What the MPD is, why Port Townsend needs it, and how the two-vote process works.
A Metropolitan Parks District (MPD) is a special-purpose government entity, distinct from the city or county, created specifically to acquire, develop, operate, and maintain public parks and recreation facilities. MPDs are authorized under Washington State law (RCW Chapter 35.61) and are governed by an elected board of commissioners.
Port Townsend is an incorporated city, but many parks and recreation services are provided by Jefferson County — not the city. That means our Port Townsend Rec Center, Memorial Field, North Beach, and recreation programming all depend entirely on the Jefferson County General Fund, which is in serious structural trouble.
Jefferson County faces a $5.2 million structural deficit driven by Washington's 1% property tax cap running against 3%+ inflation, a 35% spike in liability insurance premiums, and unfunded state mandates for public defense. In 2026, the county cut Parks & Recreation by 25% and is drawing down its reserves below the minimum recommended level just to keep services running through year-end.
This is not a one-time budget hiccup. It is a structural problem that will repeat every year. Parks — a discretionary service — will keep losing to courts, jails, and mandated programs that the county is legally required to fund. An MPD removes Port Townsend's parks from that competition entirely.
The Salish Community Metropolitan Park District would initially focus on securing stable, independent funding for the county-run facilities that were on the chopping block in spring 2026:
Under RCW 35.61.020, Washington residents can form a parks and recreation district by presenting a valid petition to the county commissioners. The county then places the formation question on the ballot. A simple majority of district voters approves or rejects formation.
Once formed, the MPD board may:
The MPD is governed by a five-member Board of Park Commissioners, elected by district residents to staggered six-year terms. The board:
The proposed Salish Community Metropolitan Park District boundaries follow the Port Townsend city limits. This keeps the district focused on the community directly served by the threatened facilities and ensures that levy dollars raised in Port Townsend stay in Port Townsend.
The November 2026 formation vote creates the district and seats an elected board. It does not impose a tax. Once the board has developed its plan through a public process, a second affirmative vote of Port Townsend residents is required before any MPD levy takes effect.
That future levy would fund services and infrastructure above and beyond what the county currently provides. Washington State law caps parks district levies at $0.75 per $1,000 of assessed value without a separate voter-approved measure. Residents always have the final say on any tax.
Secure stable, ongoing funding for Port Townsend Rec Center operations — staffing, utilities, maintenance, and programming — so the community never again depends on emergency fundraising to keep the doors open.
Fund maintenance and operations for Memorial Field year-round, ensuring spring and fall sports leagues for youth and adults have a reliable, well-kept home.
Preserve and maintain North Beach amenities and access — restrooms, facilities, and stewardship — independent of county budget pressures.
Restore and expand youth sports, senior fitness, nature education, and summer programming — the 82,000 participant hours per year that define community life in Port Townsend.
Build reserves to address years of deferred maintenance — including building upkeep, roof replacement, and infrastructure improvements the county budget has been unable to fund.
Parks director, staff, legal, accounting, and board operations — held to under 20% of total budget, ensuring the vast majority of every levy dollar goes directly to parks and programs.
Understanding why an MPD is necessary requires understanding what is happening to the county that currently funds our parks. Jefferson County's own 2026 State of the General Fund presentation makes the situation clear:
In response, the county cut overall spending by 12% for 2026. Parks & Recreation took a 25% reduction — one of the deepest cuts of any department — because parks are discretionary while courts, jails, and roads are not.
Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour said it plainly at the March 2026 public hearing: "We have seen the diminishment of opportunity for kids for my entire life. It is heartbreaking."
The county is exploring a $0.15/$1,000 levy lid lift that would generate roughly $1.5M annually countywide. Even if it passes, it would be a countywide measure — not controlled by Port Townsend, not protected from future reallocation, and not sufficient on its own to address years of deferred maintenance and staffing decline. An MPD is the only mechanism that gives Port Townsend permanent, self-governed, legally protected parks funding.
The county's structural deficit continues to worsen. Parks & Recreation will face the same crisis in 2027 with fewer reserves to draw on. The community will again be asked to fundraise to keep facilities open. Formation can be attempted again in a future election — but the window for protecting these facilities is narrow.