Bellevue earned the “City in a Park” nickname because of our 2,800 acres of open spaces, trails, and well-maintained family-friendly parks.

The Levy Lid Lift for Parks and Open Spaces  request will fund the next phase of park investments and preserve Bellevue’s character as a great place to work and live. After completing all the promised projects in the 2007 levy, the city wants to do more to protect the environment and provide additional open space and play areas for generations to come.

Your ‘Yes’ vote authorizes an annual property tax of $200 per million assessed value. The funds will develop neighborhood trails, enhance wildlife corridors, and protect water quality in local lakes and streams. It will also create new neighborhood parks and enhance existing community centers and parks. The levy adds new fields for sports including cricket, pickle ball, baseball, soccer and youth football, plus more off-leash dog areas. This fiscally responsible package includes funding for parks and trails maintenance because Bellevue takes care of what it builds.

As a community that values its parks and open areas, we urge you to vote yes on the Parks and Open Space Levy.

Submitted by: Sherry Grindeland, Kevin Wallace, Jivana Aras, forbellevueparks@gmail.com

Bellevue parks system occupies 2700 acres; it has 90 parks, 38 sports fields, 46 playgrounds, 64 sports courts, and 90 miles of trails.  Now, the Council proposes to raise our property taxes to increase City revenues by approximately $16 million per year for 9 years, about $144 million total.  The taxes will cost the average Bellevue taxpayer about $200 per year, or $1800 total.  Revenues (about $121 million total) would fund undefined new Parks Department projects, services, and O&M costs.

The Department has not developed a parks fee structure, capital recovery procedures, partnerships, or other means to ensure that new parks users pay a fair share of the cost for parks system growth.

The Department has no empirical data on the frequency of use of parks facilities or services by Bellevue citizens; and uses no specific or quantitative procedures or data to determine new parks requirements, relying instead on small sample surveys rather than gathering inputs from all Bellevue citizens.

The Department has multi-million dollar operating and CIP budgets and reserve funds that can be used for operating, maintaining, and improving the parks system.  There is no need for additional revenue for this Department.  Vote No on Proposition No. 1!

Submitted by: David Plummer, pdf3@comcast.net

We acknowledge that, much like any other city, Bellevue will continue to function without additional funding for the maintenance and expansion of our parks. The Council’s job is to fund ordinary investments like public safety, road maintenance and utilities. They unanimously agreed to request your authorization of these special investments in our City.  We urge you to review and approve this well-crafted plan to keep Bellevue the “City in a Park”.    Please vote “yes”.

Submitted by: Sherry Grindeland, Kevin Wallace, Jivana Aras, forbellevueparks@gmail.com

The City has identified no specific requirements for new park facilities and services for present or future City residents. This proposition is simply a proposal to increase City tax revenues.  New or improved park projects or services can only be approved by future City Councils. The present City park system provides reasonable service for existing City residents.  Any additions to the present park system can easily be funded by existing City revenues and reserves.

Submitted by: David Plummer, pdf3@comcast.net

Complete text of measure

Simple majority (RCW 84.55.050)

For questions about this measure, contact: Michael Shiosaki, Parks & Community Services Director, (425) 452-2805, mshiosaki@bellevuewa.gov