Interlocal Cooperation in Parks and Recreation

Overview

Interlocal cooperation is an effective way for local governments to respond to recreational needs. Cooperative efforts can eliminate unnecessary duplication of services, reduce overall park and recreation costs, and can more effectively meet the educational, recreational, and leisure time needs of a region.

Examples of Joint Development, Maintenance, and/or Operation of Facilities

• Mountlake Terrace/Edmonds Interlocal Agreement for Ballinger Park Improvements (2023) – The agreement outlines each city’s responsibilities in making improvements to Mountlake Terrace’s Ballinger Park, which abuts Edmonds.
• Olympia/Olympia Metropolitan Park District Interlocal Agreement (2018) – The agreement allows the city and the park district to cooperate in acquiring, maintaining, operating, and improving parks, recreational facilities, and programs.
• Snohomish County/Arlington Agreement (2018) – For the joint operation and maintenance of Twin Rivers Park.
• Tonasket/Tonasket Parks and Recreation District Interlocal Agreement (2016) – The agreement outlines the roles and obligations of the city and the Parks and Recreation District in funding and operating the pool and parks.

Examples of Cooperation with School Districts

• Fife/Fife School District Interlocal Facility Use Agreement (2015) – For the use of the City’s Swim Center by the School District.
• Highline School District No. 401/Burien/ Des Moines/Normandy Park/SeaTac Interlocal Agreement (2014) – An agreement to provide for the use of cities' facilities by school district, for the use of cities' facilities by other cities, and for the use of school district facilities by cities, in order to promote efficient facility use and increase recreational opportunities for the communities.
• Lake Washington School District/Redmond Interlocal Cooperation Agreement (2018) – Focuses on the joint development, maintenance, and use of parks, outdoor athletic fields and facilities, and indoor facilities in Redmond.
• Moses Lake/Moses Lake School District No. 161 Agreement (2018) – For the joint use of facilities and streamlining the process for reserving facilities.
• Peninsula Metropolitan Park District/Peninsula School District No. 401 Interlocal Master Joint Use Agreement (2024) – The agreement outlines the coordination of programs and activities conducted at the park district’s and school district’s respective properties and facilities.
• Tukwila Pool Metropolitan Parks District/Tukwila School District Interlocal Agreement (2017) – The agreement outlines facilities usage, services, scheduling, staffing, insurance, and other terms and conditions agreed to by the parties.

Examples of Joint Programs

• King County Parks and Recreation Division/Enumclaw Interlocal Agreement (2015) – The county agrees to pay a lump sum to the city to support youth programs at the King County Fair.
• Sumner School District/ Bonney Lake/Sumner Interlocal Agreement (2013) – For the creation and operation of a joint recreation program.
• Whatcom County Parks & Recreation/Blaine Interlocal Agreement (2022) – The agreement outlines that the county will provide funding to the city for senior services at the Blaine Community/Senior Center, while the city will contract with a local non-profit that will operate and maintain the center and its programs.