News from Snohomish County Council

Come and celebrate the opening of the newest county park, Martha Lake Airfield Park, this Saturday, October 9, from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The grand opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting will take place in the picnic shelter/restroom building located in the center of the park at noon.

"One of the most common complaints I hear from citizens is the need for more parks," said Councilmember Dave Gossett. "Families and kids need open spaces where they can walk, play, and enjoy the outdoors. This park does a great job of meeting that need."

The park features:

· Two Soccer fields

· Baseball diamond

· Skate Park (first skate park in county parks system)

· Playground

· Public art

· Possible future off-leash dog park

As part of the celebration the Skate Shop will run mini skateboard events (possible prizes donated by sponsors) and barbeque hotdogs donated by Silvana Meats. Aaron Fox with Radical Skateboard Lessons will have an information table at the skateboard park for those interested in learning more about this sport. He hopes to provide lessons at Martha Lake Airfield Park in the spring of 2011.

"It's really exciting to have the county's first skate park in my district," said Gossett. "People want more and varied opportunities in their parks."

The park site was a family-run airport from the late 1950s to the late 1990s. The County Council approved the purchase of the 26.8 acre property in late 2000 from the Ed Hauter family. The park is located just north of Martha Lake and east of I-5, surrounded by residential development. Access is from either Meadow Road and 146th St. SW or Eastshore Drive and 2nd Ave W.

"Opening the Martha Lake Airfield Park is a great event in itself. But it is also the completion of 20 years of work to create an integrated system of parks, each offering unique features, for the community," said Gossett. "With the completion of the Cascadian Way sidewalk/walkway last year it is possible for families to safely walk between McCollum Park, Martha Lake Park, and the new Martha Lake Airfield Park."

The three parks, built or redeveloped over the last twenty years, offer both common and unique features. All the parks have opportunities to picnic or walk and two have ballfields. But each also has unique features that together provide great recreation opportunities for the community. Martha Lake Park has swimming, fishing, and boating. McCollum Park has the county's only BMX track and the Northwest Stream Center. And the new Martha Lake Airfield Park has the county's only skate park.

"Opening this park is the result of the hard work of a lot of people," said Gossett. "Former Councilmember Barbara Cothern especially deserves our thanks for spearheading the original decision to purchase the property."

The address for those who want to attend the opening celebration is 200 146^th St W, Lynnwood.

Honoring the Accomplishments of the Living Evergreen Essay Contest Winners

Council Passes Joint Resolution Honoring the "Living Green" Essay Contest Winners

In late 2010 Snohomish County partnered with Allied Waste Services for an essay contest as part of the Evergreen State Fair. The objective was to ask tomorrow's leaders how they will tackle pressing issues regarding the preservation and conservation of our environment through individual initiative and technology.

"The contest was open to all Washington State students entering grades seven through 12 in the fall of 2010," said Councilmember Dave Gossett. "I'm very proud that so many of the winners came from Snohomish County."

Judges selected first-, second- and third-place essays from students in grades seven through nine and ten through twelve. Students were challenged to answer one of the following questions:

· What steps can you take in your everyday life to enhance and maintain the environment and improve sustainability?

· What current technology and green-living practices do you and your family use today that helps improve the environment and what impacts do you think this makes on the environment?

· What future technical advancements can you imagine for solving current environmental and sustainability challenges?

Submissions were judged on creativity, a vision for the future, and demonstrated passion for the environment. Entries were reviewed by a panel including: Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon; Neal Pattison, executive editor of the Daily Herald; Jennifer Langston, editor of the Sightline Daily; and Joe Casalini, development director for Allied Waste Northwest.

WINNERS

Middle school winners:

First Place - Tannim Salisbury, Twin Falls Middle School, North Bend

Second Place - Laurel Kroschel, Mount Si High School, North Bend

Third Place - Katie Snook, Centennial Middle School, Snohomish Honorable Mention - Carmen Abbe, Roosevelt High School, Seattle

High school winners:

First Place - McKenzie Baker, Stanwood High School, Camano Island

Second Place - Keely Cummings, Mariner High School, Everett

Third Place - Sara Rood, Granite Falls High School, Granite Falls

In addition to winning savings bonds ($200 1^st place, $100 2^nd place, and $50 3^rd place) and passes to the Evergreen State Fair, the first place winners were invited to read their essays to the County Council and County Executive.

"It was really inspiring to have several of the winners at our council meeting last Monday and hear two of the essays read," said Councilmember Gossett. "It's important to encourage young people to express their ideas and opinions."

Following the reading of the essays the Council passed a joint resolution with the Executive commending the students for their vision and efforts.

"Snohomish County has long been known as an innovative leader in protecting the environment," said Gossett. "By working together with the private sector and young people we can create an environment for greener living, environmentally sound economic policies, and a sustainable future."

I hope you found this eNEWSLETTER informative and useful. You can make it even more valuable by suggesting topics and issues for future newsletters. Please contact me at 425-388-3494, or e-mail Dave.Gossett@snoco.org. If you would like to share this newsletter, select the Forward email link below.

Sincerely,

Dave Gossett
Snohomish County Council