PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA - Milton, WashingtonChair Whalen read through each goal and policy, allowing for discussion wherever the Planning Commission had questions or comments. Clarifying

The City of Milton Planning commission creates land use policies incorporating the voice of the citizens and makes recommendations to the City Council to establish and maintain a framework of standards in

order to preserve the integrity and quality of the community.

If you need ADA accommodations, please contact City Hall at 253-517-2705 prior to the meeting. Thank you.

PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA

June 25th

Wednesday, 6:00 P.M. 1000 Laurel Street , 2014 Council Chambers

1. Call to Order, Flag Salute 2. Roll Call

3. Citizen Comment Period

4. Additions and/or Deletions to the Agenda

5. Approval of Minutes (May 28th

6. Discussion Items

, 2014)

a. Continued DRAFT Land Use Element

b. DRAFT Parks Element

7. Planning Commissioner Comments 8. Citizen Comment Period 9. Adjournment

2015 Comprehensive Plan Update Schedule* (Subject to change as process evolves)

2014

Land Use Element • Discussion & Analysis • DRAFT Element

w/Policies

May 28th Comments at beginning and end of meeting

Land Use Element (cont) Parks Element

• Discussion & Analysis • DRAFT Element

w/Policies

June 25th Comments at beginning and end of meeting (6pm start time)

Transportation Element • Analysis & Discussion • DRAFT Policies

July 23rd Comments at beginning and end of meeting

Open House Meeting Mid-LateSummer (date TBD) Transportation Element

• DRAFT Element • DRAFT Policies

August 27th Comments at beginning and end of meeting

Capital Facilities Element • Analysis & Discussion • DRAFT Policies

September 24th Comments at beginning and end of meeting

Capital Facilities Element • DRAFT Element • DRAFT Policies

October 22nd Comments at beginning and end of meeting

To be used as needed for additional review

November 26th Comments at beginning of meeting.

December 24th Tentatively Canceled 2015

Begin SEPA review January 2nd Final Review by Planning Commission

January 28th Comments at beginning and end of meeting

Planning Commission Recommendation

February 27th Public is welcome to comment on SEPA determination

Send to Commerce/PSRC for certification

April 4 th

Public Hearing/Adoption@ City Council

June 17th Public Hearing

X:\Community Development\Planning Commission\Planning Commission Packets\2014\June\05-28-14 PC Minutes.doc

PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES May 28, 2013 Council Chambers Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. 1000 Laurel Street 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Whalen called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm;

the flag salute was conducted. 2. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Reeves, McMillan, Boyle,

and Anderson Absent: Commissioner Larson

STAFF Associate Planner Larson, City Clerk Bolam

3. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD None. 4. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS Commissioner Reeves said her term is expiring and she requests to be reappointed. Planner Larson said he will bring it to the Mayor for addition to a June Council meeting. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a. 4/23/14 COMMISSIONER REEVES MOVED, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to approve the minutes of 4/23/14. Passed 5/0. 6. DISCUSSION ITEMS

a. DRAFT Land Use Element Planner Larson introduced Deborah Munkberg and Casey Bradfield, consultants on the Comprehensive Plan update. He explained the packet item in general and the attachments.

X:\Community Development\Planning Commission\Planning Commission Packets\2014\June\05-28-14 PC Minutes.doc

Chair Whalen confirmed that this meeting’s discussion will concentrate on only pages 59-66, as pages 67-70, land use sub-element, has already been forwarded to Council. Chair Whalen requested that there be a consistent designation throughout the document to distinguish the districts (Uptown, Milltown, etc) from zoning areas, perhaps through the use of italics for the districts. Chair Whalen read through each goal and policy, allowing for discussion wherever the Planning Commission had questions or comments. Clarifying questions and discussion ensued. Completed through the Business/Light Manufacturing Goals. At the next meeting, discussion will resume with the Open Space Goals. Planning Commissioners expressed their agreement for the current method of reviewing the document. Even though it is a slow process, they said it is an important one and is deserving of the extra time it is taking. The next meeting may be an additional meeting before the next regularly scheduled meeting, or the next regularly scheduled meeting may start an hour early. Planner Larson will confirm. 7. PLANNING COMMISSIONER COMMENTS None. 8. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD None. 9. ADJOURNMENT – Chair Whalen adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m. Chair, Jacquelyn Whalen Date City Clerk, Katie Bolam Date

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STAFF REPORT

6a

To: City of Milton Planning Commission

From: Chris Larson, Associate Planner

Date: June 25th, 2014

Re:

ATTACHMENTS:

DRAFT Land Use Element (continued)

TYPE OF ACTION: Information Only X Discussion Action Expenditure Required: Issue: Continued review the City’s DRAFT Land Use Element. Background: In an effort to save a few trees, the Land Use Element was not reproduced in this month’s packet. Please bring your May Packet, which contains the land use element. If you no longer have the May packet, please contact Katie Bolam (253-517-2705 or [email protected]) or Chris Larson (253-517-2715 or [email protected]), and this information can be provided to you.

mailto:[email protected]�

mailto:[email protected]�

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STAFF REPORT

6b

To: City of Milton Planning Commission From: Chris Larson, Associate Planner Date: June 25th, 2014 Re:

ATTACHMENTS: 1 – DRAFT Parks Element

DRAFT Parks Recreation and Open Space Element

2 – DRAFT Parks Goals and Policies (track changes) 3 – DRAFT Parks Goals and Policies (clean version) 4 – Current Parks Trails and Open Space Element 5 – Survey input regarding Parks TYPE OF ACTION: Information Only X Discussion Action Expenditure Required:

Issue: Review the DRAFT Parks Recreation and Open Space Element.

Background: The City of Milton is required to update its comprehensive plan by June 2015. A Parks, Recreation and Open Space element is required under the State Growth Management Act. RCW 36.70A.070(8) and WAC 365-196-410 identify the requirements of a Housing Element. Specifically a Housing Element needs to contain the following:

• Estimates of park and recreation demand for at least a ten-year period; • An evaluation of facilities and service needs; and • An evaluation of intergovernmental coordination opportunities to provide regional approaches for meeting park

and recreational demand.

Discussion: The current Parks Trails and Open Space Element in the City’s Comprehensive Plan (Parks Element) is a verbatim copy of the adopted Comprehensive Park, Open Space and Trail Plan (Parks Comp Plan) which Council adopted in 2000. Essentially, the Parks Comp Plan was turned into the Parks Element, of the City’s Comp Plan, and has not been updated or amended since 2000. The Parks Comp Plan discusses a lot of work that has already been completed including acquisition, annexation and development of the Interurban Trail, acquisition, funding and development of the skate park and other various improvements throughout the City. The Parks Element is being updated to reflect the projects and improvements, considered in previous plans, which have since been completed. The Parks Comp Plan is not being abandoned. However, the Parks Comp Plan is not being updated as part of the City’s 2015 overall Comprehensive Plan Update. A new policy has been added that recommends the City maintain an updated Parks Comp Plan consistent with the Parks Element. The Goals and Policies have all been retained, albeit slightly rearranged. Attachment 3 is a clean copy of the rearranged goals and policies; new policies are underlined in red.

Recommendation(s): Review the DRAFT Parks Element and, provide staff with any comments, concerns and/or requested changes or modifications. Questions to consider: Are the issues in section 2 properly identified? Do the goals and policies in section 4 adequately address the issues?

If not, what would you add, change, or remove? Are there any parks that should be added to our inventory? Are there any parks improvements or projects that should be further discussed?

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Element 0X – Parks, Recreation and Open Space

Introduction Table of Contents

Major Issues, Concerns, and Citizen Input Utilities Goals & Policies Analysis Background and Inventory Service Standards Needs Assessment

Table 1 – Inventory of local and regional parks List of Tables:

Table 2 – Recommended Level of Service Standards Table 3 – Current Level of Service & Needs Assessment

Map PRO 1 – Parks, Trails and Open Space List of Figures:

1. Introduction

This element covers issues related to Parks, Trails, and Opens Space including an evaluation of existing facilities, future demand on existing facilities, the need for new facilities, and an evaluation of regional parks and open space opportunities. A Parks and Recreation Elemtent is a required element under the State GMA. Specifically RCW 36.70A.070(8) requires:

“A park and recreation element that implements, and is consistent with, the capital facilities plan element as it relates to park and recreation facilities. The element shall include: (a) Estimates of park and recreation demand for at least a ten-year period; (b) an evaluation of facilities and service needs; and (c) an evaluation of intergovernmental coordination opportunities to provide regional approaches for meeting park and recreational demand.”

The parks and open spaces within the City provide areas for recreational and physical activity such as youth sports, walking, bicycling, picnics, play areas, and other outdoor activities. The space provided by these areas, along with various programs offered by the City, Fife School District and local and regional sports associations, help to promote healthy activities and opportunities for exercise. The City of Milton created a Parks Board in 1956. The Parks Board is an appointed body responsible for park, open space, and trail planning. The Board reviews community needs for park and recreation facilities, and makes recommendations for improvements and changes. Citizen input is taken at the Board’s regularly scheduled meetings. The Parks Board was responsible for the acquisition, conversion and development of the Interurban Trail, and the Skate Parks, and has worked on the creation of a Triangle Park Master Plan, and the adoption of the 2000 Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan. Part of the 2000 Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan includes a Park Vision, which is incorporated into this Parks, Recreation and Open Space Element.

PARKS VISION

Foster and support the stewardship of human and natural resources throughout our community, in the form of parks, trails, and open spaces, to serve the needs for residents of Milton.

2. Major Issues, Concerns, and Citizen Input

In creating the future plans and policies identified in this element the following list of issues and projects were identified through a visioning process, online surveys, public participation events, and public meetings;

• How can the City increase accessibility to parks?

