King County increasing enforcement of $1 parking fee at Marymoor Park

In a budget climate where every dollar counts, King County Parks is enforcing a long-standing – but frequently ignored – $1 parking fee for vehicles at Marymoor Park. Motorists who fail to pay the $1 fee face a civil penalty of $35.

Marymoor Park visitors have the option of paying $1 per day for parking, or purchasing a variety of longer-term parking permits which provide convenience and a significant discount for frequent park users.

Despite these options, King County Parks Director Kevin Brown said only an estimated 61 percent of park patrons currently pay the daily parking fee, which is a 20 percent decrease over the past few years.

The $1 daily parking fee first went into effect at Marymoor Park in February 2003.

“Revenue from parking fees directly supports King County Parks and allows us to continue to provide world-class amenities for everyone to enjoy,” Brown said. “We have been actively reminding visitors of the parking fee through existing signage and individual courtesy notices that are placed directly on vehicles that aren’t displaying a valid parking receipt. Despite our increased efforts at public education, compliance with the $1 parking fee has continued to drop,” he said.

The King County Council recently approved legislation directing King County Parks to step up efforts to increase compliance with the Marymoor parking fee, which directs the Parks Division to:

• Post signs in parking lots where fees apply to notify users of the penalties for non-compliance with the daily parking fee;

• Place a “notice and order” on vehicles that do not display valid proof of payment for parking, imposing a civil penalty of $35 per occurrence;

• Implement discounts for quick payments; Fines paid within 10 days will be reduced to $15; and

• Tow the vehicles of flagrant offenders, consistent with existing provisions in the King County Code.

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