Summary

King County Parks has agreed to purchase a 3.82-acre property next to Skyway Park as the site for Skyway’s first community center, a location highly preferred by community representatives.  

News

King County Executive Girmay Zahilay today announced that King County Parks has entered an agreement to purchase Skway Park Bowl as the location for Skyway’s first community center.  

The 3.82-acre property is adjacent to the northwest corner of the park. King County Parks will continue to work with community partners to collect public input on the design for the new community center and which programs it will offer. The location was selected based on strong community preference and the approval of an advisory committee. 

“For more than a decade, Skyway neighbors have been advocating for an inclusive, welcoming place to gather, play, and build community,” said Executive Zahilay. “This site preserves valuable green space while creating a new neighborhood hub in a central, walkable location near transit, the library, schools, and other amenities. Delivering this community center is a top priority for my administration, and I’m excited that we are one step closer to making it a reality for the people of Skyway and West Hill.” 

The Skyway Community Advisory Committee – which meets quarterly at the Skyway Resource Center – will also help determine which programs are offered at the community center.  

Residents who are interested in joining the committee can contact Parks Community Engagement Project Manager Gabriel Avila-Mooney at gabriel.avila-mooney@kingcounty.gov. Committee members are compensated at a rate of $75 per hour for contributing their time and expertise.  

At focus groups and public meetings this year, residents will have the opportunity to share their input on the design of the community center and which programs, activities, and amenities it will offer. Sign up for the Skyway Parks e-newsletter to learn about upcoming opportunities to provide feedback.  

“This marks a major milestone on the road to Skyway getting its first community center and I’m thrilled to support it,” said King County Councilmember Rhonda Lewis. “Guided by the voice of the community, this location will serve Skyway’s needs for decades to come, and I can’t wait to see it completed and all the amazing programs that will operate there. Thank you to everyone who shared their voice in this process.” 

Years of extensive community outreach informs the location, design, activities

King County Parks has conducted extensive public outreach for more than a decade – including community surveys and focus groups – to ensure the location, design, and programs meet the needs of Skway-West Hill neighbors. That is in addition to multiple community-led outreach initiatives:  

• The Community Vision for Revitalization Plan developed by Skyway Solutions in 2009 included a community center and youth development as a priority.  
• The 2014 Skyway Community Center: Conceptual Design Report – based on three community workshops and online survey – emphasized residents’ vision of a 32,000-square-foot centers as a welcoming space for all ages.   
• An appendix to the Community Center Feasibility Study produced in 2019 explored the potential for a community center in Skyway-West Hill, considering alternative sites and addressing potential obstacles.  
• The 2022 Skyway-West Hill Priorities Survey conducted by King County ranked desired activities with learning and recreational spaces ranking the highest priority along with spaces for activities for teenagers, childcare, and small meeting rooms available to the community. 

“Several community groups have organized and planned for a Skyway Community Center over the last two decades, including leading advocacy in 2021 that secured the initial $10 million from King County Council’s Budget,” said Rebecca Zapata, Director of Skyway Coalition. “Skyway Coalition proudly continues to steward the community’s longstanding vision and has met regularly with King County over the past five years to ensure community continues to guide this important investment.” 

Building a community center along the northwest corner of Skyway Park will be the latest in a series of enhancements in recent years. King County Parks has installed new playground equipment, added a street hockey court to the refurbished basketball court, built a new mini turf soccer arena, increased lighting, and made the park more accessible, mostly with funding generated by the six-year King County Parks Levy.  

King County Parks is one of four divisions at the Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

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