King County's $738 million parks levy, explained

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced his plan Thursday to renew the parks levy that expires at the end of this year.

How much money are we talking about?

This levy would raise $738 million over the next 6 years to maintain parks, trail heads, and other public green spaces.

That's up from $396 million passed by voters in 2013.

The reason: The county's population is booming and people are using parks, trails, bike paths a lot more.

"Every year the popularity of King County parks and trails grows and grows," said Constantine at the announcement. "More and more and more people want to escape to the wilderness to get that outdoor experience."

The county is proposing a tax of 16.82 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

A home worth $500,000 would be taxed about $7 a month.

What would it pay for?

Most of the money goes to public green spaces: trail head parking areas, improving popular commuting paths like the Eastside Rail Corridor and replacing ball fields.

$36 million would go to Woodland Park Zoo for conservation programs and the Seattle Aquarium would get $8 million for a new Ocean Pavilion over Elliott Bay.

The county says about a million dollars would go to "equity-focused grants to increase access to and use of recreation facilities in communities that are currently underserved or face other barriers."

When do voters decide on this?

This will be on the August ballot and if history is any guide, it will likely pass.

Every county parks levy has been renewed since 2003; the last one passed in 2013 with 70 percent of the vote.