By Bob Ferguson and Reagan Dunn

Our region is filled with majestic places. As two kids growing up in King County, the trails and backcountry of Washington were our playground, shaping who we are and what we value.

Though we both ventured afar to pursue various academic and professional opportunities, we could not escape the hold of this region's natural beauty and its access to open space. It played a prominent role in each of our decisions to return to King County.

Now, as the father of young twins (Bob) and a soon-to-be father (Reagan), protecting these open spaces has taken on a new significance. To ensure these unique places are maintained for future generations of King County residents, we have co-sponsored legislation to add a process to the King County Charter to protect county-owned lands.

Just as our national parks provide heightened protection for our nation's most treasured natural places, the Open Space Preservation Act will protect King County's most valued open spaces.

The proposed charter amendment would allow the King County Council by a supermajority of seven votes to give a special designation to certain high conservation value properties owned by the county. These properties would be set aside as open space to be enjoyed for future generations.

The proposal is now before the full council, and if adopted, will go to the voters for final approval on the November ballot.

We also sponsored legislation to create the first list of properties that will receive this designation if approved by the voters. These 95 properties are all owned by the county and are located outside the urban growth boundary. They represent nearly 150,000 acres of the region's highest conservation value rural lands, ranging from the cascade foothills to salmon habitat and shoreline. They include the county's largest treasurers--the 2,688 acre Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park with its forests, streams, and miles of hiking trails--to our smallest gems, including 14 acres nestled along the Puget Sound at Inspiration Point.

The Open Space Preservation Act and the companion list of properties have received the enthusiastic support of leaders in the region's environmental community including the Cascade Land Conservancy and Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust. They are also fully supported by the King County Executive and many of our colleagues.

The origins of this legislation come from a recommendation from the King County Charter Review Commission. This group of King County citizens was appointed to recommend changes to the King County Charter, the basic structural document of King County government, similar to a constitution.

The commission recommended that the county act to protect these properties. We responded, and members of the commission have voiced their strong support for the Open Space Preservation Act.

Since we were kids, the region's population has swelled by more than 60 percent, placing increasing pressures on land throughout the county. If we want to ensure that our children enjoy the same treks through mature forest, climbs to scenic vistas, and tide pooling expeditions that we took for granted, we must act to conserve our regional treasures.

The Open Space Preservation Act gives the council and the voters an opportunity to show their pride in our county's open spaces and to protect these lands for future generations.

The council will hold a public hearing and possible action on the Open Space Preservation Act and the companion list of properties on July 13, 2009. You can read more about the Open Space Preservation Act and the specific properties being considered for protection at http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/charter/issues/openspace.aspx.

King County Council member Bob Ferguson represents District 1 on the council and council member Reagan Dunn represents District 9.