Plans at Sixty Acres Park to move forward

Plans for several new soccer fields at Sixty Acres Park in Redmond can move forward now that King County Superior Court Judge Dean Lum Friday dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Seattle Area Soaring Society that sought to prevent organized soccer in the park.

In his decision, Judge Lum ruled that the current and planned franchise agreements allowing the Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association to develop, maintain and operate 60 Acres as a soccer facility do not conflict with Forward Thrust, the 1968 bond issue that gave the county ownership of the land.

“The Forward Thrust Resolution does not prohibit soccer or other field sports from regional park projects,” Judge Lum wrote in ruling for King County.

The soccer association has offered to build seven new soccer fields on the southern section of Sixty Acres. The soaring society and park neighbors sued the county hoping to invalidate these plans, and to keep the park available only for passive recreational activities such as flying radio-controlled airplanes and launching model rockets.

The society and neighbors also asked Judge Lum to invalidate the current franchise agreement between King County and the soccer association. Under that agreement, the soccer association developed, maintains, and operates 16 high-quality sports fields in the northern section of Sixty Acres. Judge Lum ruled in King County’s favor and dismissed the lawsuit entirely.

King County Parks Director Kevin Brown said that, while pleased with the decision, the county will continue to work with the soaring society to ensure that this recreational activity continues. The county has identified an additional soaring location near Carnation which met the needs of the soaring society.