King County authorizes Clark Lake parcel sale to Kent

The King County Council authorized the sale of a Clark Lake-area parcel to Kent on July 14, allowing the city to acquire the property for an approved price of $114,350.

The action addresses a decades-old obligation tied to a 1996 interlocal agreement involving road widening near Clark Lake Park. County records say King County purchased replacement land in 1997, but Kent did not reimburse the county for its share and ownership was never transferred.

What the council approved

Proposed Substitute Ordinance No. 2026-0069.2 authorizes King County to convey parcel 212205-9183, known as the Clark Lake property, to the City of Kent. The parcel measures 179,467 square feet.

The approved sale price is $114,350. County records describe the payment as one-time revenue for the Roads Fund. The county also expects to avoid approximately $20.42 per year in property assessments after the transaction is completed.

The ordinance and related county documents describe park and open-space use as the intended or required purpose for the property. The records do not show that a new park has opened, that public access has changed, or that construction or other improvements have been funded.

Why the agreement took decades to resolve

The transaction traces back to arrangements involving replacement park land affected by transportation work near Clark Lake Park. A county executive transmittal explains that the county acquired the replacement parcel after the 1996 agreement, but the expected reimbursement and ownership transfer did not occur.

That left the county holding the property even though the long-term arrangement contemplated a connection to Kent and continued recreational use. The 2026 council action is intended to complete that unresolved transfer.

What happens next

The council vote authorizes the conveyance; it does not by itself prove that closing or recording of the transfer has already occurred. The next practical milestones are completion of the sale and formal transfer of ownership to Kent.

For Kent residents, the immediate significance is that the city is authorized to take ownership of land tied to park and open-space purposes. Future city decisions will determine how the property is managed, whether public access is provided or changed, and whether any improvements are proposed.

Sources

• King County Council July 14, 2026 meeting agenda
• King County public notice for Proposed Ordinance 2026-0069