King County Executive Girmay Zahilay is proposing $100 million in conservation funding for dozens of projects aimed at protecting parks, farmland and forests wh
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay is proposing $100 million in conservation funding for dozens of projects aimed at protecting parks, farmland and forests while restoring salmon habitat and expanding access to green space.
The proposal announced Thursday would fund 57 projects and protect about 1,500 acres across King County. It still needs approval from the King County Council.
Among the projects are plans to permanently protect a popular park in SeaTac, preserve a P-Patch and orchard next to affordable housing built by Habitat for Humanity in Bellevue, and turn a large gravel parking lot along the Duwamish River into habitat for native salmon.
Other projects would protect farmland that supports the region's local food economy, as well as forestland, river corridors and natural areas.
Zahilay said the proposal aims to protect and improve parks, trails, forests, farms, and other open spaces while providing communities with clean air and water and places for recreation.
The funding package is based on recommendations from the Conservation Futures Advisory Committee, a 16-member volunteer board that reviews applications for open-space preservation funding. Its members represent all nine King County Council districts and include both urban and rural communities.
The projects are part of King County's Land Conservation Initiative, a regional effort to protect 65,000 acres of remaining open space, including urban green space, farmland, forests, river and trail corridors, and natural areas.
Most of the proposed funding — $86.7 million — would come from King County's Conservation Futures Program. Another $13.8 million would come from the King County Parks Levy.
King County voters approved restoring the Conservation Futures tax to its original rate in 2022.
Voters renewed the six-year parks levy in 2025, which includes money for acquiring open space.
Both measures received more than 70% approval.
