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Farmlands into playing fields bill passes Senate 3/22/03 OLYMPIA, WA- Fallow farmland could soon become playing fields for thousands of kids throughout Snohomish County. The state Senate passed a bill Thursday that will allow cities and counties to use agriculture land for recreational purposes, including soccer and baseball fields. The land must not have been farmed for the past five years, and no permanent structures can be built. Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek, sponsored Senate Bill 5661 after discussions with the Snohomish County Council. A proposal is working its way to the council to build up to 30 baseball fields and dozens of soccer fields in Monroe. Little League and soccer groups have complained that there aren't enough fields to meet their needs. The North Snohomish Little League is scrambling to find fields to replace the ones it was recently forced to sell. The group will be without fields as of December. The bill, which passed 31 to 17, now goes to the House for consideration. |