• What is the proper balance between creating new parks, and maintaining or expanding existing parks?

• The parks need to be maintained as a family friendly atmosphere.

• Triangle Park is the centerpiece of the City’s Parks, how should it be maintained and

enhanced?

• How can the City encourage the development of the Interurban Trail as a regional recreational facility?

• Where is the most appropriate place to acquire new park property?

• At what level of service should the City provide parks, recreation and open space

opportunities? The City’s adopted Comprehensive Park, Open Space and Trail Plan identify a number of projects. Those projects, or potential projects that have not been complete since the adoption of the Comprehensive Park, Open Space and Trail Plan, along with new projects based on City input are identified below.

• Interurban Trail completion

• Hylebos Creek nature preserve and trail

• Acquisition of Surprise Lake frontage and access

• Expansion of and improvements to Triangle park

• Mini-amphitheater in Triangle Park

• Youth recreation center

• Performing arts center

• Pea patch and agricultural interpretive center

• Gateway improvements along Meridian and Milton Way

3. Utilities Goals & Policies

See attachments 2 and 3 to the staff report.

4. Analysis

Background and Inventory As a method for classifying park, open space, and trail facilities within the City and its urban growth area, the City employs the Recreation, Park and Open Space Standards and Guidelines established in 1983 by the National Recreation and Park Association. The following are the categorization of facilities used by the City of Milton.

• Neighborhood Parks – generally no more than 5 acres in size, depending on a variety of factors including need, location and opportunity. These active-use parks are intended to serve residential areas within a ½-mile radius, and typically include amenities such as pedestrian paths and trails, picnic tables, play fields, equipment and sports courts, landscaping and irrigation. The Hilltower and West Milton Parks are good examples of a Neighborhood Park.

• Community Parks – generally 10-50 acres designed for organized activities and sports. These active-use parks may include athletic complexes, skate parks, wildlife-observation areas, picnic shelters, restrooms, trails, landscaping, irrigation and parking areas. Triangle Park is a good example of a Community Park.

• Natural Areas and Greenspace Corridors – much variety exists for parks of this nature. Intended to provide visual and psychological relief from man-made development, provisions are made for passive recreation, such as walking trails, benches and environmental interpretive panels. This includes the various nature preserves in Milton as well as the large flood plain areas associated with the Hylebos Creek.

• Trails – may be developed in conjunction with other park types or independently. A trail may be a stand-alone feature, or it may serve to connect two or more destinations. Classifications include: o Regional Trail - Paved, shared-use, long-distance linear trail corridors for the

exclusive use of pedestrians, bicycles and other approved trail users. Regional trails are typically 12’-14’ wide with a 2’ wide gravel shoulder on both sides. The Interurban Trail is an example of a regional trail.

o Community Trail - Paved, shared-use trails typically found within community parks or linking park facilities. Community trails are typically 8’-10’ wide. The path through Triangle Park is a good example of a community trail.

o Rustic Trail - Earthen or soft-surface trails with limited horizontal clearances and challenging grades and obstacles. Providing accessibility and regular facility maintenance are issues typical of this type of trail, since they vary in width and

surfacing. There are various unmapped and unmaintained trails connecting to the Interurban Trail; these are examples of Rustic Trails.

o Bike Routes and Sidewalks - Typically associated with the transportation system, these linear paths are heavily used within urban areas and should be included in trail planning efforts in coordination with the Public Works Department.

• Special Facilities – include single-purpose recreational centers. Included in this type

are golf courses, display gardens, pools, museums, historical landmarks and public plazas. The size, location and programming of these facilities are dependent upon community demand. The Skate Park is an example of a Special Facility.

The City of Milton’s park and open space resources include: the Fife School District Complex, Hill Tower Park, Interurban Trail, Milton Community Center, Milton Activity Center, Olympic View Park, West Milton Nature Preserve, Triangle Park, the Skate Park and West Milton Park. Existing and future parks, trails and other community recreational facilities are shown on Map PRO-1. Five Mile Lake Park in the City of Federal Way and Edgemont Park in the City of Edgewood, are also located in close proximity to Milton residents. The following narratives describe existing park and open space amenities for each facility.

Discovery Primary, Endeavor Intermediate and Surprise Lake Middle, form a joint primary/middle school complex that was first constructed in 1951 on a 32-acre site immediately south of Milton Way. These are the only Fife School District facilities within the Milton city limits, and the only school facilities included in Milton’s parks inventory. Access to the schools is by way of 19th Avenue or Oak St. Parking for the school’s recreational facilities are located onsite.

Fife School District Complex

Both Discovery Primary and Endeavor Intermediate Schools have their own large playground area with children play equipment. Both of these schools also have a large play field which contains baseball backstops and can accommodate soccer fields. Surprise Lake Middle School maintains a large baseball field which is used for little league baseball and by the school’s baseball team. The middle school also has a newly renovated turf field with a rubber composite running track which is heavily used by local sporting leagues and the School District. This field is lighted and provides the ability for local sports leagues, and citizens to utilize the track and field during evening hours. Use of the facilities is scheduled through the Fife School District. During the summer months, the Fife School District administers a youth program offering educational and recreational activities.

After the school day, on weekends, and during the summer, various clubs and organizations make use of the school’s recreational facilities. The Fife-Milton-Edgewood Soccer League uses the school facilities between the months of October and February. The Fife-Milton Youth Football League uses the school facilities between the months of July and November. Hill Tower ParkHill Tower Parks is a two-acre neighborhood park located at approximately 700 19th Avenue. The park gets its name from the City of Milton’s water tower that is situated immediately adjacent to the site. This park also contains a pump house associated with the City Water System and is a good example of joint use of parks and utilities. Hill Tower Park has 12 parking spaces, one of which is designated handicapped and the park also contains accessible portable restroom facilities. A paved area for basketball and other court sports exists within the park, as well as children’s play equipment and sledding opportunities in the winter.

The Interurban Trail is a notable scenic route that originates in King County, meanders through the City of Milton, and continues through Pierce County. The right-of-way property is 100 feet wide and includes significant stands of coniferous trees and several areas of distinctive natural features. Long range planning efforts by the Park Board, Planning Commission, and City Council have resulted in the acquisition and development of the Interurban Trail. The City’s intended use of the Interurban Trail is to provide significant active recreational opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists as well as passive recreational activities with interpretive viewpoints and picnic areas. The trail section through Milton and the UGA is 3.4 miles.

The Interurban Trail

Continued development of the Interurban Trail will provide a valuable community asset not only for the residents of the City of Milton, but also the surrounding region. “Rail to trail” conversion projects, such as the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle, the Interurban Trail in the Kent Valley and the Foothills Trail that runs south of Sumner through Orting, are well-used resources that contribute much to the quality of life in the cities where they are located. The City of Fife recently installed a parking lot and trail head at the far west end of Milton’s portion of the Interurban Trail. The City of Milton is continuing to pursue funding for the continued development of the undeveloped portion of the Interurban Trail right-of-way. The trail is planned to extend east through the City of Edgewood to continue to connect to the Pacific- Sumner Trail System. This connection will provide future connection to three other major regional trails: the Foothills Trail, the Puyallup River Trail, and the White River Trail.

Milton recently acquired 4.5 acres for open space where the Hylebos Creek intersects 5th

Avenue. The City restored and enhanced the property in order to protect the habitat and

West Milton Nature Preserve

ecological value provided by this area. The West Milton Nature Preserve is largely undeveloped and inaccessible. Together, these parcels will be a valuable nature reserve and an asset to the City and its citizens and visitors.

Milton Community Center

The Milton Community Center is a 1,900 square-foot structure situated on a site of approximately 16,000 square-feet located immediately east of Triangle Park and south of Milton Way on the east side of 15th Avenue. The facility was constructed in 1999 at a cost of approximately $125,000. The City of Milton reserves the facility for club, organization, and non-profit group meetings and events. Private parties and other events are planned to allow the facility to generate a revenue stream to fund other park and open space activities.

The Milton Activity Center is a 2,250 square- foot facility constructed in 1984 and located within the Milton City Hall complex. The Activity Center is part of the structure that houses the Milton Police Department. Parking facilities are shared with the City Hall complex.

Milton Activity Center

The Activity Center contains a large room that is commonly used for dancing, aerobics, kickboxing, yoga, and other indoor recreational activities. The facility also includes kitchen facilities, two offices, and an adjacent room where meetings occur. The Activity Center is reserved at City Hall for senior, adult, and youth groups. The activity center may also be rented out for private use.

Olympic View Park is a half-acre mini-park located at 30 Hylebos Avenue in the King County portion of the City. Milton acquired Olympic View Park in 1998. During 2000, the City expended $25,000 for the installation of children’s playground equipment and restroom facilities.

Olympic View Park

Triangle Park is a 10-acre community park bounded to the north by Milton Way, the east by 15th Avenue, the south by Oak Street, and the west by private property. The site slopes down, from east to west, and is wooded in the middle portion of the park. The park is served by two paved parking facilities. One parking facility, situated along 15th Avenue, can accommodate 15 automobiles. Another parking facility, situated along Oak Street, can accommodate 10 automobiles. Permanent restroom facilities exist but have not yet been made handicap accessible.

Triangle Park

In the eastern portion of the park contains three (3) tee-ball/softball fields, picnic areas, and a

lighted tennis and field hockey court. Kemper Playground is located in the western portion of the park and has a large children’s playground facility. The park hosts the City of Milton’s annual summer picnic as well as various other annual community events. The Parks Board has recently completed the Triangle Park Comprehensive Plan, which identifies future improvements and additions to existing facilities.

