The city of Renton is considering a parks bond to better invest in the future of Renton’s parks.
At Renton’s Aug. 4 committee of the whole meeting, Government Affairs Manager Eric Perry said a parks bond will invest in the city’s park system, meet the changing community needs and build a foundation for the future of Renton. He said there are two options to pursue a parks bond:
• A Limited Tax General Obligation Bond, which is councilmanic and cannot provide additional revenue to fund debt service payments.
• An Unlimited Tax General Obligation Bond, which is voter-approved issuance of a bond and levy to cover debt services.
The parks department competes with the general fund with other important needs across the city and doesn’t have large-scale and consistent grant programs available from the federal government that other departments may receive.
Perry said it is a good time to implement a parks bond because the city is currently working on its 2026 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan, which is a 20-year roadmap for the city’s park system. He said the PROS Plan will be more influenced by community-input than parks planning in the past. Perry said the focuses of the plan are creating and maintaining high-quality assets and focusing on filling in the gaps in the system, such as newly-annexed areas of the city.
The funds from a bond would allow the city to fund the staff to deliver the PROS Plan and provide resources to any operational needs.
The city is currently seeking input on the PROS Plan, which can be provided on the city’s website for the project.
Renton City Councilmember Ed Prince said he remembers when the council previously discussed additional funding for improving parks and there was “not the appetite” from the council at the time.
“I’m glad we are going down this road now and looking at it because, even though my kids are getting out of the ballfields phase of childhood, I still hear from a lot of people about needing more places to be able to recreate,” Prince said.
Perry said the bond from the city would directly invest in the parks program within the city and provide “a tangible and clear return for our community to look at and be proud of.”
Evaluation of the PROS Plan feedback is expected in October 2025, and the council will need to approve exploring the bond options then. The city staff will then work on building out the bond proposals through January 2026. The city will seek community feedback on those proposals until May 2026. The ballot measure resolution filing deadline is Aug. 4, 2026, and the proposed bond would be placed on the general election ballot in the 2026 general election if they choose a Unlimited Tax General Obligation Bond.
“The parks bond is still in that very early incubation stage of the proposal. We don’t know exactly what the need will be or how big the need will be,” Perry said.
Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone provided a statement on the potential parks bond and possible public safety tax discussed at the time.
“We’re looking to make wise, forward-looking investments in the City of Renton’s quality of life with the usage of HB 1590 funds, HB 2015 funds, and the potential for a Parks Bond. The City of Renton has a track record of fiscal responsibility and intentionally has strived to deliver a competitive tax environment while providing a high level of services,” Pavone said. “In listening to our community, their top two priorities are responding proactively to public safety and strengthening our parks and public spaces. Together, these strategies reflect our commitment to Renton’s future for all who live, work, and raise families here.”
