The mission of Si View Metropolitan Park District is to work in partnership with the Community to preserve historic Si View Park and provide opportunities to enhance the quality of life through the facilitation of recreation programs and parks in the Snoqualmie Valley.
February 2023 marked the 20th anniversary of the park district. The journey from a newly formed small district to a thriving community service provider has been an exciting one, and none would be possible without the foresight of our community that created the park district in 2003 to ensure that there would be a local entity dedicated to improving the quality of life for all residents.
In 2002, the historic Si View Community Center and Pool faced closure by the county due to a budget shortfall. The facilities were battling a long list of deferred maintenance from leaky roofs to rotting gym floors. The community rallied to keep the doors open and bring local control to managing parks and recreation services by creating the district. Today, the picture is quite different! With a fully renovated community center filled with variety of program options for all ages, greatly expanded parks inventory and rapidly growing trail network, the park district is an essential part of our community. The district’s programs and parks bring our community together, improve health and wellness, and preserve green spaces, all contributing to an improved quality of life for residents. Thank you for your continued support, input and participation, we can’t wait to see what the next decade brings.
Si View Metropolitan Park District was formed in 2003 when the historic Si View Community Center and Pool faced closure by King County due to budget shortfall. As an independent, regional unit of government similar to a fire, hospital or school district, formation of the District allows local control of Si View Park, Pool and Community Center. The District covers approximately 17,300 acres or 27 square miles, including the city of North Bend and Fire District 38, in unincorporated King County. A five member Board of Commissioners govern the District. Commissioners serve six-year staggered terms and are the legislative body responsible for adopting the District budget and developing goals, policies and regulations which guide the District's future.
Si View Metropolitan Park District strives to enhance the quality of life for residents in Snoqualmie Valley through recreation programs and parks. With a historic Community Center, indoor pool, multiuse sports fields, picnic shelter and playgrounds, Si View is the only such regional recreational facility serving as the social, cultural and educational hub in the community. The District operates an extensive array of recreation programs connecting with residents of all ages and abilities. Additionally, seasonal activities bring the community together for events such as the North Bend Farmers Market and Summer Concert Series, Festival at Mount Si, Theater in the Park, Harvest Festival and Si View Holiday Bazaar. In a typical year, Si View programs and events have over 180,000 visits! Some of the more popular activities include swim lessons, youth recreational basketball leagues, before & after school programs, and summer camps. Through partnerships and cooperative arrangements, the District actively manages, operates and schedules nearly 900 acres of parkland in the upper Snoqualmie Valley. Through partnerships and cooperative arrangements, Si View Metro Parks actively manages, operates and schedules over 900 acres of parks and open space, and 7 miles of local connector trails in the upper Snoqualmie Valley supporting a range of active and passive recreation experiences.
The District has earned strong community support, and continues to work hard to improve the quality of life for residents by investing in parks infrastructure. These improvements have been possible through the generous support of the community at the ballot box, collaborative partnerships with neighboring agencies, successful grant proposals and fiscally responsible planning by the District. In the last 10 years $18M has been dedicated to facility and park improvements to ensure facilities are ready to serve today's community as well as future generations. The District's 2017 Comprehensive Plans Update established a path forward for enabling and enhancing high quality, community-driven parks, trails, open spaces and recreational opportunities, and the 2018 $14.8M Capital Bond passage set the plan in motion to connect and protect our parks for our growing community.
The District is guided by community input, including surveys, feedback from patrons and public meetings. Your input is greatly valued and welcome. Please call (425) 831-1900 to contact us for more information.
2013 marked a significant milestone for the historic Si View Community Center. The facility celebrated its 75th year as it was built in 1938, during the Great Depression. President Roosevelt approved Works Progress Administration funding for construction labor and King County funded the construction materials for the community center, swimming pool, tennis court and other recreational facilities to be built in North Bend, at Si View Park.
Then, as now, the center served as the heart of the community. Funded by King County Parks and Recreation department and operated by Si View Recreation Board, early activities included a variety of programs for all ages from swimming, sports leagues and tournaments, adult dance and craft classes to community wide fundraising and special events. Some of the most popular activities (based on The Valley Record news archives) have included men's basketball leagues, badminton, youth basketball, tennis tournaments, floor hockey, and “Slimnastics” water fitness classes for women.
As the community grew and programs expanded, the facility's interior saw remodeling projects from time to time in order to better serve the community needs. In 1984 Si View Community Center was designated as a King County Landmark for its significance as a WPA era construction project preserving the center for generations to come. The recent roofing and siding of Si View Community Center showcases the facility's historic value bringing it back to its early glory days with products that replicate the original look but meet today's stringent building standards.
Despite of growth in Valley population and facility user groups, Si View has faced several funding related service cuts and even facility closures over the years. Each time however, it is evident that Si View Park was, as it is today, at the heart of the community, as the community has rallied support to keep the center's doors open in these situations including 1961, 1975, 2002, and as recently as 2011.
We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the Community to preserve historic Si View Park and provide opportunities to enhance the quality of life through the facilitation of recreation programs and parks in the Snoqualmie Valley for generations to come!