The Skate Park is a 1.3 acre site located at the intersection of Milton Way and 23Skate Park

rd

. The Parks Board along with volunteer nonprofit organizations acquired the property and funding to construct the skate park in 2003. The skate park contains a 7,000 sq. ft. U-shaped, 9ft deep bowl, and a 3,000 square foot street course with ledges, banks, stairs, rails, manual pad and even a taco. The park also contains parking off street parking spots, picnic benches and a children’s play area.

West Milton Park is a three-acre neighborhood park located at the northeast intersection of Porter Way and Kent Street. The park is situated immediately west of the City of Milton’s maintenance facilities thereby representing another good example of joint use of public facilities.

West Milton Park

West Milton Park was developed in 1992 for recreation use. It is currently improved with a baseball backstop, bleachers, and outdoor lighting for evening sporting events. Recently a second baseball field was added to the northwest portion of the park. The park facilities are reserved for use at City Hall. The ball fields are routinely used by various youth and adult sports associations during most seasons of the year. Table 1 below shows the current parks and open spaces in the City, their park type and characteristics.

Table 1 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Inventory

Facilities Within the City Park Facility Area Improvements Park Type

Olympic View Park 0.5 acres Picnic Grounds, Children’s Play Area Mini-Park

Hill Tower Park 2 acres Basketball Court, Children’s

Neighborhood Park

West Milton Park 3 acres Baseball/Softball Field Neighborhood Park

Triangle Park 10 acres Ball Field, Picnic Grounds, Tennis Courts, Children’s Play Area

Community Park

Discovery/Endeavor/Surprise Lake Schools 14 acres

Jogging Track, Baseball Field, 2 Play Fields, Basketball

Community Park

Interurban Trail About 30 acres*

Walking & cycling path, Picnic grounds, Scenic Viewing, Open Space, Education

Special Use Facility

West Milton Nature Preserve 2.5* acres Open Space/Education Open Space Special

Use

Milton Community Building .36 acres Kitchen and Meeting Rooms Special Use Facility

Milton Activity Center 2,350 sq. ft.

Kitchen, Meeting and Indoor


Skate Park 1.3 acres Children’s Play Area, Concrete skate park

Mini Park and Special Use Facility

Regional Facilities

Edgemont Park (City of Edgewood) 3acres

Children’s Play Equipment, Basketball Courts, picnic area

Neighborhood Park

Five Mile Lake Park (King County)

20acres Swimming, Tennis Courts, Basketball Courts,

Community Park

Fife Community Pool N/A Swimming Special Use Facility

The City of Milton has excluded Mini-parks from the level of service standard. Given the large-lot, single family composition of most of Milton’s neighborhoods, mini-parks are not viewed as a particularly critical element of the City’s parks strategy. Therefore, the City has opted not to adopt a separate level of service standard for mini-parks or to include their recommended park area in the aggregate level of service standard. Where mini-parks have their highest value, in large-scale, higher-density multi-family development, the City can require the inclusion of small- scale recreational facilities to serve those residents in proposed developments. Included in the city’s inventory of existing recreational opportunities are several facilities that are located outside of the city. These include Five Mile Lake Park in unincorporated King County, Edgemont Park in the City of Edgewood, and Fife Community Pool in the City of Fife. While these facilities are used by Milton residents and provide additional recreational opportunities, they are not financed by or a result of partnerships with the city. Therefore, they are not included in park lands that are used to satisfy Milton’s level of service standard.

Recommended Level Service Standards Service standards for parks are commonly used to evaluate whether the existing supply of recreational land is adequate to meet the demands of the current and future residents of Milton. One option for determining park needs is to base the future requirements on current levels of service, or, acres of existing parks per resident. Another option is to recommended service standards for each particular type of park. Standards recommended by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) are shown in Table 2, below.

Needs Assessment The City has determined that the appropriate level of service is 5.3 acres of developed land per thousand residents for a combination of neighborhood and community parks. This level of service standard approximates the ratio of residents to acres of park land in the year 2000. The standard is regarded as a minimum service level and benchmark to ensure that current residents do not see their recreational opportunities eroded by growth in the City. Further, adopting this as policy provides the City with a nexus for requiring new development to contribute to maintaining this level of service. Table 3 below shows the City’s amount of community and neighborhood parks. This is converted into acres of park, per 1,000 in population, for comparison to the adopted and projected future Level of Service standards.

Table 3 Level Of Service (LOS)* Park Type Current

Acres 2015 LOS

Adopted LOS

2035 Projected LOS***

2035 Projected deficit (in acres)****

Neighborhood Park

5 .69 1-2 .84 .94 - 6.87 acres

Community Park

24 3.34 5-8 4.04 9.85 – 27.35 acres

Table 2 Parks Level of Service

Standards

Park Type Recommended Service Standard Area per population Radius of service area Mini-park Approximately 0.3 acres per 1,000

¼ mile

Neighborhood Park 1-2 acres per 1,000 population ¼ to ½ mile Community Park 5-8 acres per 1,000 population 1 to 2 miles Special Use Park No applicable standard No applicable standard

Combined Neighborhood & Community Park

29 4.04 5.3 4.89 2.4 acres

Special Use Park**

32 4.87 N/A 5.39 N/A

*Level of Service (LOS) = acres of park per 1,000 residents ** Includes property dedicated to the Interurban Trail. *** Based on 2035 PRSC Population of 5,933 identified in the Land Use Element. **** Based on current park inventory, adopted level of service, and projected 2035

population. As shown above, the City of Milton currently has a deficit of approximately 9 acres of combined neighborhood/community park space, compared to the adopted LOS standard of 5.3 acres per 1,000 residents. Over the next 20 years, the City’s population is expected to decrease, according to the Puget Sound Regional Council and the adopted population and housing targets identified in the Land Use Element. As the City’s population decreases, the City will get closer to meeting the adopted LOS standard. As mentioned in the Goals and Policies, the City is striving to provide 7.4 acres of combined neighborhood/community park space per 1,000 residents. In order to achieve this level of service, the City will need to acquire additional park space, or require it of new development.

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GOAL PTO 1.1 - Environment and Design 3. Parks, Recreation and Open Space Goals & Policies

Milton’s Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces Element shall be used to ensure that

development of parks is balanced with environmental protection. The City shall promote and protect environmental quality, open space and wildlife habitat, and multi- use recreational opportunities.

Goal PTO 1.2 PRO -1 The City should provide a comprehensive system of parks and

open spaces that respond to the, current and future recreational, cultural, environmental, and aesthetic needs and desires of the City’s residents. The City’s parks and open spaces should strive to balance environmental protection, open space, wildlife habitat, and multi- use recreational opportunities.

Pol. PRO 1.1 Due to its central location, Triangle Park should continue to be developed as a key

community facility in the city’s park and recreational planning efforts. Pol. PRO 1.2 Parks and Open Spaces should be complementary of, and enhance the natural

environment of their surroundings. Special consideration should be given to protecting the Hyblebos Creek and it associated wetland and floodplain through development, acquisition and maintenance of parks and open spaces.

Pol. PTO 1.32 Utilize citizen involvement and participation including the Fife School District,

businesses, developers, user groups such as youth sports leagues, and neighborhood groups in planning for and developing, operating, and maintaining Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces.

Pol. PTO 1.4 The City should strive to maintain a combined level of service of 5.3 acres of

developed neighborhood and community parkland per 1,000 residents. The City should endeavor to raise the actual level of service to 7.4 acres per 1,000 residents. Additionally, the City shall strive to make a neighborhood park accessible within one-half mile of all residences in Milton, and a community park accessible within 1.5 miles of all residences in Milton.

Goal PTO 1.3 PRO -2 The City should recognize the important recreational, health and transportation roles played by bicycle, walking and non-motorized trail systems, and support efforts toto the continued develop of the Interurban right-of-way through the City as part of a regional trail system.Trail as a benefit to the Citizens of Milton and as apart of a regional trail system.

GOAL PTO 1.4

Formatted: Font: Bold

Formatted: Font: Not Bold




Pol. PRO 2.1 The City should support the development of new paths, sidewalks and marked roadways that link the Interurban trail with the City’s other resources such as the schools, other parks, sidewalks and the commercial areadistricts.

Pol. PRO 2.2 New connections to the interurban trail should be encourage where existing

right-of-way abuts the trail. Pol. PRO 4.72.3 The City shall pursue state funding of the conversioncontinued development of

the Interurban right-of- wayTrail to a recreational trail through grant programs sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources and the Interagency Committee on Outdoor Recreation.

Pol. PRO 4.92.4 The City shall promote the Interurban Trail as a regional recreation resource

during regional planning exercises occurring with King and Pierce counties and nearby cities. This is intended to ensure that the Interurban Trail is recognized and improvements are funded accordingly. The City shall work with the Washington State Department of Transportation to provide pedestrian-friendly above- or below-grade crossings where the Interurban Trail intersects with heavily traveled roadways such as I-5, S.R. 161 and Military Road.

Pol. PRO 1 2.5 Provide access and education about Milton’s history and natural environment

and history through the Interurban Trail. Pol. PTO 1.2 Maintain wildlife corridors to provide adequate linkage for animal movement.

Pol. PTO 1.3 Enhance wildlife habitat areas through the development of parks, trails, open spaces, and stream restoration. Pol. PTO 1.4 Bring visual relief and tranquility to mitigate the impacts of urban environment, including noise, traffic, concrete, and congestion through the use of street trees, landscaped medians, gardens, lawns, woods, and water through Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces. Pol. PTO 1.5 Promote the retention and replication of the areas natural beauty and ecology in City parks, trails, and open spaces. Pol. PTO 1.6 In recognition of the important open space and environmental values related to the wetland areas associated with Hylebos Creek, the City shall investigate and pursue appropriate public grants and private methods of financing the acquisition of these areas. Pol. PTO 1.7 The City shall encourage the location of bicycle racks at appropriate destination points, such as outside of commercial businesses, the City Hall, parks, schools, and transit facilities. Pol. PTO 1.8 The City shall provide and promote the development of pedestrian and bicycle paths to schools, parks, transit and activity centers, as well as linkages between these paths.

