History

East County Park and Recreation District was initially formed as Monroe Park and Recreation District by special election held November 3, 1970.  (The name changed in 1997; in an effort more accurately describe the boundaries of the district, and to alleviate confusion for citizens between the City of Monroe and the District.  This change also became necessary due to the difficulties vendors common to both the City and the District were having when billing for goods and services.)

The District began with a vision of providing the citizens of the Monroe community and surrounding area with a municipal pool.  The creation of the District was the result of that election.  A five member, volunteer, Board of Commissioners is elected on a staggered schedule to administer the business of the District.  Park Districts were new in this part of the country, although they are quite common in the mid-west and on the East Coast.  Typically, they help serve the niche between City and County Park systems both by way of property acquisition and recreational programming.  It is a unique asset for this area to have a park district in their “back yard”, so to speak.

In February 1990, the District went before its voters with a proposition authorizing the issuance of tax levy general obligation bonds totaling $2M.  The purpose for these funds were to complete development of Centennial Park, a Monroe City park, and to acquire and develop a District owned and operated park in the Maltby area.  Also before the voters at this election was a request for authorization of maintenance and operations levy funds totaling a maximum amount of $.05 per $1000 assessed valuation for a period of five years.  Both propositions were successful.  (The M&O levy was renewed in 1995 for another five year period.)  $400,000 of the approved $2M general obligation bond funds issued to the District were granted to the City of Monroe for completion of Sky River Park, and the remainder used to purchase and develop Maltby Community Park, a 16 acre facility in unincorporated Snohomish County.

Since the completion of Maltby Community Park, the District has worked diligently to develop quality recreational programming for the citizenry of the area.  Initially, Maltby Community Park offered critically needed space for youth and adult athletic teams to practice and to compete.

Maltby Community Park has come to be known as a desirable location for events such as the Cascade Bicycle Club’s annual Flying Wheels event, the Greater Seattle Working Dog Show (an international German Shepherd Dog Show), an annual K-9 Frisbee Competition, and several sports tournaments.  Participants in various events at the park come from all across the state, including Everett, Woodinville, Bothell, Seattle, Issaquah, Monroe, Sultan, Snohomish, and as far away as Canada and even Germany.  Life Flight also uses the fields at the park for emergency transportation in medical emergencies to Seattle area hospitals.  The scope of recreational programming available within the District has also continued to expand since the park was built.

In addition to athletic fields, Maltby Community Park offers, picnic facilities, paved walking paths, playground equipment, and athletic field space.  A host of other family-oriented activities were lost with the failure of the 2000 levy.  Annual events held at the park have included a harvest festival, an Easter Egg Hunt, and a series of family-oriented summer concerts and plays on the park stage.  The District also sponsored a summer kick-off barbecue at the park, and Maltby Mania, a family-oriented day of low and no cost activities, entertainment, and games, culminating in a fireworks display which signals the close of the summer recreation season.  Attendance at Maltby Mania had reached as high as 1500 people.

Recognizing the need for quality summer recreational opportunities for the youth of the community, the District began offering a two-day per week activity program at Maltby Community Park on a “drop-in” basis for children in grades K-8.  The program was very well received the first year.  That program expanded the following year, adding field trips one day each week, again receiving positive response by participants and by increased attendance figures.  The next year, the program again expanded, still being run through Maltby Community Park, to become a five-day a week program offering drop in activities two days, field trips two days, and a special event Friday each week.

Recreational programming expanded steadily each year, with the District offering their “Sensational Summer” program, in a multi-generational format, and in cooperation with the City of Monroe and the Monroe School District, through two locations: Maltby Community Park, and within the limits of the City of Monroe, at Frank Wagner Elementary.

East County Park and Recreation District has always strived to be an active member of the communities it serves.  That participation has been reflected in our involvement with the following projects: Frank Wagner Elementary Holiday Bazaar, Mother’s Day Baskets (District sponsored event) at Monroe High School, NW Regional Hot Spots Basketball Tournament (District sponsored event) at Monroe High School, and the Hay Maze for Cinco de Mayo, and Kids Create.  The District is committed to continuing to provide quality, family-oriented recreational opportunities throughout the District.  The District has had representation or has participated with:  Monroe Chamber of Commerce Education Committee and the Parade Committee, the Monroe Centennial Committee, Monroe Cinco de Mayo Committee, and the Monroe Fourth of July Committee.  East County Park and Recreation District also piloted a program at the East County Senior Center, showing movies one day a week in the fall and winter, in an effort to begin to address the recreational needs of our senior population.  Seniors who frequent the Center have received this particular aspect of programming positively.  The goal of the District has always been to maximize the benefits that can be achieved with the coordination of efforts by many different entities.

The Board of Commissioners continues to be committed to increasing the recreational opportunities for the people of this area.  That commitment extends to property acquisition, as well.  The Board continues to research the possibilities for property acquisition in areas not currently served, or under served by City and County park systems.  Those efforts include application for available grants that could fund property acquisition and development.