 12.  All music starts at 7 p.m. Click on artist names to learn more about their music! July 12 Michelle D'Amour and the Love Dealers Blues July 19  The Home Rulers Celtic Folk July 26 Honky Tonk Sweethearts Honky Tonk & Bluegrass August 2 One Bad Hat 60s & 70s Classic Rock  For more information visit the website.

King County Parks News

Tolt-MacDonald Park barn rehabilitation project complete The Tolt Barn Roof Replacement project is complete and is once again available as a rental space. Work included removal of old wooden roof shingles, placement of new sheathing and underlayment for the installation of new composite roof tiles. Reserve the barn for your next event. Dick Thurnau Playground closure The playground at Dick Thurnau Park will be closed beginning June 4 for a revamp. Closure will likely be about three months, but could be less if everything goes smoothly. This project is funded in part by the voter-approved 2014-2019 King County Parks, Trail and Open Space Replacement Levy.

Trailhead Direct adds new route

The second route of Trailhead Direct - Mount Si launched on May 19. The new service takes hikers from Capitol Hill in Seattle to Mount Si, with stops at the Eastgate Freeway Station and the North Bend Park and Ride. Check out the website for more information. You can also take Trailhead Direct- Issaquah Alps from the Mount Baker Transit Center in South Seattle all the way out to four hiking destinations. Trailhead Direct is a pilot project sponsored by King County Parks and Metro’s Community Connections program. This project seeks to ease vehicle congestion, reduce safety hazards and expand access to hiking destinations along I-90.

Picturing trails

Plan to hike this summer? If you visit one of King County Parks' trails, post your picture to Instagram using the hashtag #picturingtrails for a chance to win a prize. If you need inspiration, join photographers Jenny Riffle and Melinda Hurst Frye for a Walk and Talk on Saturday, June 9 in Preston.

Secure Your Load Day

June 6 is “Secure Your Load Day” and King County encourages motorists to help keep roads safe and clean by properly securing your load today and every day. A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that road debris contributes to more than 50,000 traffic crashes every year in the U.S. in which 125 people lost their lives. It only takes a few minutes and basic supplies such as rope, straps, and netting to secure a load. Visit the King County Solid Waste Division’s website to learn how.

King County wants your feedback on marijuana industry

King County Department of Permitting and Environmental Review (DPER) is conducting a study of the legal marijuana industry in unincorporated King County. As part of the study, DPER wants to hear from you! Have you experienced impacts from the legal marijuana industry in unincorporated King County? Has the marijuana industry developed in an equitable and socially-just way? How can King County improve its marijuana regulations for unincorporated areas? Visit the website to share your thoughts and to learn more about the study! The comment portal is open through June 30, 2018.  

Puget Sound Starts Here!

Wherever you are, your small actions can make a big difference. If rain falls on you, your home, garden, yard or street, you can prevent pollution carried by rain out of Puget Sound. Put dog waste in the trash, avoid pesticides and create a healthy green lawn, or fix car leaks before summer vacation! Find fun events, facts or tools at Puget Sound Starts Here.

Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River Area News

196th Ave Southeast Corridor Safety issues

The GMVUAC submitted a “Situation-Target-Proposal” to KCDOT/Roads Division detailing safety concerns with specific intersections along the 196th Ave Southeast corridor.  The GMVUAC requested KCDOT, using current traffic data, to conduct new corridor safety studies.

Upcoming Community Meetings

Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council (GMVUAC)

Monday, June 4, 7-9:30 p.m.
Monday, July 2, 7-9:30 p.m.
Maple Valley Fire Station
Southeast corner of Southeast 231st St. and SR-169 intersection
Maple Valley
Visit the website for the latest information and to confirm meetings.

Green Valley/Lake Holm Association Meeting

Wednesday, June 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Fire District 44, Station 95
32316 148th Ave. SE 
Auburn
Sasha Shaw, Education Specialist for the King County Natural Resources Noxious Weeds Program, will speak and answer questions at the May 30th meeting. 
Visit the Facebook page or Twitter for the latest information and to confirm meetings. 

Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council

Tuesday, June 12, 7-9 p.m.
Tuesday, July 10, 7-9 p.m.
Eastside Fire & Rescue Station 78
20720 SE May Valley Rd.
Issaquah
Visit the website at for the latest information and to confirm meeting.

Community Alliance to Reach Out and Engage

Monday, June 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
12819 160th Ave. SE
Renton
Visit the website at for the latest information and to confirm meetings.

Upper Bear Creek Community Council

No meeting scheduled for May.
Visit the website or Facebook page for the latest information and to confirm meetings.

West Hill Community Association Board Meeting

Wednesday, June 13, 7-9 p.m.
King County Fire District 20
12424 76th Ave S.
Seattle
WHCA monthly board meetings are open to the public, and often feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from a variety of local organizations. Email for more information.

West Hill Business Association

Tuesday, June 19, 9-11 a.m.
VFW Post 9430
7421 S. 126th St.
Seattle
Open to the public. Are you a West Hill business owner?  Interested in connecting with other local business owners to strengthen our West Hill business district, create more visibility and improve our neighborhood?  For more information contact Cynthia Lamothe 206-722-7343.

Skyway Solutions

Monday, June 11, 6-8:30 p.m.
13470 MLK Jr Way S
Seattle
Visit the website at for the latest information and to confirm meeting or call 206-706-6400.

North Highline Unincorporated Area Council

Thursday, June 7, 7-9 p.m.
1243 SW 112th St.
Seattle
Open to the public. Monthly meeting of all-volunteer neighborhood based community organization.  For agenda information visit the website. For more information contact Barbara Dobkin. 

Fall City Community Association (FCCA)

The June meeting of the FCCA cancelled and residents encouraged to attend the June 4 Snoqualmie Valley Town Hall event at Chief Kanim Middle School. For more information visit the website.

Were you forwarded this from a friend? Sign up for the Unincorporated Area Community News here