Pol. PTO 1.9 The City shall encourage the continued use of private open space areas that exist within the City and PAA/UGA.

Pol. PTO 1.10 The City shall establish a minimum figure for active recreation space within all residential projects. Required recreation spaces shall have a minimum contiguous area to avoid having “left-over” areas from a project design being combined to form the active recreation space.

Goal PROOAL PTO 2 3 – Accessibility Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces, as well as recreational programs, shall be accessible to

as many user groups as possible. Pol. PRO 23.1 Ensure Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces have a strong orientation

towards providing for future generations by providing facilities for young people. Pol. PRO 23.2 Plan Milton’s park, trail, and open space needs through population projections

to determine needs and location for future facilities. Pol. PRO 23.3 Plan Milton’s recreational programs through population projections to analyze

needs and service offerings to respond to those needs. Pol. PRO 23.4 Give special consideration to people with limited financial resources, youth at

risk, the elderly, the disabled, and others with special needs during park, trail, and open space planning.

Pol. PRO 3.23.5. Offer a wide variety of parks and recreation programs to meet the community’s

diverse needs. Pol. PTO 2.5 Due to its central location, Triangle Park should continue to be developed as a key

community facility in the city’s park and recreational planning efforts. Pol. PTO 2.6 As a level of service standard, the City shall maintain a combined 5.3 acres of developed neighborhood and community park land per 1,000 residents. The City should endeavor to raise the actual level of service to 7.4 acres per 1,000 residents. Additionally, the City shall strive to make a neighborhood park accessible within one-half mile of all residences in Milton, and a community park accessible within 1.5 miles of all residences in Milton.

Goal PRO PTO 3 4 - AdministrationDesign and development of new parks and open

space, along with maintenance and expansion of existing parks and open space, should consider the surrounding natural environment and the intended use of the park, in order to balance the need for parks and open space with environmental protection.

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Pol. PRO 14.12 W h e re ap p ro p r ia t e mMaintain wildlife corridors to provide adequate

linkage for animal movement. Pol. PRO 14.23 Enhance wildlife habitat areas through the development of parks, trails, open

spaces, and stream restoration. Pol. PRO 14.34 Bring visual relief and tranquility to mitigate the impacts of the urban

environment, including noise, traffic, concrete, and congestion through the use of street trees, landscaped mediansnative landscaping, gardens, lawns, woods, and water throughout Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces.

Pol. PRO 14.45 Promote the retention and replication of the areas natural beauty and ecology in

City parks, trails, and open spaces. Pol. PTO 1.6 In recognition of the important open space and environmental values related to the

wetland areas associated with Hylebos Creek, the City shall investigate and pursue appropriate public grants and private methods of financing the acquisition of these areas.

Pol. PRO 14.75 The City shall encourage the location of bicycle racks at appropriate destination

points, such as outside of commercial businesses, the City Hall, parks, schools, and transit facilities.

Pol. PRO 14.86 The City shall provide and promote the development of pedestrian and bicycle

paths to schools, parks, transit and activity centers, as well as linkages between these paths.

Pol. PRO 14.97 The City shall encourage the continued use of private open space areas that

exist within the City and PAA/UGA. Pol. PRO 4.8 Consider such things as signage with regulations for behavior and appropriate

times and ways to use parks, trails, and open spaces; regular maintenance; adequate lighting; appropriate landscaping; and regular police patrols in the design and maintenance of parks and open space.

Goal PRO 5 Milton should acquire land for future parks, trails, and open spaces, as

appropriate and through various means, when such lands are available, affordable, and serve to implement the park, trail, and open space planning efforts. This land along with existing parks and open spaces shall be well managed to provide a safe and family friendly park environment.

Pol. PRO 4.25.1 Where feasible, acquire land adjacent to existing parks, trails, and open spaces

to enhance the potential uses of those facilities and to improve linkages between the facilities.



Pol. PRO 4.35.2 Pursue partnerships with the Fife School District, businesses, developers, user

groups such as youth sports leagues, and neighborhood groups in order to provide and manage parks, trails, and open spaces.

Contact with the Fife School District, businesses, developers, user groups such as youth sports leagues, and neighborhood groups should occur to plan, develop, manage, and operate Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces.

Pol. PRO 5.3 In recognition of the important open space and environmental values related to

the wetland areas associated with Hylebos Creek, the City shall investigate and pursue appropriate public grants and private methods of financing the acquisition of these areas.

Pol. PRO 5.4 Developers shall mitigate impacts of their development by providing parks,

trails, and open spaces, or fees in lieu of such, through the SEPA Environmental Review process and/or through development fees.

Pol. PRO 5.5 In commercial areas of the City, developers should mitigate the impacts of their

developments by providing public spaces and facilities such as plazas, courtyards, and pedestrian connections, through the SEPA Environmental Review process and/or design standards, as appropriate.

Pol. PRO 4.85.6 The City City shall activelyshould participate inparticipate in regional park,

trail, and open space planning to ensure that Milton residents benefit sales tax intended to fund regional open space needs.

Pol PRO 5.7 The City should identify and pursue grant opportunities to further the City’s

parks and open space planning efforts. Pol. PRO 3.15.8 Ensure that Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces are safe, and well managed,

and provide a family friendly atmosphere. Pol. PTO 3.2 Offer a wide variety of parks and recreation programs to meet the community’s diverse needs.

Pol. PRO 3.35.9 Promote the opportunity for use and minimize user conflict through safe and well-managed park, trail, and open space facilities. Anticipate the safety needs of users and design parks and parks programs with these concerns in mind. Ways to alleviate potential safety concerns include: posting signage with regulations for behavior and appropriate times and ways to use parks, trails, and open spaces; regular maintenance; adequate lighting; appropriate landscaping; and regular police patrols.

Pol. PRO 4.65.10 The City should promote the use of property tax reductions as an

incentive to preserve desirable lands as a public benefit and to encourage and support the participation of community-based non-profit organizations offering

options and alternatives to development in the interest of preserving desirable lands as a public benefit

Pol. PRO 5.11 The City should acquire and develop waterfront property on Surprise Lake to provide

public access to the shoreline. Acquisition of said park should be dependent on availability of land and funding, and should be an appropriate site for a park. The future use of such a park should be compatible with adjacent uses. Development of such a park should retain and enhance native vegetation while preserving the natural characteristics of the shoreline. The design and location of the public access point should minimize disruption to current residents.

Pol. PRO 5.12 The City should strive to maintain an updated Comprehensive Park, Open Space and

Trial Plan. Pol. PTO 3.4 Utilize citizen involvement and participation including the Fife School District,


GOAL PTO 4 Acquisition The City shall maintain a combined 5.3 acres of developed

neighborhood and community park land per 1,000 residents. The City should endeavor to raise the actual level of service to 7.4 acres per 1,000 residents. Additionally, the City shall strive to make a neighborhood park accessible within one-half mile of all residences in Milton, and a community park accessible within 1.5 miles of all residences in Milton.

Pol. PTO 4.3 Pursue partnerships with the Fife School District, businesses, developers, user groups such as youth sports leagues, and neighborhood groups in order to provide and manage parks, trails, and open spaces.

Pol. PRO 4.4 Developers shall mitigate impacts of their development by providing parks, trails, and open spaces, or fees in lieu of such, through the SEPA Environmental Review process and/or through development fees.



Pol. PTO 4.6 The City should promote the use of property tax reductions as an incentive to preserve desirable lands as a public benefit and to encourage and support the participation of community-based non-profit organizations offering options and alternatives to development in the interest of preserving desirable lands as a public benPol. PTO 4.7 The City shall pursue state funding of the conversion of the Interurban right-of- way to a recreational trail through grant programs sponsored

by the Department of Natural Resources and the Interagency Committee on Outdoor Recreation.

Pol. PRO 4.8 The City shall actively participate in regional park, trail, and open space

planning to ensure that Milton residents benefit from the ½ cent sales tax increment intended to fund regional open space needs. Such participation shall include involvement in the coordinated parks and open space planning and funding efforts of the Forever Green project.R

Pol. PTO 4.9 The City shall promote the Interurban Trail as a regional recreation resource


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3. Parks, Recreation and Open Space Goals & Policies

Goal PRO 1 The City should provide a comprehensive system of parks and open spaces that respond to the, current and future recreational, cultural, environmental, and aesthetic needs and desires of the City’s residents. The City’s parks and open spaces should strive to balance environmental protection, open space, wildlife habitat, and multi- use recreational opportunities.

Pol. PRO 1.1 Due to its central location, Triangle Park should continue to be developed as a key community facility in the city’s park and recreational planning efforts.

Pol. PRO 1.2 Parks and Open Spaces should be complementary of, and enhance the natural environment of their surroundings. Special consideration should be given to protecting the Hyblebos Creek and it associated wetland and floodplain through development, acquisition and maintenance of parks and open spaces.

Pol. PTO 1.3 Utilize citizen involvement and participation including the Fife School District, businesses, developers, user groups such as youth sports leagues, and neighborhood groups in planning for and developing, operating, and maintaining Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces.

Pol. PTO 1.4 The City should strive to maintain a combined level of service of 5.3 acres of

developed neighborhood and community parkland per 1,000 residents. The City should endeavor to raise the actual level of service to 7.4 acres per 1,000 residents. Additionally, the City shall strive to make a neighborhood park accessible within one-half mile of all residences in Milton, and a community park accessible within 1.5 miles of all residences in Milton.

