County releases plans for 100-acre sports park

MALTBY — Snohomish County released updated plans this week for the large sports park it wants to build on property acquired early this year from the University of Washington.

Wellington Hills County Park would occupy 100 acres, purchased with $9.7 million in mitigation money related to King County’s Brightwater plant.

A nine-hole golf course on the property closed at the end of September, after more than 80 years of operation.

The new county plans show four synthetic-turf and three grass-turf athletic fields, walking trails, parking lots and a mountain-biking area. Much of the parkland would be left wooded.

A master plan isn’t expected to reach the County Council for a vote until next year, county parks director Tom Teigen said. An earlier timetable called for that to happen this fall.

A neighborhood group continues to object to the county’s plans, saying the site is ill-suited for a sports park.

For more information, go to www.snoco.org and search for “Wellington Hills” or call 425-388-6610.

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