Regarding the proposed enhancements to the Big Finn Hill Park trail system, I’d like to reference a quote from a recent news brief:
“King County staff held two public meetings in 2012 to collect public feedback on trail and park management issues, then formed the Big Finn Trails Committee for weekly meetings. The committee has acted as the advisory group to King County Parks, and is composed of Finn Hill neighbors, park users, hikers, mountain bikers and dog walkers.”
I was totally unaware that these public meetings occurred, nor was I aware that a resulting committee would be tasked with making decisions that directly affect the daily quality of life for myself and my neighbors.
There are approximately 100 homes directly bordering the trails within Big Finn Hill Park, west of Juanita Drive, along with another 100 within close proximity (yes, I counted). My question is this: the Kirkland Reporter is delivered weekly, without fail, to every driveway throughout the Finn Hill neighborhood and beyond.
So, why couldn’t the King County Parks’ staff similarly have targeted these 200 homes with a flyer announcing the public meetings held last year? If they had made that effort, then the Big Finn Hill Trails Committee might have better reflected the concerns of the neighborhood, which will be most directly affected by the proposed trail enhancements.
Instead, my neighbors and I who attended a public meeting with Parks Department staff on June 20 were lectured – somewhat harshly – that decisions had been reached by a cross-section of our neighbors.
This was clearly not the case, as the committee was not truly representative of residents whose homes are situated closest to trail heads. I’m fairly certain the Parks Department strives to maintain transparency and fairness in pursuit of its goals.
However, it appears that their efforts to act inclusively while pursuing this particular project were rather lackluster. I strongly urge the department to take the necessary steps to correct this oversight.
Marc Ackerman, Kirkland
