After nearly a decade of back-and-forth over a proposed asphalt plant along the Cedar River, the property at the center of the fight.
After nearly a decade of back-and-forth over a proposed asphalt plant along the Cedar River, the property at the center of the fight has officially been purchased by King County.
King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, who made the official sale announcement Saturday morning, said the land will now be preserved for public use.
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“This is a fight we as a community have been waging for nearly a decade to protect our river, our natural habitats, and our community,” Dunn said. “Today, that fight has finally come to an end, and we can shift our focus from stopping what shouldn’t be to building what should — parks, open spaces, and a place the public can enjoy for generations.”
The battle over the use of the property started in 2017, when Lakeside Industries proposed building an asphalt plant along SR-169 near the Cedar River.
Concerns of the public, and King County Council, quickly grew, centered on the threat of pollution to the river, which supplies drinking water to more than 1.6 million people in the greater Seattle area.
In 2025, Dunn brought Lakeside Industries and Save the Cedar River to the table to negotiate an agreement; at that time Lakeside agreed to sell the property and abandon its plans to construct the asphalt plant.
Residents now have say in the future of the property.
Among the possibilities discussed Saturday morning were: restoring and improving fish and wildlife habitat, expanding recreational opportunities, and connecting the property with existing and future trail networks and nearby protected open space.
“Lakeside Industries deserves enormous credit for coming to the table and negotiating in good faith,” Dunn said. “Now, the future of this property belongs to the community, and I look forward to seeing what residents design for this public space.”
