Park may become city's

By ERICA HALL

Staff writer

Federal Way officials will hold a public meeting with the state Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss a proposal to transfer West Hylebos State Park to the city.

City and state officials will be available at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at city hall, 33530 First Way S., to answer questions, explain the purpose and timing of the transfer and to discuss future uses of the park.

City Parks Department director Jennifer Schroder said the benefit to having the park under the city’s jurisdiction is the ability for the city to provide continuous protection and preservation of the area.

Friends of the Hylebos, a local environmental group, currently provides stewardship and educational outreach at the park, including teaching grade-schoolers about salmon habitat and migration.

Chris Carrell, director of Friends of the Hylebos, was unavailable for comment.

Schroder said the primary purpose of the meeting will be to hear if there are objections to the transfer, but she added staff would be happy to take suggestions for uses at the site.

The West Hylebos State Park encompasses about 73 acres east of First Avenue South between South 348th and South 356th streets in Federal Way.

Federal Way City Councilwoman Linda Kochmar said the proposed transfer is “a wonderful idea.”

“It’s a cost issue, but I think we’ll be able to have a little more control in the marketing and direction of the park,” she said. “The state wasn’t doing much with it at all.”

She said a little development and some public outreach could result it more people visiting the West Hylebos park.

“It is kind of a jewel right in the middle of our community,” she said. “Most people don’t even realize it’s there.”

The Federal Way City Council will consider acting on the transfer of the park at its May 4 meeting. The state Parks Commission will consider it at its June 17 meeting in Winthrop.

For more information, contact city Parks Department director Jennifer Schroder at 253-661-4040, email jennifer.schroder@cityoffederalway.com, or contact Karl Jacobs, the project lead at the state Parks Commission, at 360-902-8650, email karl.jacobs@parks.wa.gov.

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