Goal PRO 2 The City should recognize the important recreational, health and transportation

roles played by bicycle, walking and non-motorized trail systems, and support to the continued develop of the Interurban Trail as a benefit to the Citizens of Milton and as a part of a regional trail system.

Pol. PRO 2.1 The City should support the development of new paths, sidewalks and marked

roadways that link the Interurban trail with the City’s other resources such as the schools, parks, sidewalks and the commercial districts.

Pol. PRO 2.2 New connections to the interurban trail should be encouraged where existing right-of-way abuts the trail.

Pol. PRO 2.3 The City shall pursue state funding of the continued development of the Interurban Trail through grant programs sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources and the Interagency Committee on Outdoor Recreation.

Pol. PRO 2.4 The City shall promote the Interurban Trail as a regional recreation resource during regional planning exercises occurring with King and Pierce counties and nearby cities.

Pol. PRO 2.5 Provide access and education about Milton’s history and natural environment

through the Interurban Trail and interpretive signage. Goal PRO 3 Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces, as well as recreational programs, shall

be accessible to as many user groups as possible. Pol. PRO 3.1 Ensure Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces have a strong orientation

towards providing for future generations by providing facilities for young people. Pol. PRO 3.2 Plan Milton’s park, trail, and open space needs through population projections to

determine needs and location for future facilities. Pol. PRO 3.3 Plan Milton’s recreational programs through population projections to analyze

needs and service offerings to respond to those needs. Pol. PRO 3.4 Give special consideration to people with limited financial resources, youth at risk,

the elderly, the disabled, and others with special needs during park, trail, and open space planning.

Pol. PRO 3.5. Offer a wide variety of parks and recreation programs to meet the community’s

diverse needs. Goal PRO 4 Design and development of new parks and open space, along with

maintenance and expansion of existing parks and open space, should consider the surrounding natural environment and the intended use of the park, in order to balance the need for parks and open space with environmental protection.

Pol. PRO 4.1 W h e re ap p ro p r ia t e maintain wildlife corridors to provide adequate linkage for

animal movement. Pol. PRO 4.2 Enhance wildlife habitat areas through the development of parks, trails, open

spaces, and stream restoration. Pol. PRO 4.3 Bring visual relief and tranquility to mitigate the impacts of the urban

environment, including noise, traffic, concrete, and congestion through the use of street trees, native landscaping, gardens, lawns, woods, and water throughout Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces.

Pol. PRO 4.4 Promote the retention and replication of the areas natural beauty and ecology in

City parks, trails, and open spaces.

Pol. PRO 4.5 The City shall encourage the location of bicycle racks at appropriate destination


Pol. PRO 4.6 The City shall provide and promote the development of pedestrian and bicycle


Pol. PRO 4.7 The City shall encourage the continued use of private open space areas that

exist within the City and PAA/UGA. Pol. PRO 4.8 Consider such things as signage with regulations for behavior and appropriate

times and ways to use parks, trails, and open spaces; regular maintenance; adequate lighting; appropriate landscaping; and regular police patrols in the design and maintenance of parks and open space.

Goal PRO 5 Milton should acquire land for future parks, trails, and open spaces, as

appropriate and through various means, when such lands are available, affordable, and serve to implement the park, trail, and open space planning efforts. This land along with existing parks and open spaces shall be well managed to provide a safe and family friendly park environment.

Pol. PRO 5.1 Where feasible, acquire land adjacent to existing parks, trails, and open spaces to

enhance the potential uses of those facilities and to improve linkages between the facilities.

Pol. PRO 5.2 Pursue partnerships with the Fife School District, businesses, developers, user


Pol. PRO 5.3 In recognition of the important open space and environmental values related to


Pol. PRO 5.4 Developers shall mitigate impacts of their development by providing parks,




Pol. PRO 5.6 The City should participate in regional park, trail, and open space planning to ensure that Milton residents benefit sales tax intended to fund regional open space needs.

Pol PRO 5.7 The City should identify and pursue grant opportunities to further the City’s

parks and open space planning efforts. Pol. PRO 5.8 Ensure that Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces are safe, well managed, and

provide a family friendly atmosphere.

Pol. PRO 5.9 Promote the opportunity for use and minimize user conflict through safe and well-managed park, trail, and open space facilities. Anticipate the safety needs of users and design parks and parks programs with these concerns in mind.

Pol. PRO 5.10 The City should promote the use of property tax reductions as an incentive to

preserve desirable lands as a public benefit and to encourage and support the participation of community-based non-profit organizations offering options and alternatives to development in the interest of preserving desirable lands as a public benefit

Pol. PRO 5.11 The City should acquire and develop waterfront property on Surprise Lake to provide public access to the shoreline. Acquisition of said park should be dependent on availability of land and funding, and should be an appropriate site for a park. The future use of such a park should be compatible with adjacent uses. Development of such a park should retain and enhance native vegetation while preserving the natural characteristics of the shoreline. The design and location of the public access point should minimize disruption to current residents.

Pol. PRO 5.12 The City should strive to maintain an updated Comprehensive Park, Open Space and Trial Plan.

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AHBL VII-0

VII. PARKS, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACES ELEMENT

AHBL VII-1

PARKS, TRAILS, AND OPEN SPACES ELEMENT INTRODUCTION Planning Area Milton is a small community characterized by a pattern of larger lot residential development surrounded by fields, trees, open vistas, and gardens. The City’s small town character and pattern of development are a bit of an anomaly amongst the other communities situated along the Interstate 5 corridor between Seattle and Tacoma. Milton’s open spaces, parks, Hylebos Creek, and other environmentally sensitive areas are integral to defining the pastoral quality of the area, and have been preserved and linked through corridors of green -- trails, parks, and landscape buffers. These green corridors link public facilities, the town center, and other residential and commercial areas, forming a citywide open space network accessible by pedestrians and bicyclists. The City of Milton and its urban growth areas (UGA) occupy approximately 3.5 square miles along the county line of King and Pierce Counties. The corporate boundaries are comprised of approximately 1,400 acres (2.5 square miles), while the UGA is approximately 1 square mile. The City boundaries are, approximately, Meridian Street East (State Route 161) on the east, Yuma and Taylor Streets on the south, South 376th Place on the north, and Interstate 5, Pacific Highway East (State Route 99), and 70th Avenue East on the west. The UGA extends beyond these City boundaries to the north, west, northwest, and southwest. There is also a single-property owner “island” of unincorporated Pierce County land in the northwest portion of the City. The City and its UGA lie within two county jurisdictions, King to the north and Pierce to the west. The cities of Federal Way, Fife, and Edgewood are the neighboring cities adjacent to Milton and its planning area. Coordination with Other Plans The Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces Element (“Element”) for Milton is an element of the City of Milton Comprehensive Plan. The vision, goals, and policies contained in this Element have been coordinated with and are supportive of the framework that has been established throughout other Elements the Comprehensive Plan. The Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces Element not only provides for the recreational needs of Milton’s residents, but also is supportive of a broader pattern of regional open space and trail facilities in the North Pierce/South King County region.

AHBL VII-2

During the preparation of this element, the park, open space, or trail plans and resources for the cities of Federal Way, Edgewood, Fife, and King and Pierce counties were considered. BACKGROUND AND INVENTORY The City of Milton’s park and open space resources include: Discovery Primary/Endeavor Intermediate Schools, Hill Tower Park, Interurban Trail, Milton Community Center, Milton Activity Center, Olympic View Park, West Milton Nature Preserve, Triangle Park, and West Milton Park. The City is also in the process of acquiring land at the corner of 23rd Avenue and Milton Way for the purpose of creating another community park. Existing and future parks, trails and other community recreational facilities are shown on Map PTO-1. Five Mile Lake Park in the City of Federal Way and Edgemont Park in the City of Edgewood, are also located in close proximity to Milton residents. The following narratives describe existing park and open space amenities for each facility as well as registered groups that use the facilities on a regular basis. Discovery Primary/Endeavor Intermediate/Surprise Lake Middle Schools

Discovery Primary/Endeavor Intermediate/ Surprise Lake Middle Schools form a joint primary/middle school complex that was constructed in 1992 on a 32-acre site immediately south of Milton Way. These are the only Fife School District facilities within the Milton city limits, and the only school facilities included in Milton’s parks inventory. Access to the schools is by way of 19th Avenue. Parking for the school’s recreational facilities are located south and west of the fields.

The site contains an extensive children’s play area located in the northwest corner of the property. Immediately south of the children’s play area are fields suitable for tee-ball and softball. East of the access drive into the school (19th Avenue), there exists a field of approximately eight acres. The field is improved with football goalposts and a clay running track. A paved area for basketball and other court sports exists in close proximity to the existing educational structures located on-site. The total recreational area of the site is estimated to be 14 acres. Use of the facilities is scheduled through the Fife School District. During the summer months, the Fife School District administers a youth program offering educational and recreational activities.

