Renton, WA— Renton’s parks could be in for an overhaul, and city staff say they’ve found a way to get the ball rolling without adding to residents’ tax bills, at least in the near term.
At Monday evening’s Committee of the Whole meeting, city staff presented a revised plan for funding parks improvements across Renton. The proposal calls for a two-bond approach: a smaller first bond to pay for design work now, followed by a larger bond to fund construction projects starting around 2028.
What’s on the wish list?
The city has been working toward a parks modernization plan that includes renovations at Liberty Park and Ron Regis Park, improvements to sports fields, courts, and trails across the city, upgrades to restrooms at multiple locations, and the beginning of a larger “Tri-Park” design connecting Stoneway, NARCO, and the dog park.
When the plan was first sketched out, it carried a $76 million price tag in 2025 dollars. Asked by Councilmember Rivera what that number could look like closer to construction, Parks and Trails Director John Rupp estimated it could climb as high as $123 million depending on how much of the scope the city moves forward with.
So what’s the plan?
Rather than take one big bond to voters right away, city staff are recommending a two-step approach.
Step one: the City Council would approve a councilmanic bond, up to $17 million, to pay for the design phase of these projects. A councilmanic bond doesn’t require a public vote; the council can approve it on their own. This money would hire designers and architects, get resident input and blueprints drawn up, then get projects “shovel ready.”
Step two: in 2028, the city would bring a larger bond to Renton voters to fund the actual construction. By then, the designs will be finished and cost estimates will be much more accurate— which means fewer surprises and less risk of projects going over budget.
Rupp put it simply: “More time in design is less time in construction.”
What does this mean for your wallet?
Here’s the good news for now: the first bond, up to $17 million for design, is not expected to raise taxes. Two existing city bonds are set to mature in 2028, which frees up budget room. The city can redirect what it’s already paying on those bonds toward this new one.
Councilmember Prince asked directly whether the $17 million councilmanic bond scenario, the highest presented at the meeting, would affect taxes. Finance Administrator Kari Roller confirmed: it would not.
The bigger question— what a future construction bond might cost residents— is still being calculated. Roller noted that for every $100 million borrowed, the city carries roughly $8 million per year in costs, but said she would follow up with Councilmember McIrvin with more specific per-household figures. Renton Signal reached out to the City of Renton the evening of April 13th for those figures and will update this story when they become available.
What happens next?
No vote was taken Monday; this was a discussion meeting. But the direction from council has been consistent: modernize the parks system, move forward with partial Tri-Park design, and make meaningful enhancements across the city. Staff are recommending the council authorize the first design bond, with two new limited-term employees starting in December 2026 to support the work.
The construction bond, if this plan moves forward, would go before Renton voters in 2028.