Published December 5 2024
In its final meeting of 2024 on Tuesday, Dec. 10, the City Council will consider the potential purchase of a 12.2-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Coal Creek Natural Area at the south end of Bellevue. This potential purchase conserves a key connection in the Coal Creek and Cougar Mountain Regional Park corridor and was made possible in part by a grant of $9.2 million through the King County Conservation Futures Fund, a program to help acquire and retain parks and open spaces in the county.
The city proposes to utilize the full amount of the county grant toward the land purchase. To finalize the purchase, Bellevue could choose to fund the remaining $9.9 million of the total purchase price using initially $8.3 million in city funds including existing parks capital funding and the 2022 Parks Levy, coupled with around $1.6 million in potential future regional grants.
“We are fortunate in Bellevue to have a community that values parks and open space, as well as regional partners willing to help support our long-range vision to preserve key corridors and lands that enhance our parks and open space system for all to enjoy,” said Bellevue Parks and Community Services Director Michael Shiosaki.
Adding this open space would support the city’s Parks & Open Space System Plan and align with the city’s Comprehensive Plan in prioritizing improved connections in the city's regional trail system, including buying private lands both east and west of Lakemont Boulevard adjacent to existing parks.
The land contains critical environmental areas and a city trail that connects the Cougar Mountain Regional Park and Red Town trailhead on the east side of Lakemont Boulevard to the city's trail system in the Coal Creek Natural Area. The parcel is owned by a private developer with plans to build 35 homes on the site. In partnership with the Trust for Public Land, the city collaborated with the property owner to explore a potential purchase of the entire property by the city to preserve the natural beauty, ecological function and recreation opportunities in that area for the benefit of the public.
The full detail on what will be presented and discussed at next week’s meeting is available in the meeting agenda materials. To learn more about the city’s vision for parks and open spaces, see Parks and Open Space System Plan.