The King County Council has approved placing two six-year park levies on the Aug. 21 primary ballot.

One measure would maintain King County's regional parks system. The other would expand and complete the regional trails system, and support the Woodland Park Zoo.

Each measure would assess a levy of 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, or $20 a year for the owner of a $400,000 home. Together the two measures would raise approximately $32 million a year over six years.

"Parks and open space bring communities together, improve health, and provide a safe place for children and families to play and recreate," said Councilwoman Julia Patterson, D-SeaTac.

"Voters will have an extraordinary opportunity to expand the availability of parks, connect regional trails for seamless bike or foot travel throughout King County, and provide disadvantaged areas with recreational opportunities."

Councilman Dow Constantine added, "This two-part levy will enable King County to better maintain our trails, parks and open space, while protecting key watersheds and increasing recreational opportunities.

"This ballot measure will benefit both the health of our environment and of King County residents."

Both proposals were developed by the citizen-based Parks Futures Task Force, which issued its recommendations in March.

The first measure replaces the four-year parks levy voters approved in 2003 and would restore funding of parks maintenance to pre-2003 levels. The current maintenance and operations levy expires Dec. 31.

It would operate and maintain local parks and pools in rural unincorporated areas, restore potentially declining capital funds, and fund the operation and maintenance of regional facilities such as the King County Aquatic Center, Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, segments of the Burke-Gilman Trail and Marymoor Park.

The second measure would fund acquisitions for King County regional trails and open spaces; city trails and open spaces; and Woodland Park Zoo green space, education and conservation programs in the county.

Sixty percent of the levy proceeds would be used to purchase open space parcels critical to regional watersheds and streams, acquire and develop rights of way for regional trails, and provide up to $500,000 annually for recreation-related capital grant programs.

Twenty percent of the funds would be reserved for Woodland Park Zoo projects, and 20 percent would go to cities in King County for the purchase of trails, natural lands and open space.

The King County Parks system has evolved from 150 acres in 1938 to more than 25,000 acres today. The system currently maintains more than 180 parks and 175 miles of trail.

An amendment to the park system levy proposed by Patterson, which prioritizes parks and open space projects in areas with high rates of disparities, or inequities, in public health, was approved unanimously.

If the levy is approved by voters, her amendment would provide for the acquisition of more parks and open space in areas where residents suffer from disproportionately poorer health.

"My amendment reflects our county's values of equality and fairness, recognizing that opportunities for recreation and improved health should be available to everyone," said Patterson, who chairs the King County Board of Health.

"Now is the time to insert a health component in county planning related to parks, transportation, and land use to ensure that we maintain our high quality of life in this region."

Republican council members Reagan Dunn and Kathy Lambert both voted to renew the parks operation levy, but expressed concern about raising property taxes to support the acquisition of open space in King County at the same time.

"I think we are trying to do too much and this will jeopardize the voters' appetite for other critical priorities such as transportation or Medic One services," said Dunn.

"I support the renewal levy. We ought to get back onto firm financial ground, but the expansion is too much right now. I don't want to put other services at risk."

A recent poll indicated that over 60 percent of King County voters identified transportation or traffic-related issues as their number one priority," Dunn added.

"That priority should come first this year, followed by firm commitments to Medic One Emergency Medical Services."