Starbucks boosts King County Parks' trails through grant for informational kiosks

2005 Archived News

As part of a $1 million commitment in 2005 to improve local parks in the Puget Sound region, Starbucks Coffee Company chairman Howard Schultz this week announced a grant of $250,000 to support King County Parks' regional trail system - the largest single-year corporate investment King County Parks has received, and the largest donation the Starbucks Parks Fund has made.

The gift is part of a larger $1 million commitment made by Starbucks to improve local parks in the Puget Sound region through the Starbucks Neighborhood Parks Program.

"Surveys show again and again that trails for hiking, biking and walking are a high priority for King County citizens and that trail usage continues to increase,"said County Executive Ron Sims. "Through the support of this generous gift from Starbucks, we are able to increase dedicated resources toward improving and maintaining these vital connectors that knit our park systems and communities together."

The Starbucks grant will go toward the installation of informational kiosks at trail gateways and trailheads. Gateways are intended to provide a starting point into the system but are also positioned to allow trail users to more quickly access local points of interest and scenic corridors. In addition to the kiosk project this gift will also offset dollars to support trail maintenance and operations.

King County Parks will work with Starbucks in the coming months to highlight 17 of the best spots along our trail system to hike, bike or walk - all within a short distance from Seattle. Trail kiosks will include maps and information about amenities, wildlife and additional recreational opportunities available to King County trail users. King County's regional parks system includes more than 25,000 acres of parks and open space and more than 170 miles of regional trails.

Sims said the county's partnership with Starbucks is a perfect example of the county's business plan for parks, which encourages developing new funding sources and new ways to provide amenities throughout the parks system. King County Parks will generate $4.7 million in business revenues this year, with approximately $1.2 million of that amount coming from partnerships and initiatives such as the Starbucks partnership.

Hiking is one of America's fastest growing recreational activities, and the USDA Forest Service predicts an 80 percent increase in backpacking and hiking in our area over the next 50 years. King County's hiking trails are close to the city and have more use now than ever before.

"King County has made some very important investments in our parks, and the Starbucks grant will give local residents the information they need to enjoy them,"said Elizabeth Lunney, Executive Director of Washington Trails Association. Groups like ours have worked hard to build new trails for people to enjoy, and we are pleased to see Starbucks contribute through such a generous commitment."

Sims' recently proposed 2006 King County budget calls for more than $8.7 million in funding to expand and link regional trails in the county. Proposed projects include:

• $790,000 to finish the East Lake Sammamish Trail Master Plan. Construction on the final link of this trail is under way and the Master Plan will clear the way so it can be paved for bicyclists and skaters.
• $1 million to help Auburn develop a two-mile segment of the Green River Trail from Kent to Auburn's Braninan Park.
• $106,000 for linking the popular Soos Creek and Lake Young trails.
• $110,000 in matching money to help the City of Issaquah design and construct a link from the East Lake Sammamish Trail to the Sunset Interchange along I-90.
  

More people are using the King County regional trail system both on weekends and during the week, according to the latest regional trail survey on the Burke-Gilman and Sammamish River trails. The 2005 survey was conducted in May by the King County Parks and Recreation Division and the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, with assistance from the Cascade Bicycle Club.

"There is a growing consensus on the economic benefits of trails, benefit to property values, health benefits and traffic congestion benefits,"said Jessyn Schor, Executive Director of Transportation Choices. "Communities where people have opportunities for recreation tend to be healthier. This collaboration is so exciting because it demonstrates Starbucks and King County's commitment to our health and our quality of life."

More information on King County's trail system and this project is available on the King County Parks Web site at www.metrokc.gov/parks.

King County trails graphics & photos can be downloaded at http://www.flickr.com/photos/14946162@N00/

For information about the Starbucks parks grant program visit, http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=629. (external link)