AHBL VII-3

After the school day, on weekends, and during the summer, various clubs and organizations make use of the school’s recreational facilities. The Fife-Milton-Edgewood Soccer League uses the school facilities between the months of October and February. The Fife-Milton Youth Football League uses the school facilities between the months of July and November. Hill Tower Park

Hill Tower Park is a two-acre neighborhood park located at 700 – 19th Avenue. The park gets its name from the City of Milton’s water tower that is situated on the steeper portion of the site. The park represents a good example a community goal for joint use of public facilities. This park has 12 parking spaces, one of which is designated handicapped and accessible portable restroom facilities. A paved area for basketball and other court

sports exists within the park. In 1996, the City of Milton expended approximately $25,000 for the acquisition and installation of children’s play equipment. Interurban Trail

The Interurban railway right-of-way is a notable scenic route that originates in King County, meanders through the City of Milton, and continues through Pierce County. The right-of-way property is 100 feet wide and includes significant stands of coniferous trees and several areas of distinctive natural features. The Park Board, Planning Commission, and City Council have identified the acquisition and development of the right-of-way into a trail as a high priority. These bodies plan for the trail to

provide significant active recreational opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists as well as passive recreational activities with interpretive viewpoints and picnic areas. The trail section through Milton and the UGA is 3.4 miles. Development of the right-of-way into a trail will provide a valuable community asset not only for the residents of the City of Milton, but also the surrounding region. “Rail to trail” conversion projects, such as the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle, the Interurban Trail in the Kent Valley and the Foothills Trail that runs south of Sumner through Orting, are well-used resources that contribute much to the quality of life in the cities where they are located.

AHBL VII-4

The City is continuing to pursue funding for the purchase and development of the right-of-way. The City was awarded Pierce County Conservation Futures funding for the acquisition of the portion of the right-of-way situated in Pierce County. More recently, the City has explored funding opportunities to acquire the remaining portion of the trail situated in King County. West Milton Nature Preserve

Milton recently purchased three-quarters of an acre for open space on 5th Avenue. The parcel contains prime native wetlands. Milton is also pursuing ownership of an additional one and three-quarter acres that is contiguous to the original parcel. Together, these parcels will be a valuable nature reserve and an asset to the City and its citizens and visitors.

Milton Community Center

The Milton Community Center is a 1,900 square-foot structure situated on a site of approximately 16,000 square-feet located immediately east of Triangle Park and south of Milton Way on the east side of 15th Avenue. The facility was constructed in 1999 at a cost of approximately $125,000. The City of Milton reserves the facility for club, organization, and non-profit group meetings and events. Private parties and other events are

planned to allow the facility to generate a revenue stream to fund other park and open space activities.

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Milton Activity Center The Milton Activity Center is a 2,250 square-foot facility constructed in 1984 and located within the Milton City Hall complex. The Activity Center is part of the structure that houses the Milton Branch of the Pierce County Library System. Parking facilities are shared with the City Hall complex. The Activity Center contains large room that is commonly used for dancing, aerobics, kickboxing, yoga, and other indoor recreational

activities. The facility also includes kitchen facilities, two offices, and an adjacent room where meetings occur. The Activity Center is reserved at City Hall for senior, adult, and youth groups. The activity center may also be rented out for private use. Olympic View Park

Olympic View Park is a half-acre mini-park located at 30 Hylebos Avenue in the King County portion of the City. Milton acquired Olympic View Park in 1998. During 2000, the City expended $25,000 for the installation of children’s playground equipment and restroom facilities.

AHBL VII-6

Triangle Park Triangle Park is a 10-acre community park bounded to the north by Milton Way, the east by 15th Avenue, the south by Oak Street, and the west by vacant property at approximately 12th Avenue. The site slopes down from east to west and is wooded in the middle portion of the park. The park is served by two paved parking facilities. One parking facility, situated along 15th Avenue, can accommodate 15 automobiles. Another parking facility, situated along Oak Street, can accommodate 10

automobiles. Permanent restroom facilities exist but have not yet been made handicap accessible. In the eastern portion of the park there currently exists a tee-ball/softball field, picnic areas, and lighted tennis courts. In the western portion of the park there currently exists an extensive children’s play area known as the Kemper Playground. In 1993, approximately $30,000 worth of children’s play facilities were constructed.

The park hosts the City of Milton’s annual summer picnic as well as various other annual community events. The Parks Board has recently completed the Triangle Park Comprehensive Plan, which identifies future improvements and additions to existing facilities.

AHBL VII-7

West Milton Park

West Milton Park is a three-acre neighborhood park located at the northeast intersection of Porter Way and Kent Street. The park is situated immediately west of the City of Milton’s maintenance facilities thereby representing another good example of joint use of public facilities. West Milton Park was developed in 1992 for recreation use. It is currently improved with a baseball backstop, bleachers, and outdoor

lighting for evening sporting events. Park improvements are currently underway to increase the number of baseball fields from one to two. The park facilities are reserved for use at City Hall. The Washington State Women’s Soccer League uses West Milton Park between January and April. The Fife-Milton Little League uses the park between April and June. During the spring and summer months between May and August, the Milton Faith Family Church Softball League uses the park. The Fife-Milton-Edgewood Soccer League uses the school facilities between the months of October and February. The Fife-Milton Youth Football League uses the school facilities between the months of July and November. Recreational Facilities Outside Milton The following facilities offer additional recreational opportunities for Milton residents. However, since they are located outside of the City and its urban growth area, they are not counted toward the level of service goals set by the City. Edgemont Park (City of Edgewood)

Edgemont Park is a 3-acre neighborhood park located on 24th Street East in the City of Edgewood. Edgemont Park is improved with children’s playground equipment and has paved areas for basketball and other court sports.

AHBL VII-8

Five Mile Lake Park (King County) Five Mile Lake Park is a 20-acre park located along the west side of Military Road at approximately South 366th Street. The park, owned and operated by King County, is situated around a lake called Five Mile Lake. Improvements within the park include picnic areas with outdoor kitchen/barbeque facilities, paved areas for basketball and other court sports, tennis courts and swimming in the lake. The park also contains handicap accessible

restroom facilities and off-street parking. Fife Community Pool (City of Fife)

The Fife Community Pool is an indoor swimming facility located near the southeast corner of 20th Street East and 54th Avenue in the City of Fife. The City of Fife operates the pool facility. The Fife Community Pool also contains indoor handicap restroom facilities and off-street parking.

AHBL VII-10

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT A comprehensive public involvement process was performed to prepare the goals, policies, and capital facilities plan included in the Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces Element. The content of the Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces Element was derived from the planning efforts associated with the preparation 1995 City of Milton Comprehensive Plan, previous park planning efforts performed in 1992 and 1997, and subsequent capital facilities planning performed as a component of the City’s annual budget adoption process. Park, Open Space, and Trail Planning The City of Milton Park Board is an appointed body responsible for park, open space, and trail planning. The Board reviews community needs for park and recreation facilities, and makes recommendations for improvements and changes. Citizen input is taken at the Board’s regularly scheduled meetings. Between 1995 and 1997, the Park Board spent considerable energy to acquire the Interurban right-of-way from Puget Sound Energy (formerly Puget Sound Power and Light). These efforts were furthered by Pierce County with the granting of a Conservation Futures Fund grant for property acquisition. More recently, the Park Board prepared a master plan for future improvements to convert the Interurban right-of-way into a trail. The planning included several public meetings and workshops as well as a trail walk and workshop/open house. The City’s long planning efforts for the Interurban Trail were rewarded in 2000 by the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) through the award of a grant to fund approximately one-half of the improvement costs associated with the trail. Construction of the planned improvements is anticipated to occur during 2002. Planning efforts by the Park Board have not been confined to the Interurban right-of-way. A Triangle Park Comprehensive Plan has been designed and recommended by the Park Board for adoption by the City Council. The plan is designed to focus both present and future improvements for the optimum desired public usage. The Park Board has also been engaged in planning efforts to develop a Skate Park. As part of this program, the City expended $11,500 for the design of the facility. The Skate Park Committee, a collaboration of youth and adult volunteers, subsequently raised more than $25,000, toward the construction of the $103,000 facility. These monies, as well as funds appropriated by the City Council, served as a match for grant funding through the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC). In 2000, the IAC awarded the city funding for construction of the Skate Park. The award will fund approximately one half of the construction costs associated with the facility. Construction of this important recreation facility is anticipated to occur during 2002.

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DEMAND/NEED ASSESSMENT AND SERVICE PREFERENCE Demand for recreation is a term used to describe the level and character of recreational services desired in a community. The supply of recreational facilities is the existing facilities available to serve the community. The difference between demand and supply is termed “need.” Demand/Need Assessment The need for park and recreation facilities in Milton was determined for the current population of Milton as well as for the future residential growth forecast for the 20-year life of this Comprehensive Plan. The population for the City is projected increase from 5,795 persons in 2000 to approximately 6,838 persons by the year 2020. Demand for park, open space, and trail facilities was established during the preparation of the Comprehensive Plan, and a level of service standards for various types of park, open space, and trail facilities. Level-of-service standards for park, open space, and trails are satisfied not only through facilities owned and operated by the City but also by facilities owned and operated within the city limits by other entities such as the Fife School District. As a method for classifying park, open space, and trail facilities within the City and its urban growth area, the City employs the Recreation, Park and Open Space Standards and Guidelines established in 1983 by the National Recreation and Park Association. The following is the categorization of facilities used by the City of Milton. Mini-Park

A mini-park is characterized by passive recreation or specialized facilities that serve a concentrated or limited population or a specific group, such as children or senior citizens.

Service Area: Approximately 1/4 mile radius Size: No minimum to approximately one acre Service Standard: Approximately 0.3 acres per 1,000 population

Neighborhood Park Neighborhood parks are designed to serve the immediately surrounding residential population or employment base. They often include areas for active recreational activities, such as ball fields and courts, as well as passive recreation areas.

Service Area: Approximately 1/4 - 1/2 mile radius Size: No minimum to 15+ acres Service Standard: 1 to 2 acres per 1,000 population

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Community Park Community parks are designed to serve the surrounding community. Community parks may contain special amenities attractive to visitors throughout the area. Such parks often consist of significant natural features, such as large tracts of open space or natural areas.

