King County adds rope course to Cottage Lake Park through innovative partnership with YMCA

Visitors to King County's Cottage Lake Park will soon be able to "learn the ropes" of a new team-building challenge course, courtesy of an innovative partnership forged between King County Parks and the YMCA.

The "Odyssey III Challenge Course" is a new regional community asset developed by King County Parks and the YMCA through Parks' Community Partnerships and Grant Program (CPG).

Rising 42 feet above the ground and stretching more than 300 feet in length, the new structure offers team-building exercise opportunities for community members, summer day camp-goers, and participants in corporate and non-profit events.

The Odyssey Course III offers both a low course that's built close to the ground, and a high course that is suspended high overhead. Groups must work together in order to successfully navigate the course, which includes intricately connected ropes, poles and other components.

The YMCA received a $92,500 capital improvement grant from King County to create the challenge course at Cottage Lake Park. The YMCA will pay for the course's operation and maintenance.

"This is a perfect example of how King County Parks works to convert the community's passion and resources into great new park facilities," said King County Parks Director Kevin Brown. "Through our partnership with the YMCA, we can provide this amenity to the public at no additional costs to the park system."

"The YMCA's focus on building communities and encouraging healthy activity is exactly what the CPG Program plan is all about," said T.J. Davis, CPG project manager for King County Parks.

"The YMCA is honored to partner with King County Parks to provide a new and innovative way for community members to become more active," shared Northshore YMCA Program Executive Craig Wiley. "It will take all of us working together to turn the tide on rising rates of inactivity and obesity."

Wiley said the challenge course will be a major new component of the YMCA's summer day camp programs beginning next year. Corporations, non-profit groups and other organizations will be able to reserve time on the course, which will be operated by specially trained YMCA instructors.

More information about the YMCA day camp is available by contacting Wiley at cwiley@seattleymca.org, or 425-485-9797. For more information about the challenge course program, e-mail odyssey@seattleymca.org.

King County Parks - Your Big Backyard - offers more than 25,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails, plus pools and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. Learn more at http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/.

Founded in 1876, the YMCA of Greater Seattle is the oldest human service organization in Washington State and a leader in providing innovative programs for more than 103,000 children and teens per year. The YMCA partners with organizations that share its vision of building strong kids, strong families and strong communities. More information may be found at www.seattleymca.org.