County considers letting tribe run Fall City Park

The Snoqualmie Tribe could become the first tribe in King County to own a community park.

King County officials are working on an agreement to transfer Fall City Park to the federally recognized tribe, which has ancestral ties to the land. The tribe would be responsible for operations, maintenance, repairs and improvements to the park, according to county documents.

Some residents raised concerns about the tribe's lack of experience in operating a park, but officials say it won't be a problem.

"We're certain that we will be able to maintain the park at least to its current level or better," said Matt Mattson, tribal administrator.

The land would not go into trust, he said, meaning that the parcel would not become tribal-reservation territory or fall under sovereign government authority.

About four years ago, as the county continued to struggle with budget shortfalls, officials looked to transfer park parcels to cities, nonprofits, school districts and other entities willing to take on the cost of upkeep.

That's when the tribe stepped in and offered to take over Fall City Park.

Nothing happened, however, until this year, when the tribe approached the county again, said Kevin Brown, the county's director of parks and recreation.

"The land is historically significant to the tribe," he said.

The park lies along the banks of the Snoqualmie River, near where it meets the Raging River. A baseball field and a horse arena make up some of the features on the 27.5-acre grounds.

In 2000, archaeologists found artifacts such as arrowheads, fish bones and fire pits — a village site that they traced back to the tribe's ancestors, said Butch Lovelace, the county's program manager for the parks department. Some of those artifacts are on display at the Burke Museum, he said.

A group of equestrians who use the park's horse arena said that even though the tribe may prove to be a good steward of the land, there are worries the arena won't get the improvements it needs.

"The current level of upkeep has rendered the arena nearly useless," said Lee Moderow, founder of the Friends of Fall City Arena.

She said her group is using Bridle Trails State Park near Bellevue because the "footing at the [Fall City] arena is so bad for the horses."

Moderow also said she wants to know why the county is divesting Fall City Park at a time when it's asking taxpayers for millions in parks levies.

"We have a reduced budget from what we've had historically," Brown said.

Metropolitan King County Councilwoman Kathy Lambert will host a meeting today in Fall City to address residents' concerns.

Public hearings will be held when the agreement goes before the County Council, which is expected to happen this summer. The deal must get approval from the council to go through.