Service Area: Approximately 1 - 2 mile radius Size: Approximately 2 to 20+ acres Service Standard: 5 to 8 acres per 1,000 population


Special use parks are devoted to specialized or single purpose activities, such as golf courses, hiking or bicycle trails, zoos, arenas, plazas, squares, boulevards, and parkways.

Service Area: No applicable standard Size: Variable Service Standard: No applicable standard

TABLE 1 PARK AND OPEN SPACE, AND TRAIL RESOURCES

Facilities Within the City & UGA

Park Facility Area Improvements Park Type Olympic View Park 0.5 acres -- Mini-Park Hill Tower Park 2 acres Basketball Court, Children’s

Play Area Neighborhood Park

West Milton Park 3 acres Baseball/Softball Field Neighborhood Park Triangle Park 10 acres Ball Field, Picnic Grounds,

Tennis Courts, Children’s Play Area

Community Park

Discovery/Endeavor/Surprise Lake Schools

14 acres Jogging Track, Baseball Field, 2 Play Fields, Basketball

Courts

Community Park

Interurban Trail About 30 acres*

(Future Improvements) Special Use Facility

West Milton Nature Preserve 2.5* acres

Open Space/Education Open Space Special Use

Milton Community Building 1,900 sq. ft.

Kitchen and Meeting Rooms Special Use Facility

Milton Activity Center 2,350 sq. ft.

Kitchen, Meeting and Indoor Recreation Areas, Offices


23rd and Milton Way Community Park

1.3 acres (Future Improvements including skate park)

Community Park

AHBL VII-13

Facilities in Other Jurisdictions

Park Facility Area Improvements Park Type Edgemont Park (City of Edgewood)

3acres Children’s Play Equipment, Basketball Courts

Neighborhood Park

Five Mile Lake Park (King County)

20acres Swimming, Tennis Courts, Basketball Courts, Outdoor Barbecue/Kitchen Facilities

Community Park

Fife Community Pool -- Swimming Special Use Facility * Upon acquisition of all identified parcels. Source: AHBL, 2002.

Adequacy of Park Land to Meet Existing and Future Demand Service standards for parks have been used to evaluate whether the existing supply of recreational land is adequate to meet the demands of the current and future residents of Milton. One option for determining park needs is to base the future requirements on current levels of service, or, acres of existing parks per resident. Another option is to recommended service standards for each particular type of park. Standards recommended by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) are shown in Table 2, below:

TABLE 2

PARK SERVICE STANDARDS BY TYPE

Park Type Recommended Service Standard Area per population Radius of service area Mini-park Approximately 0.3 acres per 1,000 population ¼ mile Neighborhood Park 1-2 acres per 1,000 population ¼ to ½ mile Community Park 5-8 acres per 1,000 population 1 to 2 miles Special Use Park No applicable standard No applicable standard

Source: AHBL, 2001.

Corresponding to the NRPA’s recommended ranges for community and neighborhood park land, the City has determined that the appropriate level of service is 5.3 acres of developed land per thousand residents for a combination of neighborhood and community parks. This level of service standard approximates the current ratio of residents to acres of park land. Defining the LOS standard in this way does not preclude the City from pursuing land acquisition and park development opportunities that may not necessarily fall under either of these park types or that may not increase the total acres of park land. The standard is regarded as a minimum service level and benchmark to ensure that current residents do not see their recreational opportunities eroded by growth in the City. Further, adopting this as policy provides the City with a nexus for requiring new development to contribute to maintaining this level of service.

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Included in the city’s inventory of existing recreational opportunities are several facilities that are located outside of the city. These include Five Mile Lake Park in unincorporated King County, Edgemont Park in the City of Edgewood, and Fife Community Pool in the City of Fife. While these facilities are used by Milton residents and provide additional recreational opportunities, they are not financed by or a result of partnerships with the city. Therefore, they are not included in park lands that are used to satisfy Milton’s level of service standard. Mini-parks are also excluded from the level of service standard. Given the large-lot, single family composition of most of Milton’s neighborhoods, mini-parks are not viewed as a particularly critical element of the City’s parks strategy. Therefore, the City has opted not to adopt a separate level of service standard for mini-parks or to include their recommended park area in the aggregate level of service standard. Where mini-parks have their highest value, in large-scale, higher-density multi-family development, the City can require the inclusion of small-scale recreational facilities to serve those residents in proposed developments. The City’s growth projections and the park land needed to maintain the LOS standard are shown on Table 3. According to the level of service standard, the city has a deficit of 0.4 acres of neighborhood and community park land for the year 2000 population. Unless additional lands are acquired and developed, by 2020 the City will have a shortfall of 5.9 acres relative to the policy standard.

TABLE 3

CITY OF MILTON RECREATIONAL LAND NEEDS (POLICY LOS) YEAR 2000 AND 2020

Park Type Total

Acres LOS

Standard (AC/1,000 residents)

Acres Required to Meet LOS in

2000 (1)

Acres Required to Meet LOS in

2020 (2)

Surplus or (need) in Acres

(2000)

Surplus or (need) in Acres

(2020)

Neighborhood 5 1 5.8 6.8 (0.8) (1.8)

Community 25.3 (3) 4.3 24.9 29.4 0.4 (4.1)

Totals 30.3 5.3 30.7 36.2 (0.4) (5.9) Notes: (1) Based on a 2000 population of 5,795 for the City. Source 2000Census.

(2) Based on an estimated 2020 population of 6,838 for the City. Source AHBL Inc., 2001. (3) Includes 1.3 acres that the City expects to acquire in the near future, in the vicinity of the Fife School District Facilities.

Community surveys and input to the Park Board and Planning Commission reveal that significant improvements to existing facilities and the acquisition and development of the Interurban Trail are of the highest priority. These community preferences are revealed in the agenda and efforts of the Park Board to engage in planning efforts for the construction of ball fields at West Milton

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Park, design and fundraising for the Skate Park, the comprehensive plan for Triangle Park, and the master planning efforts for the Interurban Trail. Geographic Needs Analysis Milton recognizes that a purely quantitative measure of needs analysis does not necessarily provide adequate reflection of the community’s needs. For instance, arterial roads such as Milton Way may represent a barrier for children and elderly adults north of the road to access the resources of Discovery Elementary/Endeavor Intermediate/Surprise Lake Middle Schools and Triangle Park. Moreover, the use of a park resource is directly related to geographic proximity. Therefore, the policies of the Comprehensive Plan also include service goals for the City to ensure that all Milton residents will eventually live within the service area of both a neighborhood and a community park. Although not intended to be as directive as a level of service standard, these goals provide guidance in park planning efforts. All current residents live within the service area of one or both of the existing community parks, Triangle Park and the Fife School District facilities within the city limits. However, some residents are outside of the recommended distance from a neighborhood park. Rectifying this situation is a longer-term goal that is anticipated to occur over time, as additional development occurs. As part of these efforts, the City should recognize physical barriers to access represented by arterials and I-5. To meet some of the recognized need for parks facilities in the northern and western part of the City and its urban growth area, as well as to provide an amenity to be enjoyed by the greater community, the Park Board, Planning Commission, and City Council have been engaged in acquiring and developing the Interurban Trail. The Interurban Trail represents a unique opportunity for the City to develop a community resource of regional significance. In fact, the project has been identified by the State of Washington as a “Corridor of Statewide Significance needed for Future Trail Development” and will provide the opportunity to link King and Pierce County trail systems (the City of Milton lies in both Pierce and King counties). The trail is planned to extend east through the City of Edgewood to continue to connect to the Pacific-Sumner Trail System. This connection will provide future connection to three other major regional trails: the Foothills Trail, the Puyallup River Trail, and the White River Trail. Service Preference In addition to quantitative measures of park, open space, and trail demand, the Park Board and City Council have identified various preferences for the use of and improvements to existing and planned recreation facilities. Preferences for future improvements to Triangle Park are shown in the draft Triangle Park Comprehensive Plan. Additionally, the planned skate park, playfield improvements to Olympic View Park, and improvements proposed for West Milton Park

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represent a portion of the park, open space, and trail planning preferences of the citizens of Milton. Community service preferences also influence the type of activities that occur within the parks, open spaces, and trails within the City. For instance, organized sports such as soccer, pee-wee football, and little league baseball are predominant activities at West Milton Park and the Discovery Elementary/Endeavor Intermediate School sites. Youth and senior citizen interests in such activities such as dancing and aerobics influence the type and offerings at the Milton Activity Center. ACTION PLAN The action plan is intended to set forth a series of specific steps to achieve the goals and policies identified in the Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces Element.

• Adopt and implement the Triangle Park Comprehensive Plan.

• Acquire or seek the dedication of a neighborhood park or trail within the northern and western areas of the City. Acquisition or dedication of the Interurban right-of-way will satisfy a portion of this unmet need.

• Acquire funding to implement the recommendations identified in the Master Plan for the

Interurban Trail

• Work with the Washington State Department of Transportation to plan, design, and fund a grade-separated trail crossing of Enchanted Parkway (SR 161) that will not conflict with the function of the road as a major arterial.

• Establish an “Adopt-a-Park or -Trail” program to assist the City with the development

and/or maintenance of facilities.

• Continue to coordinate youth recreation service offerings with the Fife School District.

• Encourage the Fife School District to locate future school facilities within the City for the recreational benefit that such facilities provide to the adjacent neighborhoods.

Additional strategies to implement the policies of the Parks, Trails and Open Spaces Element are found in the Implementation Element.

