MILL CREEK — A city councilman wants to develop a multiuse park on about 40 acres just outside town that is co-owned by the city and Snohomish County.
Tambark Creek Park was bought in 1995 by Snohomish County, with Mill Creek contributing $250,000 for a 25 percent stake in the land.
In 1998, the city and the county established a master plan for the park that included baseball and soccer fields.
But nothing has panned out in the five years since then because of some wetlands that some officials say make it impossible to build fields. Also, neither the county nor the city has had money to commit to the project.
Instead, county officials are looking into turning the park into a regional water detention site.
Mill Creek Councilman John Hudgins said he wants to make some use of the park but emphasizes he won’t do it on Mill Creek’s dime.
"We’ve got 40 acres sitting down there, and that’s pretty rare," Hudgins said. "We’ve already got $250,000 wrapped up in it. I can’t see just letting it sit there."
The park sits less than a mile southeast of Mill Creek’s city limits, along 35th Avenue. The land is in Mill Creek’s urban-growth area, meaning it could one day be annexed by the city, although most city officials believe that’s unlikely.
"I know people in Mill Creek are not interested in spending any money down there because it’s not in the city," Hudgins added. "But if we could get some grants and some volunteer help, we could develop a nice little park down there."
Mill Creek Mayor Terry Ryan said the city wants to know the county’s plan for the park. He said while city and county park board members would like to see the park developed, it may not be the most cost-effective option.
"We could probably get more fields for less money elsewhere," he said.
Mark Krandel, the planning supervisor for Snohomish County Parks, said discussions are just beginning between the city and the county on what’s next for Tambark Creek Park.
"Right now, there’s no money for that project," he said. "We just have to see where these discussions lead us."
County officials are waiting for a study to be completed that looks into whether Tambark Creek Park could be used for water detention. That study is expected back early next year, County Councilman Dave Gossett said.
"It’s real expensive, or impossible, to build fields there now" because of the wet ground, he said.
But Gossett hopes there’s ultimately a way to build fields upland — away from the park’s wetlands — and do water detention in the wetlands. If that could happen, he said, developer fees from the water detention site could possibly pay for developing fields.
"It potentially could work out well for everyone," he said.
Meanwhile, Mill Creek is wrapping up construction of its first multiuse park — a nearly 5-acre lot that houses an artificial-turf baseball, softball and soccer field — as well as a skate park.
Reporter Victor Balta: 425-339-3455 or vbalta@heraldnet.com.
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