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Ballot measures

August 4, 2026 Primary Election

City of Covington

Proposition No. 1

Formation and Funding of Covington Park and Recreation District

The City Council of the City of Covington adopted Resolution 2026-08 concerning the creation of the Covington Park and Recreation District.

This proposition would create the Covington Park and Recreation District with the powers set forth in 35.61 RCW, including the authority to acquire, construct, maintain, operate, and improve parks, community centers, pools, and other recreation facilities and programs, and levy regular property taxes at a rate up to $0.75/$1,000 assessed value, with an initial rate of $0.37/$1,000, with boundaries coterminous with the City of Covington. The City Council would serve as the board of park commissioners.

For the formation of the Covington Park and Recreation District to be governed by the City of Covington City Council as the ex officio board of park commissioners.

Against the formation of the Covington Park and Recreation District.


If approved, this proposition creates the Covington Park and Recreation District, a metropolitan park district with the same boundaries as the City of Covington. The District would be a separate municipal corporation with all the powers granted by state law, including 35.61 RCW. Members of the Covington City Council would sit ex officio as the board of park commissioners of the District. The District would be authorized to levy a regular property tax not to exceed $.75/$1,000 of assessed value, with an initial regular property tax levy of $.37/$1,000 of assessed value, to provide ongoing funding to maintain, operate and improve parks, community centers, pools, and other recreation facilities and programs. District funds must be dedicated to park and recreation purposes and could not be used to pay for other City projects or operations.

If approved, District funds would initially pay for improving park maintenance; new improvements at Covington Community Park, Founders Park, Jenkins Creek Park, and Jenkins Creek Trail; and planning for a new Whole Health Community Center (including a new aquatic center). Long-term the District would provide dedicated, reliable, and sustainable funding for Covington parks and recreation, including potential bond financing payable from District funds for large projects such as a new Community Center.

If not approved, there is no identified source of dedicated and sustainable long-term funding for improving park maintenance, new park improvements, continuing the planning for a new Whole Health Community Center, or reliable and sustainable funding of parks and recreation.

We Love Our Parks—Vote Yes. Covington’s park system is central to our quality of life, providing free access to playgrounds, trails, green spaces, and events. But parks compete for funding with police, roads, and other essential services. As costs continue to rise, funding for parks is falling behind—and will continue to do so without a dedicated solution.

Future-Proof Funding for Our Local Parks. Covington Park and Recreation District (CPRD) provides stable, protected funding. By law, 100% of CPRD revenue would support Covington parks and recreation—nothing can be diverted by the county or state. CPRD will improve park maintenance, expand parks/trails, and is necessary to replace the aging aquatic center with a facility that meets today’s needs, including expanded pool space and indoor fitness, senior, teen, and community areas.

Smart Investment, Shared Benefits. CPRD is structured to deliver maximum benefit for minimum cost. Owners of median -priced homes would pay about $21/month with many homeowners paying less. CPRD funding also unlocks matching funds for grants to bring additional dollars into our community—a value multiplier.

Vote Yes. Protect and strengthen the park system our community relies on.  We value our parks and must invest in them. Vote yes.

Statement submitted by: Casey Hogan, Kolawole Ogundari, Laura Morrissey

Whose money is it?

A few years ago, City of Covington came to us, “We have to build traffic circles so we have to create a utility tax or we’ll have to shut down parks.” They created the tax. Now they want to create a Park and Recreation district and charge us a property tax of 37¢ per $1,000 of evaluation to finance it. That’s $148 a year on a $400,000 home.  $277 on a $750,000 home. We already created a tax to finance parks. With gas taxes through the roof, property taxes being high and now the threat of an income tax, it’s just really not a good time to be creating another new tax. It’s like the City of Covington loves to spend and has forgotten just whose money it is. Their website says they Could charge 75¢ per thousand and look how wonderful they are because they are only wanting 37¢. How about none? At least not right now.  There is no money. The well is dry right now. It’s not the right time to ask us for more.

Statement submitted by: Gary Cavanaugh, gary.cavanaugh@yahoo.com

The opposition statement is fear-mongering, misrepresenting a one-time 2011 utility tax-connected policy for constructing Covington Community Park.  Covington does not have a parks tax; stating otherwise is a lie.  That’s why we need the CPRD.  Gas and income taxes are controlled by Washington State: Covington receives nothing from them.  Parks are essential to quality of life; it’s not whether we can afford to invest in parks — it’s whether we can afford not to. Vote yes.

Statement submitted by: Casey Hogan, Kolawole Ogundari, Laura Morrissey

Just $21/month, but that’s on top of the, “just a few bucks more a month,” utility taxes we’re already paying to support parks. Now is a time to live within our means, not create a new tax.  Once a tax is created, there it is. It will only go up. In most cases, taxes never go down. Where does the money come from? Your pocket. It’s not a good time for this. Please vote no.

 Statement submitted by: Gary Cavanaugh, gary.cavanaugh@yahoo.com

Simple majority (RCW 35.61.040)

For questions about this measure, contact: Ethan Newton, Parks & Recreation Director, (253) 480-2481, enewton@covingtonwa.gov

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