The City of Kirkland was one of three cities that 4Culture recently awarded funds to so the cities can participate in King County’s Interlocal Historic Preservation Program.

Kirkland will receive $4,300 that will allow the city to team up with the Kirkland Heritage Society to survey the newly-annexed areas of Finn Hill, Kingsgate and North Juanita to look for pockets of older structures.

The City of Auburn was also awarded $3,500 to help protect the Japanese American Pioneer Cemetery, and Shoreline was awarded $6,000 to update a mid-1990s inventory.

With funding from a pilot program at 4Culture, these projects represent the first round of direct financial support to cities that participate in King County’s Interlocal Historic Preservation Program. Interlocal cities work in partnership with the King County’s Historic Preservation Program staff and Landmarks Commission. The challenge has been to find the resources at the local level to make progress on community preservation issues, and that’s where 4Culture comes in.

Documenting aging buildings is a first step toward protecting them. That means survey and inventory – a process that done right can engage volunteers and get people excited about their traditional older neighborhoods.

As Julie Koler, King County Historic Preservation officer, noted, “Funding for historic preservation activities is often one of the last things on a local government’s to-do list; but 4Culture is now providing a tremendous opportunity for cities to attend to this important civic responsibility. Kudos to 4Culture and the cities who are picking up the ball.”

For more information about this or other 4Culture programs that fund preservation work, visit www.4culture.org/preservation or contact Flo Lentz, Preservation Lead, at 206-296-8682 or by email.