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CAPITAL FACILITIES STRATEGY The purpose of this section is to outline the specific, project-level recommendations for the implementation of the Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces Element. Various park projects are envisioned, proposed, planned and in development in the City. Some are intended to provide the additional capacity required by the growth of the community. Others are intended to provide amenity value and recreational opportunities for the existing community. Some of these proposed or potential projects are included in the following list:

• Interurban Trail improvements; • Additional parcels for the West Milton Nature Preserve; • Hylebos Creek nature preserve and trail; • Acquisition of Surprise Lake frontage and access; • Expansion of and improvements to Triangle Park; • Community park/Skate park improvements; • Mini-amphitheater; • Youth recreation center; • Performing arts center; • Pea patch and agricultural interpretive center; and • Gateway improvements along Meridian and Milton Way.

6-Year Parks Budget Forecast

TABLE 4

PROJECTED 6-YEAR PARK DEPARTMENT BUDGET BY CATEGORY

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Salaries, Benefits, Etc. $ 61,767.00 $ 63,311.18 $ 64,893.95 $ 66,516.30 $ 68,179.21 $ 69,883.69 Capital $ 22,800.00 $ 23,370.00 $ 23,954.25 $ 24,553.11 $ 25,166.93 $ 25,796.11 Total budget by year $ 84,567.00 $ 86,681.18 $ 88,848.20 $ 91,069.41 $ 93,346.14 $ 95,679.80

1. Assumes expenditure increases of 2.5 percent

Management and Operation Recommendations Milton is blessed with quality park, open space, and trail resources within the corporate limits of the City. To maintain these important resources, the City should adopt a strategy to address the following: 1. Develop a recreation program that responds to the needs of the community.

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2. Implement a strategy to secure property and/or right-of-way for park and trail improvements.

3. Develop a facility maintenance program that will protect the investment in the park and trail system, and will ensure the safety and usability of the facilities.

4. Maintain and update the Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces Element, and monitor and apply for available grant monies.

5. Solicit and manage contributions of materials and labor for park and trail improvements. Land Acquisition Program Open space and undeveloped land are some of the most valuable resources available to a community. The nature of land economics is such, however, that the supply of open space and undeveloped land continually diminishes and as it does, it becomes more valuable and more difficult to obtain. Therefore, it is critical that a community capture the opportunity of park and recreation land as soon as possible. There are several types of land that are needed for a viable park, open space, and trail plan – active recreation areas and sports fields, passive recreation areas, and multi-purpose trails. Acquisition Alternatives 1. Easements. Easements can be a cost effective way of park and open space area. The

cost of the easement depends on the cost of the agreement reached, but may be 50 percent or less of the cost to purchase the land outright. The cost of the easement may also be as high as 90 percent of the land cost, at which point an attempt to negotiate a fee purchase is probably preferable. Also, the City should expect to incur legal fees for writing and recording the easement agreement.

2. Dedication. Landowners may, for a variety of reasons, wish to dedicate property to the

City for park and open space use. The City should expect to incur legal fees for writing and recording the dedication agreement.

3. Fee Simple Purchase. The least desirable method of acquiring land is through outright

purchase. This is, however, frequently necessary in order to successfully implement a park, open space, and trail plan. The City should establish a process whereby the steps are clearly defined, for before and after an offer to purchase is made. The method of obtaining the value, the obligations of both the purchaser and the seller, and the closing requirements need to be understood by all parties.

Determining the Value of the Land 1. Assessed Value. The assessed value of land, as provided by the county tax assessor, is

frequently used as an element of determining the land value, but is almost never used

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exclusively due to the fact that it is almost always below the market value. A multiplier may be used in conjunction with the assessed value approach to the market value.

2. Market Value. The most often used method of determining land value is by doing an

“over the fence” estimate. This requires obtaining the market value of the adjacent, or nearby properties that have the same zoning and current use. Recent or “comparable” sales of properties having the same or similar conditions and in close proximity to the property in question may also be used. This information is obtainable from real estate or title companies.

Government agencies are typically required to pay market value. A request for an exception may be made if the land is critical to the completion of the project, but approval of funding for payment above market value is rare.

3. Appraised Value. Frequently, an appraisal is required as part of a park, open space or

trail grant application. As such, having an appraisal from a certified appraiser may be an important item for the City to have for future use.

PARK, TRAILS, AND OPEN SPACES VISION, GOALS & POLICIES

PARKS VISION Foster and support the stewardship of human and natural resources throughout our community, in the form of parks, trails, and open spaces, to serve the needs for residents of Milton. Environment and Design GOAL PTO 1.1 § Milton’s Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces Element shall be used to ensure that

development of parks is balanced with environmental protection. The City shall promote and protect environmental quality, open space and wildlife habitat, and multi-use recreational opportunities.

GOAL PTO 1.2 § The City should provide a comprehensive system of parks and open spaces that

respond to the recreational, cultural, environmental, and aesthetic needs and desires of the City’s residents.

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GOAL PTO 1.3 § The City should recognize the important recreational and transportation roles played by

bicycle trail systems, and support efforts to develop the Interurban right-of-way through the City as part of a regional trail system.

GOAL PTO 1.4 § The City should support the development of paths and marked roadways that link the

Interurban trail with the City’s other resources such as the schools and the commercial area.

Pol. PTO 1.1 Provide access and education about Milton’s natural environment and history

through the Interurban Trail. Pol. PTO 1.2 Maintain wildlife corridors to provide adequate linkage for animal movement. Pol. PTO 1.3 Enhance wildlife habitat areas through the development of parks, trails, open

spaces, and stream restoration. Pol. PTO 1.4 Bring visual relief and tranquility to mitigate the impacts of urban environment,

including noise, traffic, concrete, and congestion through the use of street trees, landscaped medians, gardens, lawns, woods, and water through Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces.

Pol. PTO 1.5 Promote the retention and replication of the areas natural beauty and ecology in

City parks, trails, and open spaces. Pol. PTO 1.6 In recognition of the important open space and environmental values related to


Pol. PTO 1.7 The City shall encourage the location of bicycle racks at appropriate destination


Pol. PTO 1.8 The City shall provide and promote the development of pedestrian and bicycle


Pol. PTO 1.9 The City shall encourage the continued use of private open space areas that

exist within the City and PAA/UGA.

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Pol. PTO 1.10 The City shall establish a minimum figure for active recreation space within all

residential projects. Required recreation spaces shall have a minimum contiguous area to avoid having “left-over” areas from a project design being combined to form the active recreation space.

Accessibility GOAL PTO 2 Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces, as well as recreational programs, shall be accessible to as many user groups as possible. Pol. PTO 2.1 Ensure Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces have a strong orientation

towards providing for future generations by providing facilities for young people. Pol. PTO 2.2 Plan Milton’s park, trail, and open space needs through population projections

to determine needs and location for future facilities. Pol. PTO 2.3 Plan Milton’s recreational programs through population projections to analyze

needs and service offerings to respond to those needs. Pol. PTO 2.4 Give special consideration to people with limited financial resources, youth at

risk, the elderly, the disabled, and others with special needs during park, trail, and open space planning.

Pol. PTO 2.5 Due to its central location, Triangle Park should continue to be developed as a

key community facility in the city’s park and recreational planning efforts. Pol. PTO 2.6 As a level of service standard, the City shall maintain a combined 5.3 acres of

developed neighborhood and community park land per 1,000 residents. The City should endeavor to raise the actual level of service to 7.4 acres per 1,000 residents. Additionally, the City shall strive to make a neighborhood park accessible within one-half mile of all residences in Milton, and a community park accessible within 1.5 miles of all residences in Milton.

Administration GOAL PTO 3 Contact with the Fife School District, businesses, developers, user groups such as youth sports leagues, and neighborhood groups should occur to plan, develop, manage, and operate Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces.

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Pol. PTO 3.1 Ensure that Milton’s parks, trails, and open spaces are safe and well managed. Pol. PTO 3.2 Offer a wide variety of parks and recreation programs to meet the community’s

diverse needs. Pol. PTO 3.3 Promote the opportunity for use and minimize user conflict through safe and

well-managed park, trail, and open space facilities. Anticipate the safety needs of users and design parks and parks programs with these concerns in mind. Ways to alleviate potential safety concerns include: posting signage with regulations for behavior and appropriate times and ways to use parks, trails, and open spaces; regular maintenance; adequate lighting; appropriate landscaping; and regular police patrols.

Pol. PTO 3.4 Utilize citizen involvement and participation including the Fife School District,


Acquisition GOAL PTO 4 Milton should acquire land for future parks, trails, and open spaces, as appropriate and through various means, when such lands are available, affordable, and serve to implement the park, trail, and open space planning efforts. Pol. PTO 4.2 Where feasible, acquire land adjacent to existing parks, trails, and open spaces

to enhance the potential uses of those facilities and to improve linkages between the facilities.

Pol. PTO 4.3 Pursue partnerships with the Fife School District, businesses, developers, user


Pol. PTO 4.4 Developers shall mitigate impacts of their development by providing parks,


Pol. PTO 4.5 In commercial areas of the City, developers should mitigate the impacts of their


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Pol. PTO 4.6 The City should promote the use of property tax reductions as an incentive to

preserve desirable lands as a public benefit and to encourage and support the participation of community-based non-profit organizations offering options and alternatives to development in the interest of preserving desirable lands as a public benefit.

Pol. PTO 4.7 The City shall pursue state funding of the conversion of the Interurban right-of-

way to a recreational trail through grant programs sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources and the Interagency Committee on Outdoor Recreation.

Pol. PTO 4.8 The City shall actively participate in regional park, trail, and open space

planning to ensure that Milton residents benefit from the ½ cent sales tax increment intended to fund regional open space needs. Such participation shall include involvement in the coordinated parks and open space planning and funding efforts of the Forever Green project.

Pol. PTO 4.9 The City shall promote the Interurban Trail as a regional recreation resource


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Documents

PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA - Milton, WashingtonChair Whalen read through each goal and policy, allowing for discussion wherever the Planning Commission had questions or comments. Clarifying