Kent city officials want input about how to spend Pine Tree Park sale proceeds

Kent city officials want to hear from residents about how to reinvest in the park system the $2 million in proceeds the city will get from the sale of Pine Tree Park.

Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke.

Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke.

Kent city officials want to hear from residents about how to reinvest in the park system the $2 million in proceeds the city will get from the sale of Pine Tree Park.

Mayor Suzette Cooke, Council President Bill Boyce and Parks Director Jeff Watling will discuss that topic with Pine Tree Park neighbors and anyone else interested in the subject. The public meeting is from 6:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4 at the Pine Tree Elementary School general purpose room, 27825 118th Ave. S.E.

The city sent meeting invitations to about 300 addresses within a 1,000-foot radius of the park, said Michelle Wilmot, city spokeswoman. City officials also decided on Monday to invite the full seven-member City Council under a special meeting notice of the council.

Pine Tree Park neighbors just found out last month that the city had sold the park in September to a developer who plans to build 64 homes on the 10-acre site. A public hearing about the housing development is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2 in front of the city hearing examiner at Council Chambers at City Hall.

Park neighbors let the council know at its Jan. 19 meeting and in recent articles and letters to the editor in the Kent Reporter that they were upset about the sale of the park and that city officials never reached out to nearby residents about the sale until the land had been sold. City officials say the park is hard to access and they need the proceeds to help improve other parks.

City officials said since the park was initially part of the King County Forward Thrust project, any proceeds from a sale must be reinvested in parks.


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